FOOTBALL NEWS

Gesture costs Ancelotti €5 000 Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti will not be punished for showing Hertha Berlin fans his middle finger but must make a donation to charity, the German Federation (DFB) said on Tuesday. The Italian coach had made the explicit gesture after being spat at by Hertha fans during Bayern's 1-1 draw in Berlin on Saturday. The DFB said it had closed the case against Ancelotti "on condition the Bayern Munich coach makes a 5 000-euros ($5 270) donation to the Sepp-Herberger Foundation", the federation said in a statement on its website. The foundation – named after the coach of the West Germany team that won the 1...

Five things we learned from La Liga Gareth Bale made his return from a three-month injury layoff in style as Real Madrid maintained their one-point lead over Barcelona in the La Liga title race. Barca, meanwhile, had to rely on a last gasp Lionel Messi penalty to see off Leganes, while Kevin Gameiro netted one of the fastest hat-tricks in La Liga history for Atletico Madrid. Here, AFP Sports looks at five things we learned from week 23 in La Liga. Barca fail to convince Barcelona got back to winning ways by the skin of their teeth against lowly Leganes. However, another poor performance following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands...

Iniesta backs coach after fans vent frustration Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta and the club's president have rallied behind coach Luis Enrique after fans vented their frustration at a tough week with boos during their 2-1 home win in La Liga on Sunday. Just days after a 4-0 drubbing by Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in France in the Champions League last 16, Barcelona needed Lionel Messi to convert a 90th minute penalty to beat struggling Leganes. Iniesta acknowledged the defending Spanish league champions were rattled after the defeat to PSG but backed the coach and team to restore the side's winning mentality. "We have not lost confidence in ourselves or in the manager," Iniesta to...

Court rejects Neymar, Barca appeal A Spanish court on Monday dismissed appeals from Neymar and Barcelona over alleged fraud and corruption in the Brazilian star's transfer from Santos in 2013. The decision brings the possibility of the player and club facing trial a step closer. Neymar's arrival from Brazil's Santos has been a huge success for the Spanish champions on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off it. The 25-year-old Brazilian striker is being investigated in Brazil and Spain over his headline move to La Liga. Barcelona originally published the transfer figure as €57.1 million, with €40 million of that given to the player's family...

'Barca don't know how to treat players' Brazilian right back Dani Alves has slammed Barcelona directors for their treatment of him during his final seasons with the Spanish club. The former Barcelona star signed for Serie A champions Juventus on a free transfer last summer after eight years with the Catalan giants. "Those who run Barcelona today have no idea how to treat their players," Alves told Spanish daily ABC on Monday. "I like to feel wanted, and if they don't want me, I leave. Leaving Barca on a free was a classy punch. During my final three seasons I always heard that Alves was leaving, but the directors never said a...

Lallana signs new Liverpool deal Midfielder Adam Lallana has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the Premier League club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com) on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Lallana, who joined Liverpool from Southampton for £25 million in June 2014, has made 23 appearances so far this season, scoring seven goals and contributing seven assists. "I'm very proud and feel quite humbled by the show of faith from the club and the manager in particular," Lallana told the website. "Signing for a club like Liverpool is obviously a big thing but to re-sign shows you've obviously contr...

Valencia early show stuns Real Madrid Two goals in the opening eight minutes from Simone Zaza and Fabian Orellana blew the La Liga title race wide open as Valencia beat leaders Real Madrid 2-1 on Wednesday. The defeat leaves Madrid just a single point clear of Barcelona and three points ahead of Sevilla and now enjoy just one game in hand over their title rivals. "We lost this match in the opening ten minutes, ten bad minutes where we let two goals in," Eeal coach Zinedine zidane told Spanish TV. "I'm not worried, I'm angry more than anything, because we only have ourselves to blame." Italian striker Zaza had broken do...

