https://www.scmp.com/rss/322915/feed The English Premier League is the top division of football in England. Set up in 1992 as a breakaway from the Football League, it is now the richest and most-watched football league in the world. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Premier League’s global appeal is built on packed stadiums and electric atmospheres but as the arms race for talent intensifies, fans are feeling the pinch. A recent Uefa report found English football’s “Big Six” – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – earned nearly 20 per cent more from selling tickets for home matches in the 2024/25 season than 12 months before. Revenue from bumper broadcasting deals and commercial sponsorship still provides the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348361/premier-league-football-fans-feel-pinch-ticket-price-hikes-clubs-target-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348361/premier-league-football-fans-feel-pinch-ticket-price-hikes-clubs-target-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Premier League will launch its first direct-to-customer streaming platform in Singapore next season, a service that could be “replicated all around the world” if successful. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said on Thursday the new channel would be known as “Premier League +”. This will be the first time the lucrative and globally popular English top-flight football competition has broadcast its own content, having always previously sold its rights to the likes of satellite... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3344797/premier-league-branch-out-new-singapore-streaming-service-could-hong-kong-follow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3344797/premier-league-branch-out-new-singapore-streaming-service-could-hong-kong-follow?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 01:41:39 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Rarely can a momentous decision have paid off so handsomely as the one Daniel Bennie’s parents made to turn their lives upside down for their eldest son’s football dream. Currently enjoying a breakthrough period with Queens Park Rangers and targeting the English Premier League, Bennie, who was born in the city, was 12 when his mum and dad relocated the family from Hong Kong to Australia “to give me the best chance possible”. “Football in Hong Kong is unbelievable, but we wanted to see what could... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343988/hong-kong-born-daniel-bennie-chasing-premier-league-dream-championship-club-qpr?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343988/hong-kong-born-daniel-bennie-chasing-premier-league-dream-championship-club-qpr?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Manchester City and Juventus are both expected to visit Hong Kong in August for the city’s second football festival, multiple sources have told the South China Morning Post. It is not yet clear whether the Premier League and Serie A giants will face each other, with several of their European and domestic rivals, including Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also in the mix. Last year, Kai Tak Stadium had a record 49,704 attendance for Liverpool’s meeting with AC Milan, and then raised the mark... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343569/chelsea-bayern-munich-inter-among-clubs-linked-hong-kong-football-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343569/chelsea-bayern-munich-inter-among-clubs-linked-hong-kong-football-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 06:55:39 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologised Thursday for his “choice of language” after saying the “UK has been colonised by immigrants”. The billionaire businessman, founder and chairman of the Ineos chemicals company, made the remarks in a television interview in which he suggested “huge levels of immigration” to the UK had harmed the economy. But following calls for Ratcliffe to apologise, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the 73-year-old said: “I am sorry that my choice of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343366/man-utds-co-owner-jim-ratcliffe-apologises-language-immigration-after-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343366/man-utds-co-owner-jim-ratcliffe-apologises-language-immigration-after-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:22:35 +0000 Reuters Reuters Tottenham Hotspur have sacked manager ⁠Thomas Frank after ⁠nine months in charge, the ⁠English Premier League club said on Wednesday, after a woeful run of results left the north London club hovering five points above the relegation zone. Pressure on Frank had been mounting and Tuesday’s ‌2-1 home defeat by Newcastle United left his team in 16th place with 29 points from 26 matches and looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone. “Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343206/tottenham-hotspur-sack-manager-thomas-frank-premier-league-relegation-dogfight-looming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343206/tottenham-hotspur-sack-manager-thomas-frank-premier-league-relegation-dogfight-looming?