FIFA admits Kosovo, Gibraltar ahead of World Cup Mexico City (AFP) – FIFA admitted Kosovo and Gibraltar as new members on Friday, allowing them to play qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup, but Serbia vowed to take legal action to reverse its former province’s admission. Kosovo and Gibraltar became the 210th and 211th members of the world football organization in votes taken at FIFA’s annual … [Read more...]

Van Gaal denies Champs League crucial for signings Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said on Friday that big-name players would still want to come to Old Trafford even if the club failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat by West Ham left United fifth in the Premier League table, just outside the top four Champions … [Read more...]

Terry offered Chelsea contract extension 12:34 PM GMT Liam Twomey LONDON -- John Terry has been offered a one-year contract extension to stay at Chelsea, the club have confirmed. Speaking ahead of interim manager Guus Hiddink's final Friday news conference at Cobham, a Chelsea spokesperson announced that Terry and his agent met with director Marina Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck for talks … [Read more...]

Rayo Vallecano deny match-fixing amid La Liga probe Madrid (AFP) – Players of La Liga strugglers Rayo Vallecano vehemently denied any wrongdoing on Friday amid an investigation from the Spanish league into suspicious betting patterns before their 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend. Rayo now need to win against Levante on Sunday and hope other results go their way to avoid relegation. All … [Read more...]

Swedish hotshot Zlatan Ibrahimovic prepares for Euro swansong Paris (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic has one of the hottest shots in football and he is not at all modest about it. “One thing is for sure, a World Cup without me is nothing to watch,” said the Swedish superstar after his country failed to qualify for Brazil 2014. So it is just as well he has made it to Euro 2016.  Ibrahimovic scored … [Read more...]

Barca on brink of title in final day showdown Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona have the upper hand in a final day showdown with Real Madrid for the Spanish title on Saturday as they know a victory at Granada will ensure them a 24th La Liga crown. Madrid are a point behind and have to stretch their winning La Liga run to 12 games at Deportivo la Coruna and hope for a Barca slip up to land the title. The … [Read more...]

Weekly Picks: The Bargain Hunter - Week 38 Well then, this is it: The final weekend of the season is finally here. Before I start, I just wanted to thank all the readers for coming here week after week in my first season (minus a few months), which is the best motivation any writer could ask for in any situation. I hope that in your eyes, I was a passable replacement for Steve—hopefully more … [Read more...]

Frosinone key, as Roma battle Napoli for Serie A runners-up spot Rome (AFP) – It is a picturesque town 100 km south of Rome and notorious for high levels of pollution, but little Frosinone play the Serie A kingmakers on Saturday when Roma battle Napoli for runners-up spot and a sure Champions League place. Despite Juventus securing a record-equalling fifth successive crown last month, there is … [Read more...]

Newcastle ‘devastated’ at relegation, apologise to fans London (AFP) – Newcastle United’s managing director issued an apology to fans after relegation from the Premier League, saying the club were “devastated” and “truly sorry”. Bitter north-east neighbours Sunderland’s 3-0 win at home to Everton on Wednesday was enough to put Newcastle in the Championship as they were consigned to the dreaded … [Read more...]

Valbuena, Ben Arfa left out of France Euro 2016 squad Paris (AFP) – France coach Didier Deschamps named his 23-man squad for Euro 2016 on Thursday, with both Mathieu Valbuena and Hatem Ben Arfa missing the cut. Valbuena’s season has been overshadowed by the sextape blackmail affair in which he has been a victim and which has seen star striker Karim Benzema of Real Madrid dropped by his country. … [Read more...]