Lyon boost Euro push Alexandre Lacazette scored his 21st league goal of the season as Lyon fought back from behind to win 4-2 at home to Dijon in Ligue 1 on Sunday. Corentin Tolisso poked the ball in following a corner to give Lyon the lead in the 11th minute at the Parc OL, but Julio Tavares headed Dijon level before the interval. Dijon had already beaten Lyon at home when the teams last met in August and a repeat looked on the cards when Lois Diony scored his eighth goal of the season after Maxime Gonalons was caught in possession just outside his own box in the 48th minute. Former Manchester United man Memphis Depay then had a...

Vardy gives beaten Foxes hope Jamie Vardy's first Champions League goal gave Leicester City a lifeline in their last 16 tie despite going down 2-1 to Sevilla in Wednesday's first leg. Goals from Pablo Sarabia and Joaquin Correa had given Sevilla a deserved 2-0 lead, whilst Correa also saw a penalty saved by the inspired Kasper Schmeichel. However, despite Sevilla's dominance, Schmeichel's heroics and Vardy's strike means the English champions are well in the tie ahead of the second leg at home on March 14. "We didn't give up and scored the goal which is important," said Leicester manager Claudio Ran...

Barca boos unhelpful - Enrique Barcelona boss Luis Enrique labelled harsh treatment dished out to his players by Barca fans nonsensical as the Spanish champions squeezed past Leganes 2-1 on Sunday. Following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, Barca needed a last minute Lionel Messi penalty to see off a Leganes side without a win since November and on their first ever league visit to the Camp Nou. Messi had given Barca a fourth minute lead, but jeers rang around the Camp Nou when Unai Lopez levelled 19 minutes from time. "As a fan, booing a player of your own team for me makes no sense," said Enrique. Much-criticised midfielder Andre Gomes received the brunt of the boos as he was replaced 10 minutes from the end. "What can clearly help the team and the players is the support that we saw from the majority of the fans throughout the game and especially in the final minutes," added Enrique. "Th...

Ifeanyi Ubah derailed in Egypt It was bad night for Nigerian Fed Cup champs Ifeanyi Ubah in Egypt, as they were expelled from the Caf Confederation Cup by Al-Masry SC. From the opening whistle the hosts piled on the pressure on the west Africans seeking to overturn the 1-0 advantage they had secured with their home win in Nnewi. In the first ten minutes alone goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa produced two fine saves to deny both Ahmed Gomaa and Shokri in the sixth and ninth minutes respectively. Shokri however was not be prevented again and in the 25th minute he sent that Egyptians ahead making the aggregate score 1-1. Earlier Wilson Elu ha...

Ashenafi appointed Ethiopia coach Ethiopia have appointed former Adama City FC coach Ashenafi Bekele as the new man in charge of their national team. Bekele replaces Gebremedhin Haile, who was dismissed last year after falling out with the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF). "We have appointed Ashenafi as our new head coach after alot of consideration and vetting he emerged as the best candidate," EFF President Junedin Basha told supersport.com . "He will commence work immediately as we have important qualifiers coming up and as EFF we will give him all the support he needs," he added. His first game in charge wil...

Zambia name U20 Afcon team Beston Chambeshi has named his final 21-member team, to represent hosts’ Zambia in the 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia will host the Under-20 Afcon from February 26 to March 12. Chambeshi has cut five players, from last December’s victorious 2016 Cosafa Under-20 Cup team from his final list. Out are goalkeeper Dominic Nzala, defender Boyd Mkandawire, midfielder Linos Makwaza Junior plus striker’s Happy Nsofwa and Joseph Phiri. The new faces include goalkeeper James Phiri, defender Prosper Chilufya and Spain- based midfielder Mumba Mwape from Getafe B. Two overseas-based strikers have also been a...

Five things we learned about the Bundesliga Bayern Munich needed a 96th-minute goal to draw in Berlin, Karim Bellarabi hit the German league's 50 000th goal and Thomas Mueller's poor form continues. Here are five things we learned from the 21st round of matches in the Bundesliga: ANCELOTTI'S MIDDLE FINGER Bayern Munich's mild-mannered coach Carlo Ancelotti let his calm demeanour slip by showing Hertha Berlin fans the middle finger, later claiming home supporters spat at him, following Saturday's 1-1 draw. The German FA are set to open an investigation on Monday after the Italian admitted to the vulgar gesture...