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:07:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s J.League could one day compete with England’s Premier League if a calendar switch helped clubs bring in bigger transfer fees, its chairman has said ahead of the new season. Japanese teams have sold a steady stream of players to Europe, including Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, but the sums involved are only a fraction of the billions sloshing around the global transfer market. J.League chairman Yoshikazu Nonomura wants to change that and he believes he has taken the first step by ditching the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3342341/japan-eyes-parity-english-premier-league-aligning-calendar-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3342341/japan-eyes-parity-english-premier-league-aligning-calendar-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:00:41 +0000 Reuters Reuters Real Madrid remained the biggest-earning club in world football ‍during the 2024-25 season while Liverpool for the first time generated the most revenues in the Premier League, according to an annual financial list published on Thursday. The Spanish club topped Deloitte’s Football Money League with €1.16 billion (US$1.36 billion) of revenue despite not winning either La Liga or the Champions League. The only club to make ⁠more than $1 billion in the past two seasons, Real Madrid benefited in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340890/real-madrid-footballs-biggest-earners-liverpool-top-epl-despite-mediocre-seasons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340890/real-madrid-footballs-biggest-earners-liverpool-top-epl-despite-mediocre-seasons?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Despite leaving Liverpool as one of the most highly regarded coaches in world football in 2024, Jurgen Klopp said he never thought of himself as among the game’s best. “I never considered myself a world-class coach,” Klopp said in an interview in Leipzig, Germany, “because I still had so many questions when I finished. “I was, like, ‘how can I be world-class with these questions still?’” After starting out at German club Mainz, where he took the club to the top flight for the first time, Klopp... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340424/ex-liverpool-boss-jurgen-klopp-says-i-never-felt-world-class-coach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3340424/ex-liverpool-boss-jurgen-klopp-says-i-never-felt-world-class-coach?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:30:09 +0000 Reuters,dpa Reuters,dpa Manchester United have agreed a deal in principle with Michael Carrick for the former Old Trafford midfielder to take ‌charge of the Premier League team on an interim basis until the end ‍of the season, a club source said on Tuesday. Carrick, who is also a former Middlesbrough manager, replaces Ruben Amorim, who was sacked earlier this month, and faces an immediate baptism of fire with his ⁠first match being the derby against second-placed Manchester City at home on Saturday. The 44-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339763/former-manchester-united-star-michael-carrick-agrees-take-charge-until-end-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339763/former-manchester-united-star-michael-carrick-agrees-take-charge-until-end-season?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:22:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters Minor-league Macclesfield delivered the biggest upset in FA Cup history on Saturday by ‌stunning holders Crystal Palace 2–1 in a third-round thriller, knocking Oliver Glasner’s team out of the competition and sending the Moss Rose crowd into raptures. Manchester City humbled Exeter City 10-1, ‍Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 and Liam Rosenior’s reign as Chelsea manager began with a 5-1 win at second-tier Charlton Athletic. The day, however, belonged to sixth-tier Macclesfield who became... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339467/macclesfield-score-greatest-fa-cup-upset-man-city-hit-exeter-10-roseniors-winning-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339467/macclesfield-score-greatest-fa-cup-upset-man-city-hit-exeter-10-roseniors-winning-start?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:23:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The departure of Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior to take over as Chelsea manager has exposed the harsh realities of multi-club ownership, which is gaining ground across the world but causing discord between supporters and teams. The relatively inexperienced Rosenior, 41, has achieved a remarkable elevation from the modest French Ligue 1 side to the World Club Cup champions, who are both owned by American Todd Boehly’s BlueCo consortium. Worldwide, between 200 and 300 clubs are part of a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339005/strasbourg-find-themselves-latest-victims-multi-club-system-chelsea-take-rosenior?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3339005/strasbourg-find-themselves-latest-victims-multi-club-system-chelsea-take-rosenior?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 06:18:37 +0000 Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Associated Press,Agence France-Presse Chelsea have confirmed the hiring of new manager Liam Rosenior on a six-year contract after he left French club Strasbourg on Tuesday. The Premier League club said little-known Rosenior had signed to 2032. Rosenior has been praised for turning Strasbourg, which is part of the same ownership group as Chelsea, into a force in Ligue 1 after a seventh-place finish last season. “Liam has shown that he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338950/chelsea-confirm-unheralded-liam-rosenior-new-head-coach-6-year-contract?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338950/chelsea-confirm-unheralded-liam-rosenior-new-head-coach-6-year-contract?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:00:12 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Three managers from top clubs in England and Scotland have lost their jobs within five days of each other in what can only be described as a wild week, even for football. Chelsea fired their manager Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day. This was followed by Manchester United parting ways with Ruben Amorim on January 5, and Celtic dispatching with Wilfried Nancy just hours later. In the cases of Maresca and Amorim, despite their teams’ poor run of form, the final straw was reportedly the deterioration... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338850/managerial-merry-go-round-chelsea-man-united-celtic-fire-bosses-within-5-days-each-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338850/managerial-merry-go-round-chelsea-man-united-celtic-fire-bosses-within-5-days-each-other?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:00:18 +0000 Agencies Agencies Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge, with Darren Fletcher now taking charge of the game against Burnley on Wednesday. Amorim hinted that his relationship with club officials was strained at a news conference on Friday. And following the 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday, he aimed another dig at United officials and said he was ready to leave when his contract expired in 18 months’ time. Less than 24 hours later, the club announced Amorim had “departed his role as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338789/man-united-sack-ruben-amorim-after-14-months-charge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338789/man-united-sack-ruben-amorim-after-14-months-charge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:29:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca on Thursday, a dramatic fall from grace for the Italian who was named manager of the month for ‌November before the club won just one of their past seven league games to fall out ‍of the Premier League title race. The Italian, who joined Chelsea in 2024 after steering Leicester City to Premier League promotion, leaves 18 months to the day since he was tasked with reviving the club’s fortunes after two years of failing to qualify for the Champions... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338426/chelsea-part-ways-manager-maresca-just-days-manchester-city-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338426/chelsea-part-ways-manager-maresca-just-days-manchester-city-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 13:11:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Mikel Arteta warned Arsenal’s title rivals that their ruthless 4-1 rout of Aston Villa showed they are on track to win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. Arteta’s side issued a significant statement of intent in the title race by crushing Villa with a second half blitz at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. A costly mistake from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez opened the floodgates as his failure to catch a corner allowed Gabriel Magalhaes to bundle home. Martin Zubimendi doubled... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338227/ruthless-arsenal-end-year-top-eye-first-premier-league-title-22-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3338227/ruthless-arsenal-end-year-top-eye-first-premier-league-title-22-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:02:44 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings for their failings during and after the 1989 Hillsborough stadium football tragedy, a long-running investigation has found. In the latest development following Britain’s worst sports disaster, which saw 97 people killed during a crush of Liverpool fans, a report published on Tuesday also upheld or found cases to answer for misconduct in 92 complaints about police actions. However, the law at the time means no officers will face... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334957/report-1989-hillsborough-disaster-finds-12-police-officers-would-have-faced-charges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334957/report-1989-hillsborough-disaster-finds-12-police-officers-would-have-faced-charges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Chinese football fans have condemned club side Brighton & Hove Albion and the Premier League side’s Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma after a social media post showed him smiling and holding an image of the last Japanese soldier to surrender in World War II. Millions of Chinese were killed during the brutal fight against Imperial Japanese forces, whose record of massacre, rape and looting still strains relations between Beijing and Tokyo. Brighton’s academy apologised on Saturday after the post –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334794/chinese-fans-slam-epl-club-brighton-over-kaoru-mitomas-imperial-japan-soldier-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334794/chinese-fans-slam-epl-club-brighton-over-kaoru-mitomas-imperial-japan-soldier-post?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:30:57 +0000 Reuters Reuters Pep Guardiola takes charge of his 1,000th game as a manager when his Manchester City team face Liverpool on Sunday, and he says he could not wish for a better fixture to mark the milestone. “Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country and it could not be better, to be honest,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday. “I think we pushed Liverpool to be better and Liverpool pushed us to be better. That’s for sure. “If I had to choose one rival for this personal milestone, that would be the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3332053/liverpool-perfect-opponents-1000th-game-manager-says-man-city-boss-pep-guardiola?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3332053/liverpool-perfect-opponents-1000th-game-manager-says-man-city-boss-pep-guardiola?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 15:00:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When it came time to receive his knighthood, soccer great David Beckham knew what to do. He bent his knee like, well, Beckham. King Charles tapped his shoulders with the blade of a sword and “Becks” was transformed to Sir David Beckham. “This is without doubt my proudest moment,” Beckham said after Tuesday’s ceremony at Windsor Castle. “I’ve been very obviously lucky in my career to have won what I’ve won and done what I’ve done, but to receive an honour like this, of a knight, is beyond... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3331539/uk-football-star-david-beckham-knighted-king-charles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3331539/uk-football-star-david-beckham-knighted-king-charles?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:36:15 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tomasz Kuszczak and Nemanja Vidic both suffered embarrassing moments in Saturday’s exhibition match between teams of Manchester United and Liverpool old boys. The good news for the ex-United pair was that not many people were inside Kai Tak Stadium to witness their howlers. Without doubt, the official 27,081 attendance figure seemed wildly generous. Kuszczak got especially lucky in that he committed his error very early. The game kicked off around six minutes before the stated 5pm start time,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3329529/manchester-united-and-liverpool-old-boys-underwhelm-hong-kong-fans-stay-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3329529/manchester-united-and-liverpool-old-boys-underwhelm-hong-kong-fans-stay-away?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 14:00:20 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Manchester United legend Michael Carrick has said he is in no rush to return to management, and alongside former Liverpool player John Arne Riise, promised to put on a show for fans at the Red on Red legends game in Hong Kong on Saturday. The pair will once again pull on the Liverpool and Manchester United colours as they feature in a team of retired legends, captained by former teammates Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand, at Kai Tak Stadium. Carrick, who won the Premier League five times with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329262/man-united-icon-carrick-ponders-management-future-ahead-hong-kong-match?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329262/man-united-icon-carrick-ponders-management-future-ahead-hong-kong-match?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Rio Ferdinand has said the Red on Red legends match at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday would provide a welcome opportunity to “see the old gang again and have a few beers”. The decorated former England defender will skipper a “Rio 11” made up of ex-Manchester United players including Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Nicky Butt, who finished his career with Hong Kong club South China in 2011. They will tackle a “Gerrard 11” captained by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, who last week rejected the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3329063/rio-ferdinand-driven-pride-giving-back-and-beer-united-v-liverpool-old-boys-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3329063/rio-ferdinand-driven-pride-giving-back-and-beer-united-v-liverpool-old-boys-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:30:14 +0000 Reuters Reuters England’s golden generation failed to live up to their potential because they were “egotistical losers” who fostered an unfriendly environment and were unable to work together, former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard said. In the 2000s, big things were expected from an England squad that included the likes of Gerrard, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, but the team never progressed past the quarter-finals at a major tournament. Gerrard and Ferdinand will face off... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3328182/englands-golden-generation-were-egotistical-losers-ex-midfielder-gerrard-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3328182/englands-golden-generation-were-egotistical-losers-ex-midfielder-gerrard-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:35:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse West Ham sacked Graham Potter on Saturday after only nine months in charge, with former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo tipped to take over the troubled Premier League club. Potter’s exit was widely expected after the Hammers slumped to second bottom of the table ahead of Monday’s trip to Everton. Nuno is expected to replace Potter in time for the clash with Everton after reports the Portuguese coach has had positive talks with the West Ham board. Potter managed just three points from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3327106/west-ham-sack-potter-ex-forest-boss-nuno-tipped-take-over-everton-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3327106/west-ham-sack-potter-ex-forest-boss-nuno-tipped-take-over-everton-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 12:27:55 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Former English Premier League stars could make the difference in the Asian Champions League, which begins on Monday, with Ivan Toney, Jesse Lingard, Riyad Mahrez and Darwin Nunez all having a chance of winning Asian football’s premier club tournament. Saudi clubs dominated last season, providing three of the semi-finalists before Al-Ahli won the final in front of 60,000 spectators in Jeddah in May. Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal are also back and expected to challenge again for the title. Since the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325379/asian-champions-league-ex-english-premier-league-players-set-star-new-season-starts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325379/asian-champions-league-ex-english-premier-league-players-set-star-new-season-starts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:00:20 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to keep faith with beleaguered head coach Ruben Amorim, and said Ralf Rangnick’s warning that the club needed open-heart surgery was growing more prescient with every setback. Appointed in November last year, Amorim has failed to inspire an upturn after United chiefs ran out of patience with predecessor Erik ten Hag. Former interim boss Rangnick issued his verdict on the 20-times English champions’ ills back in April 2022. Amorim’s 10-month reign plumbed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324288/man-united-must-become-killers-says-ferdinand-urges-patience-beleaguered-amorim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3324288/man-united-must-become-killers-says-ferdinand-urges-patience-beleaguered-amorim?