London: All Premier League matches this weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, it was announced on Friday. The English top flight took the decision despite guidance from the British government that cancelling sporting events was not compulsory during a period of national mourning. “At a […]
FBL
Canada shock USA to reach Olympic women’s football final
Jessie Fleming scored a second-half penalty as Canada upset four-time Olympic women’s football champions the United States 1-0 in Kashima on Monday to reach the final for the first time. Fleming’s 74th-minute spot-kick earned Canada a first win over their neighbours since 2001 and set up a clash with Sweden or Australia for the gold […]
Advocaat new Iraq coach with 2022 World Cup spot at stake
Veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat was on Saturday handed the task of guiding Iraq to the 2022 World Cup finals. The Iraq football federation said the 73-year-old, who succeeds Streshko Katanic, was chosen on the basis of “his track record, both with clubs and national teams,” Dutch news agency ANP reported, citing the federation’s board […]
Ukraine’s Yaremchuk joins Benfica for 17 million euros
Ukraine striker Roman Yaremchuk moved from Ghent to Benfica on Saturday in a deal worth 17 million ($20 million) euros, the Portuguese giants announced. The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract until 2026 with a release clause valued at 100 million euros. Yaremchuk played at the European Championship this summer, scoring two goals in five […]
Lewandowski voted German Player of the Year
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was voted Germany’s Footballer of the Year for the second year running on Sunday. The 32-year-old Pole was once again the runaway winner of the title awarded by the football magazine Kicker, following a vote by journalists. Lewandowski, who equalled Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old scoring record in May as he netted his 41st Bundesliga […]
Champions Brazil held as Gignac rescues France in Olympic football
Reigning champions Brazil were held to a goalless draw by the Ivory Coast in the men’s Olympic football competition on Sunday, while Andre-Pierre Gignac’s hat-trick in a 4-3 win over South Africa kept France’s hopes alive. Brazil, who won gold for the first time five years ago on home soil in Rio, could have moved […]
Ahly punish 10-man Chiefs to win CAF Champions League 10th time
Egyptian club Al Ahly won a record-extending 10th CAF Champions League title on Saturday with a 3-0 final victory over 10-man South African rivals Kaizer Chiefs in Casablanca. Mohamed Sherif scored his sixth goal of the competition after 53 minutes to put the Cairo Red Devils ahead at an empty Stade Mohammed V because of […]
Italian club Spezia hit with eight Covid cases in pre-season training
Serie A club Spezia announced on Saturday that a further six players and one staff member had tested positive for coronavirus during the team’s pre-season training camp at Prato dello Stelvio in northern Italy. It brings the total to eight after a player tested positive on Thursday in the north-western side now coached by former […]
Wolves ‘keeper Rui Patricio becomes Mourinho’s first Roma signing
Portugal international goalkeeper Rui Patricio has signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Roma from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Italian club announced. The 33-year-old becomes new Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho’s first signing in a deal which runs until June 2024 and is worth an initial 11.5 million euros ($13.5 million) plus bonuses, […]
Racist abuse of England players is ‘unforgivable’, says Southgate
Gareth Southgate has condemned the “unforgivable” racist abuse aimed at the three England players who missed penalties in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were the victims of sickening social media taunts in the aftermath of the 3-2 penalty shoot-out loss at Wembley. While some people identifying […]