Oscar in limelight for ACL kick-off Megabucks import Oscar will hope to make his mark for Shanghai SIPG as the AFC Champions League returns this week, featuring a trailblazing female coach but missing last year's winners, who were banned for match-fixing. Brazilian playmaker Oscar, SIPG's 60-million-euro buy from Chelsea, will be under the spotlight in week one as SIPG look to emulate Guangzhou Evergrande by bringing the Asian club trophy back to China. Chan Yuen-ting will make history as the first female coach to take part in a continental tournament when she leads Hong Kong's Eastern against Evergrande in Group G. But...

Jonevret named Pirates coach Orlando Pirates named Swede Kjell Jonevret as coach on Monday in succession to Turk Muhsin Ertugral. The 54-year-old Scandinavian inherits a team lying 10th in the league after suffering a club record 6-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend. Pirates' only realistic chance of success this season is winning the Nedbank Cup, which begins next month. "I have visited South Africa several times and watched local matches," he told reporters after the announcement. "This is a fantastic opportunity for me with one of the biggest names in African club football." Jonevret coached five Swedish clubs with a 2005 league-cup doubl...

Ocheme likes Zamalek CCL clash Enugu Rangers central attacker, Edoh Ocheme has said his side will be wholly ready for the Egyptian giants, Zamalek Sporting Club. The Nigerian champions will confront the North African side in the two-legged first round clash of Caf Champions League. The Coal City played an uninspiring goalless draw against the Algerian opposition, JS Saoura in Sunday’s reverse fixture clash at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu to progress on the strength of the 1-1 draw at the Stade 20 Aout 1955 in Meridja, Bechar. Ocheme said his side will solve their goal scoring problem before the head off to Egypt to confront Zam...

Egypt court confirms death sentences over football riot On Monday, an Egyptian court upheld death sentences against 10 people convicted over rioting that claimed 74 lives at a stadium in Port Said in 2012, judicial and security officials said. The ruling by the Court of Cassation, which is final, excluded an 11th defendant who remains at large after his death penalty was also confirmed in June 2015 by another court. The court also upheld sentences of life imprisonment for 10 people and five years for 12 others, including Port Said's security chief at the time, said the officials who requested anonymity as they are unauthorised ...

Pons congratulates Rivers Utd AS Real Bamako head coach, Pascal Pons has congratulated Rivers United after his side fell 0-4 to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club in Sunday’s Caf Champions League clash. Bernard Ovoke and Esosa Igbinoba claimed braces as the ‘Pride of Rivers’ produced a devastating attacking master class at a packed Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt. Pons was sorry to see his side come out second best in the second leg, preliminary round clash but was quick to praise the victors who will now face Sudanese club, Al-Merrikh in the first round. “Even though everyone knows why we lost, I wish Rivers U...

Emordi quits job at Abia Warriors Abia Warriors head coach, Okey Emordi on Monday formally resigned his appointment with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side. The resignation came less than 24-hour after the Umuahia Warriors were beaten 0-1 by El Kanemi Warriors in Sunday’s top-flight matchday 9 clash at the Umuahia Township Stadium. Emordi said he cannot continue to stomach the series of poor results coming on the way of the top-flights in the on-going league. “I have thrown in the towel as head coach of Abia Warriors because of very poor performance of the club in the on-going top-flight. “I cannot continue to end...

Mahlambi in Amajita's Afcon squad South African National u20 head coach Thabo Senong has named his 21-man squad for the 2017 CAF u20 Afcon tournament that will take place in Zambia from 26 February 2017 – 12 March 2017. With less than 10 days to go before the kick off, Senong said his Amajita side has what it takes to take Africa by storm. Amajita are in Group B, alongside Senegal, Cameroon and Sudan. They play their games in Ndola while Group A whose games will take place in Lusaka, consists of tournament hosts Zambia, Egypt, Mali and Guinea. Four top teams from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2017 Fifa U20 World...