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Bayer Leverkusen have sacked manager Erik Ten Hag after just two Bundesliga matches in charge, the club announced on Monday. Fired by Manchester United last October, Ten Hag joined Leverkusen as the successor to Xabi Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid. “This decision was not easy for us; nobody wanted to take this step,” sporting director Simon Rolfes said in a statement. “The past few weeks have shown that the steps to build a new and successful team have not been effective.” Club CEO Fernando... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323944/bayer-leverkusen-sack-ex-manchester-united-boss-erik-ten-hag-after-2-league-matches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323944/bayer-leverkusen-sack-ex-manchester-united-boss-erik-ten-hag-after-2-league-matches?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:22:37 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After Cristiano Ronaldo had to settle for playing at Hong Kong Stadium, a group of retired Manchester United and Liverpool stars have been granted an opportunity to perform in the city’s grander Kai Tak Stadium. On Monday, a press release that was low on detail revealed Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard would captain teams of veterans in a “Red on Red: Gerrard 11 v Rio 11” match at the 50,000-capacity Kowloon venue, on October 18. The most expensive tickets will cost HK$999 (around US$128),... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323903/red-red-gerrard-and-ferdinand-go-where-ronaldo-could-not-tread-hong-kong-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323903/red-red-gerrard-and-ferdinand-go-where-ronaldo-could-not-tread-hong-kong-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Liverpool have reportedly agreed a British record fee of £125 million (US$169 million) to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle, with the deal set to be completed on a frantic final day of the summer transfer window. The Sweden striker is understood to have arrived at the club’s training ground on Monday, with a protracted saga nearing an end. With the Premier League window due to shut at 1800 GMT (Tuesday 2am, Hong Kong time), there are a number of big deals yet to be done as clubs scramble to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323849/liverpool-sign-alexander-isak-newcastle-british-record-fee-reports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323849/liverpool-sign-alexander-isak-newcastle-british-record-fee-reports?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 01:05:11 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Former Manchester United managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho were sacked just hours apart on Friday, and bookmakers believe the man currently sitting in the Old Trafford hot seat could soon follow them. Solskjaer, who replaced the Portuguese boss at Old Trafford in December 2018, was shown the door at Besiktas following a disappointing 1-0 aggregate defeat to Swiss side Lausanne in the Uefa Conference League play-off. And later on Friday, Fenerbahce announced Mourinho would be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323656/ex-man-united-bosses-solskjaer-mourinho-sacked-hours-apart-bookmakers-say-amorim-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323656/ex-man-united-bosses-solskjaer-mourinho-sacked-hours-apart-bookmakers-say-amorim-next?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 10:30:07 +0000 Hadi Azmi Hadi Azmi Malaysian police have arrested more than 400 people in Kuala Lumpur following a raid on an office linked to a Singaporean fintech company that sponsors Manchester United. The operation unfolded on Tuesday, when officers swept through the company’s five-storey premises, detaining hundreds of suspects and transporting them in a convoy of police vans to the Travers Police Station in Bangsar for processing. “Investigations are ongoing since it involves a large number of arrests. A special press... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3323586/malaysian-police-raid-singapore-firm-ties-man-united-amid-scam-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3323586/malaysian-police-raid-singapore-firm-ties-man-united-amid-scam-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 04:31:52 +0000 Reuters Reuters Alexander Isak has accused Newcastle United of breaking promises and misleading supporters in a social media statement that confirmed he wanted to leave the Premier League club. In a series of Instagram stories posted on Tuesday, the 25-year-old striker said he told Newcastle of his desire to leave a long time ago. “When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue,” Isak wrote. “Change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.” The Sweden international,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322442/newcastle-striker-isak-accuses-club-breaking-promises-amid-liverpool-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322442/newcastle-striker-isak-accuses-club-breaking-promises-amid-liverpool-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 04:30:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Cristiano Ronaldo is not the only Manchester United legend visiting Hong Kong this week. Peter Schmeichel is, too, for a JC Youth Football Academy Summit that the Danish former goalkeeper predicted would leave a lasting impression locally. Organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the summit saw young Hong Kong sides and local children engaging with the Manchester United academy, Schmeichel and former United defender Phil Jones. United’s academy drew 3-3 with a local Premier Youth League Select on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322213/footballers-visiting-hong-kong-vital-local-kids-manchester-united-legend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322213/footballers-visiting-hong-kong-vital-local-kids-manchester-united-legend?