Seville, Spain | AFP | Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp defended his side’s mental strength despite crumbling under the pressure of an inspired second-half Sevilla comeback to throw away a three-goal lead in Spain on Tuesday. A thrilling 3-3 draw leaves Liverpool still on top of Champions League Group E, but …
Read More »Suarez double stretches Barca’s La Liga lead
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Luis Suarez ended a five-game goal drought with a double as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga with a flattering 3-0 win at Leganes on Saturday. Barca now lead second-placed Valencia by seven points ahead of their trip to the Mestalla …
Read More »Spain to introduce video technology next season
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spain’s La Liga will use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system next season, the country’s football federation (RFEF) confirmed on Wednesday. “The president of the referee’s technical commission, Victoriano Sanchez Arminio, has informed all first division referees and assistant referees that video refereeing will be introduced …
Read More »Mourinho testifies in Madrid court over tax fraud allegations
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was grilled by a judge in Spain on Friday over accusations of a 3.3 million euro ($3.8 million) tax fraud during his time in charge of Real Madrid in 2011 and 2012. After leaving the brief closed-door hearing, the 54-year-old …
Read More »Suarez earns Barca point at Atletico, Ronaldo rescues Real
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Luis Suarez saved Barcelona’s unbeaten La Liga record this season by salvaging a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid on Saturday in a match laced with political tension amid Catalonia’s drive for independence. Saul Niguez’s spectacular strike had given Atletico an early advantage. However, Barca’s dominance for …
Read More »Nadal sues ex-French minister for 100,000 euros
Paris, France | AFP | Rafael Nadal is seeking 100,000 euros ($118,000) in damages from former French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot after she accused the Spanish tennis legend of a dope test cover-up. Nadal is suing Bachelot, who served as sports minister between 2007 and 2010, over remarks in March …
Read More »Barca travel to Madrid amid Catalan crisis
Madrid, Spain | AFP | The biggest game of the La Liga season so far is shrouded in political tension as Barcelona visit Atletico Madrid on Saturday in their first trip to the Spanish capital since a Catalan independence referendum marred by violence. Barca played their last match behind closed doors …
Read More »Barcelona must remain in La Liga – club director
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona must remain in Spain’s La Liga, club general director Oscar Grau said on Wednesday following the signing by Catalan leaders of a declaration of independence. “The budgets are based on participation in La Liga. I think that La Liga and Barca must continue together,” Grau …
Read More »Barca board members resign over closed doors decision
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed on Monday two of the club’s board members resigned in the wake of his decision to play a match behind closed doors after a violent crackdown by police of an independence referendum for Catalonia on Sunday. Police fired rubber …
Read More »Catalonia: Tearful Pique haunted by ‘worst experience’
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Gerard Pique broke down in tears describing Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Las Palmas in an empty stadium as the “worst professional experience” of his life on a chaotic Sunday in Catalonia. At least 92 people were injured as Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets and …
Read More »