SPORTS

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia decided on Thursday to contest its ban from major sporting events over doping violations, as President Vladimir Putin slammed its sidelining as unfair and insisted athletes should be able to compete under the national flag. Russia’s RUSADA anti-doping agency “made a decision not to agree” …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona and Real Madrid could not be separated on Wednesday in a Clasico that was briefly interrupted by Catalan independence protests, when dozens of yellow beach balls were thrown onto the pitch at Camp Nou. After being postponed in October, there were renewed fears of …

Genoa, Italy | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo continued his hot streak as his towering header gave Juventus a 2-1 win at Parma to put Juventus top of the table as Gianluigi Buffon equalled Paolo Maldini’s Serie A appearance record. Ronaldo met Alex Sandro’s looping cross with an incredible leap and header …

Doha, Qatar | AFP | Roberto Firmino came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool edged out Mexican side Monterrey 2-1 at the Club World Cup in Doha on Wednesday and set up a final this weekend against Flamengo. The game had started very well for Jurgen Klopp’s …

Paris, France | AFP | The action was spectacular, exciting and colourful for 12 months around the globe, but the thrilling and sometimes surprising images also caught the wider significance of modern sport. Megan Rapinoe Megan Rapinoe lapped up the rapturous reception when the US women’s football team appeared in New …

Paris, France | AFP |  From a Transylvanian cricketer to Phil Mickelson interviewing his mother and the Houston Rockets causing controversy in China, social media was packed with highlights throughout the year. AFP Sport looks at some of the key moments of 2019: Famous Florin  — Romanian cricketer Pavel Florin shot …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona and Real Madrid will travel to the Clasico on Wednesday from the same hotel as part of a large-scale security operation aimed at reducing the impact of Catalan independence protests. The fixture had to be postponed in October due to violent demonstrations and there are …

  ✳️ Eritrea 🇪🇷 4 Kenya 🇰🇪 1 ✳ Uganda 🇺🇬1 Tanzania 🇹🇿 0 Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Unheralded Eritrea stunned holders Kenya 4-1 to reach their first Cecafa Challenge Cup final in Kampala on Tuesday. The Eritreans are competing at the Central and Eastern African eight-team tournament after years …

Paris, France | AFP | It was a disastrous weekend for Lyon and Netherlands striker Memphis Depay who is now likely to miss Euro 2020 but an excellent one for Philippe Coutinho who is proving his worth for Bayern Munich. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five things we learned …

Nyon, Switzerland | AFP | Full draw for the Champions League last 16 made on Monday: Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) Real Madrid (ESP) v Manchester City (ENG) Atalanta (ITA) v Valencia (ESP) Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Liverpool (ENG) Chelsea (ENG) v Bayern Munich (GER) Lyon (FRA) v Juventus (ITA) Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) v …