Platinum Stars hope to stun Sundowns Platinum Stars will square off with Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 7:30pm. Dikwena are coming off a 1-0 win over Mozambican side Uniao Desportiva do Songo in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup game in Maputo on Saturday. Ndumiso Mabena scored the only goal of the match for Stars as they advanced to the first-round after winning 2-0 on aggregate. Stars were held to a goalless stalemate by Baroka in their last league game which was played in Polokwane last week Wednesday. The draw extended Dikwena's unbeaten r...

Mou faces Chelsea return in Cup Jose Mourinho will have to get past former club Chelsea if FA Cup holders Manchester United are to keep their hopes of retaining the trophy alive following the quarterfinal draw on Sunday. Giant-killers Lincoln – the first non-league side into the last-eight in over a century after beating Premier League Burnley on Saturday – could have a lucrative trip to Arsenal should the Gunners beat another non-league side Sutton on Monday. Mourinho, whose side had to come from behind to beat Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers 2-1, side-stepped the subject of his returning to Stamford Bridge where earlier this season he suffere...

Five things we learned from Serie A There was a touch of nostalgia with the return to Pescara of Zdenek Zeman, but also the shadow of crime with the blackmailing of Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella. England's Joe Hart was given his coach's backing despite conceding four against Roma, who want more legendary players like Francesco Totti at the club. Here are five things we learned in Serie A. PESCARA IN 'ZEMANLANDIA' When he led Foggia from the Italian third division to Serie A and the cusp of qualification for the Uefa Cup for three consecutive seasons, the term 'Zemanlandia' was coined to describe the effect Zdenek Zeman h...

lniesta backs coach after fans vent frustration Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta and the club's president have rallied behind coach Luis Enrique after fans vented their frustration at a tough week with boos during their 2-1 home win in La Liga on Sunday. Just days after a 4-0 drubbing by Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in France in the Champions League last 16, Barcelona needed Lionel Messi to convert a 90th minute penalty to beat struggling Leganes. Iniesta acknowledged the defending Spanish league champions were rattled after the defeat to PSG but backed the coach and team to restore the side's winning mentality. "We have not lost confidence in ourselves or in the m...

Guardiola rules out return to Barca Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he will never go back to Barcelona as their coach amid growing uncertainty about present incumbent Luis Enrique's future. Enrique is out of contract at the Nou Camp at the end of the season, and the chances of him leaving have increased significantly after a calamitous 4-0 defeat away to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. That result, in the first leg of their last 16 tie, left Barcelona on the brink of elimination from the competition, and they also lag behind bitter rivals Real Madrid in the race to win La Liga. Athletic Bilbao ...

Pons congratulates Rivers Utd AS Real Bamako head coach, Pascal Pons has congratulated Rivers United after his side fell 0-4 to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club in Sunday’s Caf Champions League clash. Bernard Ovoke and Esosa Igbinoba claimed braces as the ‘Pride of Rivers’ produced a devastating attacking master class at a packed Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt. Pons was sorry to see his side come out second best in the second leg, preliminary round clash but was quick to praise the victors who will now face Sudanese club, Al-Merrikh in the first round. “Even though everyone knows why we lost, I wish Rivers U...

Spurs, United restore order to FA Cup Lincoln City boss Danny Cowley hailed his giantkillers for bringing the "magic" back to the FA Cup on Saturday but, 24 hours later, Tottenham and Manchester United restored order to the competition. It appeared Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino and United boss Jose Mourinho had learnt lessons from Lincoln's shock 1-0 victory over Premier League Burnley and champions Leicester's similar loss to 10-man Millwall of the third tier. But Pochettino was keen to end a tough week with a win following defeats to Liverpool and Belgian side Gent in the Europa League so he fielded almost a ...

Ibra fires Man Utd into quarters Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic combined to score the winning goal that carried Manchester United through to the FA Cup quarterfinals in a 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers. United will face Chelsea in a mouthwatering last-eight tie at Stamford Bridge next month as victory maintained Jose Mourinho’s interest in all four competitions in which his side have competed this season. The FA Cup holders were facing the prospect of an unwanted replay after Marcus Rashford equalised Danny Graham’s opening goal for the Championship side which prompted Mourinho to bring the high-profile pair off the bench early in t...