Sports

The Ballon d’Or will not be awarded this year due to the extraordinary conditions created by the coronavirus pandemic, organisers France Football announced on Monday. It will be the first time the trophy given for the world’s best men’s footballer has not been awarded since Englishman Stanley Matthews won the …

Borussia Dortmund on Monday announced the signing of English teenager Jude Bellingham from Championship club Birmingham City. The 17-year-old has signed a “long-term contract” and is to join the first team squad from July 30, the Bundesliga club said in a statement. “I’m incredibly excited to have joined one of …

Yemi Lawal, the Osun Commissioner for Youths and Sports, on Sunday in Osogbo said the state government was investigating the ownership of the supposedly state-owned football club, Osun United. Lawal made the disclosure during a question-and-answer session with sports enthusiasts and journalists. He also said the whole sports set-up in …

Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara is on the verge of joining Premier League champions Liverpool after stalling over signing a contract extension at Bayern Munich, according to a report in Bild on Friday. The paper claims Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants to sign the playmaker who helped Munich win the Bundesliga …

Serena Williams will make her return to the WTA tour at a new hardcourt tournament in Kentucky in August, organizers said Thursday. The Top Seed Open said 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams and 2017 US Open winner Sloane Stephens will be in the field when play begins on August 10. …

A frustrated Lionel Messi called for change after Barcelona handed the La Liga title to Real Madrid on Thursday, warning the team will lose in the Champions League as well if they fail to improve. Barca’s title challenge ended with a whimper at Camp Nou, where they were beaten 2-1 …

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has confirmed the match schedule for the 2022 FiFA World Cup in Qatar. A statement on the world football governing body’s website said that the host, Qatar would kick off the 2022 tournament at Al Bayt Stadium. ”Al Bayt Stadium, a 60,000-capacity arena …

Veteran Nigerian striker, Obafemi Martins, has rejoined Shanghai Shenhua, the Chinese FA Cup winners said on Wednesday, more than two years since his last competitive match. The 35-year-old former Inter Milan and Newcastle United forward was without a club last year as he battled a hamstring injury. His last game …

Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly desperate to return to the Premier League and is ‘close to joining Newcastle‘. The Argentinian is one of the most highly regarded managers in world football but was sacked by Spurs eight months ago despite guiding them to the Champions League final weeks earlier. And Mundo …

Former Manchester City and Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has returned to Spanish football as coach of Real Betis, his new club announced on Thursday. The 66-year-old Chilean, who has also worked in China, has signed a three-year deal with the Seville-based outfit, running until June 2023. The arrival of …