Madrid, Spain | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo was hit with a five-match ban by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday for pushing the referee after being sent off in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Spanish Super Cup, first leg win over Barcelona. The World Player of the Year received an automatic one-match …
Read More »Falcao hits treble as Monaco win without Mbappe
Paris, France | AFP | Kylian Mbappe watched on from the bench as Radamel Falcao struck a hat-trick in champions Monaco’s 4-1 victory away to Dijon in Ligue 1 on Sunday. Jemerson also scored in a comprehensive victory for the principality side that made it two wins from two after they …
Read More »Five things we learned from the Premier League
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The Premier League returned with bang as Arsenal staged a thrilling fightback to beat Leicester, champions Chelsea suffered a shock defeat against Burnley and Romelu Lukaku marked his Manchester United debut with a brace in their rout of West Ham Here AFP Sport looks …
Read More »Former Barca stars appear at Mugabe rally
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Former Barcelona stars Patrick Kluivert and Edgar Davids joined Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on stage at a weekend political rally, drawing sharp criticism from government opponents. Davids and Kluivert were pictured on Saturday alongside Mugabe, 93, at a youth rally for the ruling ZANU-PF party in …
Read More »Neymar braced for French culture shock in PSG debut
Paris, France | AFP | After dazzling Rio’s imposing Maracana and Barcelona’s storied Camp Nou, the world’s most expensive footballer Neymar will be welcomed to French football on Sunday at Guingamp’s humble 17,000-capacity Stade du Rouduorou in sleepy Brittany. With the mundanity of transfer paperwork finally resolved, the 25-year-old Brazilian magician …
Read More »Watford’s late leveller leaves Klopp fuming
Watford, United Kingdom | AFP | p claimed Liverpool were wrongly denied a winning start to the Premier League season as Watford snatched a controversial last-gasp equaliser in a dramatic 3-3 draw on Saturday. Reds boss Klopp was furious that Miguel Britos wasn’t ruled offside when the Watford defender poked …
Read More »Britos late show denies Liverpool winning start
Watford, United Kingdom | AFP | Miguel Britos added to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s frustrations with an added-time equaliser that ensured Watford salvaged a point following a 3-3 draw at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Klopp had spent the previous 24 hours handling the fall-out from Philippe Countinho’s transfer request after …
Read More »Barca seek Super Cup tonic to Neymar hangover
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona host rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday (2000GMT) badly in need of a morale-boosting win following the world record sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain. Despite banking 222 million euros ($261 million) for the Brazilian, Barca’s …
Read More »Neymar offers to pay $2.5 million fine to Brazil tax authorities
Sao Paulo, Brazil | AFP | Brazilian football star Neymar is willing to pay a fine of $2.5 million to settle tax evasion allegations in his country, his lawyer said Friday. The 25-year-old wants to leave the fight with Brazilian authorities behind him as he prepares for a new professional …
Read More »Wenger lauds stay at home match winner Giroud
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed “relief” over Olivier Giroud’s decision to stay after the France striker earned his side a breathless 4-3 win against Leicester City. Giroud came off the bench with Arsenal trailing 3-2 in Friday’s Premier League curtain-raiser at the Emirates Stadium and …
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