Germany head coach Joachim Low has called for clarity in the controversy over doping allegations levelled at Russia s 2014 World Cup squad.
A report in the Mail on Sunday claimed that Russia s 23-man squad at the finals in Brazil, along with another 11 footballers, are people of interest to officials at the heart of the probe into state-sponsored doping in Russia.
FIFA is still investigating the claims, which relate to players mentioned in the McLaren Report, which last year claimed more than 1,000 Russian sportspeople benefitted from a highly organised state-doping scheme, described as corruption on an unprecedented scale that led to a ban on Russian athletes competing at the Rio Olympics.
Both FIFA and Russian officials have pointed out none of their players ha…
Jeremy Toulalan is set to move to Bordeaux after his request to be released by Monaco was accepted.
Former France international Toulalan joined Monaco from Malaga in 2013 and had one more season remaining on his contract.
However, the club from the principality agreed to the captain s request for a move to Bordeaux, with the Nantes-born player citing a desire to move closer to his hometown.
The 32-year-old will arrive in the south west next week for a medical and to sign a deal with Jocelyn Gourvennec s team.
I spent three wonderful seasons with Monaco and I am proud to have contributed to the club s return to the forefront of the French and European stage, he said in a statement.
It is time for me to take on a different challenge that will also…
On the last day of transfer window, there was a lot of activity from Brighton and Hove Albion, but one of their moves was particularly interesting. The Seagulls had signed Jurgen Locadia in January 2018 from PSV Eindhoven in a deal that was worth just under 15 million pounds. But since then, the Dutch forward has not done very well for the Premier League side and he was loaned to Hoffenheim last summer.
But now Brighton recalled him from a loan and not for them to give him a new chance, but rather to sell him elsewhere. It was reported a few days ago that FC Cincinnati are interested in Locadia ahead of the start of the new Major League Soccer season.
Cincinnati want to make him one of their star players and offer him a Designated Player deal, whilst Brighton see this a…
Douglas Costa, Emre Can and Daniele Rugani all scored their first goals of the season as Juventus eased to a 3-0 Serie A win over struggling Chievo on Monday, despite Cristiano Ronaldo having a penalty saved.
Massimiliano Allegri s men were comfortable throughout in Turin and kept their healthy nine-point lead at the Serie A summit following Napoli s win over Lazio, though things would have been even more comprehensive had Ronaldo been accurate from the spot.
Although the visitors started positively, Juve still managed to take an early lead in style through Costa, before Can made it 2-0 late in the half – the Germany international scoring for the first time since joining from Liverpool.
Ronaldo wasted the chance to extend the advantage in the 52nd minute, thou…
Trevoh Chalobah has been rewarded for his excellent start to the season with a new four-and-a-half-year contract at Chelsea.
The 22-year-old defender has become an important part of Thomas Tuchel s squad this season, featuring in 10 games in all competitions after an impressive debut in the UEFA Super Cup final win over Villarreal in August.
He became the second youngest player to score on his Premier League debut for Chelsea when he struck against Crystal Palace that month and was on target again versus Southampton in October.
Having joined the Chelsea academy at the age of eight and spent the past three seasons out on loan at Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town and Lorient respectively, Chalobah was elated to have tied himself to the Blues until 2026.
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Aubameyang relishing Arsenal reunion as Chelsea boss Potter says World Cup puts players in ´tricky p
Chelsea boss Graham Potter admits every player with World Cup aspirations is in a tricky position as domestic football continues just days before teams fly to Qatar.
The Blues are waiting on news of Ben Chilwell s hamstring injury, as he headed for a scan on Friday amid fears the muscle is torn, which would rule him out of England s plans.
Potter understands players have concerns about suffering injuries at such an unfortunate moment, but will demand his squad hold nothing back in Sunday s Premier League meeting with Arsenal.
Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is poised to face his former club, and unlike many of his team-mates does not need to worry about the World Cup, which starts on November 20, having retired from international football within months …
Paraguay s Lucas Barrios has mixed feelings about playing Chile in Tuesday s World Cup qualifying fixture.
The Borussia Dortmund striker is uncertain how he will react as he prepares to return to the country which propelled him to stardom.
Argentina-born Barrios played six years in Chile with three different clubs, but it was his spell with Santiago giants Colo Colo which made him an international-class player.
Barrios scored 53 goals in just 56 games for the club before moving to Germany in July 2009.
Speaking on Monday, the 27-year-old said he had a great deal of affection for Chilean football, but that he was 100 per cent committed to Paraguay.
The love that I have for Chile is enormous, because playing there opened doors for me in my career…
Following Manchester City s underwhelming attacking performance against Arsenal on Sunday, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said Erling Haaland, the current record holder for the most Premier League goals scored in a season, looked like a League Two player.
To be honest, City boss Pep Guardiola probably wasn t the only one bemused by these words.
“Erling Haaland a League Two player?!”
“It surprises me when it comes from former players… the memory disappears quickly”
“I’m not the guy who will criticise his colleagues when I retire”
Pep FIRES BACK at Roy Keane and other pundits for criticising players
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV)
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Ligue 1 outfit Rennes could make a late move on Lyon flop Yoann Gourcuff, according to France Football.
The former Bordeaux star has another year left on his deal at Stade Gerland, but seeing as how he is due to receive staggering €7.6 million for the final season of his contract, les Gones are desperate to offload him in the coming days.
France Football is reporting that Rennes are prepared to offer the midfielder an escape route from Lyon, despite the club president Rene Ruello recently revealing that les Bretons do not have the funds to sign Gourcuff.
The 28-year-old, who missed the start of the season through injury, could be tempted by the proposal from Rennes, especially considering that he was born in the region of Brittany.
Despite arriving at…
Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has made a decent start to the season
Last night the Republic of Ireland defeated Georgia 2-1 in Tbilisi in a Euro 2026 qualifier, courtesy of two goals from Everton winger Aiden McGeady.
The second goal came in the 90th minute and was sheer class, as McGeady picked-up the ball spun and curled a superb effort past the Georgian keeper.
Praise
McGeady’s teammates and international boss Martin O’Neill were effusive in their praise for the 28-year-old. O’Neill told : He was the only player on the field that was scoring the goal. He really is a fantastic talent,
He probably thinks at this age he should have been up there with the very finest players. He has that talent and he showed that ton…