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:15:14 +0000 dpa dpa Police are investigating after a man was ejected from Anfield Stadium following reports of a Bournemouth player being racially abused during the first Premier League game of the season against Liverpool on Friday. Visiting forward Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by a spectator, and match referee Anthony Taylor stopped play in the 29th minute. He spoke with managers Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola before the two captains, Virgil van Dijk and Adam Smith, were called over to the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322077/liverpool-v-bournemouth-police-investigate-semenyo-reports-racist-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3322077/liverpool-v-bournemouth-police-investigate-semenyo-reports-racist-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 02:53:04 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The man accused of ramming his car into a parade of Liverpool soccer fans in May as the team was celebrating its Premier League triumph is to face a further 24 charges, including two relating to victims who were babies. Paul Doyle, 53, was in tears as he appeared over video link from prison for the Liverpool Crown Court hearing on Thursday. During the hearing, he was informed of the new charges, 23 of which were for assault. Six of the new charges relate to children, including two babies aged 6... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3321904/man-accused-ramming-car-liverpool-parade-faces-another-24-charges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3321904/man-accused-ramming-car-liverpool-parade-faces-another-24-charges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:40:40 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Manchester United’s potential stars of tomorrow will broaden their horizons during their visit to Hong Kong this week, according to coach and former player Phil Jones. The club’s under-16s are in the city for the Jockey Club Youth Football Academy Summit, and trained alongside Hong Kong counterparts under blistering skies in Tseung Kwan O on Wednesday ahead of matches at Mong Kok Stadium on Friday and Sunday. English Premier League winner Jones, who has begun coaching after injury forced his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3321746/hong-kong-heat-dragon-boats-add-manchester-united-youngsters-learning-curve?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3321746/hong-kong-heat-dragon-boats-add-manchester-united-youngsters-learning-curve?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:57:34 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Son Heung-min drew a foul 20 minutes into his Major League Soccer debut on Saturday, to earn Los Angeles FC a 2-2 draw against the Chicago Fire. His side trailing to 2-1, the South Korea captain was fouled in the box by Chicago’s Carlos Teran – who had scored the game’s first goal – in the 77th minute, and the referee eventually pointed to the spot after a lengthy VAR review. Denis Bouanga, who had also come on as a substitute, stepped to the spot on 81 minutes and found the top right corner of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3321346/son-heung-min-wins-penalty-lafc-draw-former-tottenham-mans-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3321346/son-heung-min-wins-penalty-lafc-draw-former-tottenham-mans-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Aug 2025 03:33:06 +0000 Reuters,dpa Reuters,dpa Harry Kane has paid tribute to his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Son Heung-min, describing their partnership as “one of the best” in English Premier League history following the South Korean’s departure from the club this week. Son, who combined with Kane for 47 league goals to form a lethal partnership for the best part of a decade at Spurs, joined Los Angeles FC on a record-breaking Major League Soccer transfer on Wednesday. The 33-year-old South Korea skipper had moved to North London... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3321254/son-heung-min-partnership-was-among-best-premier-league-history-harry-kane-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3321254/son-heung-min-partnership-was-among-best-premier-league-history-harry-kane-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 11:00:37 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea star Son Heung-min said he was “here to win” on Wednesday as Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC welcomed the arrival of the “global icon” from Tottenham. The 33-year-old will reportedly cost a widely reported MLS record US$26 million (HK$204 million) transfer fee after a decade in the Premier League, where he became a household name. “I’m here to win, and I will perform,” he said at an introductory press conference at BMO Stadium that was packed with United States and South Korean... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3321019/son-heung-min-presented-lafc-after-joining-tottenham-not-my-first-choice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3321019/son-heung-min-presented-lafc-after-joining-tottenham-not-my-first-choice?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 02:23:50 +0000 Reuters Reuters Son Heung-min, who is leaving Tottenham Hotspur after 10 seasons, has a deal in place to join Los Angeles FC, according to multiple reports. LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around US$26 million for the Spurs and South Korea captain, GiveMeSport and ESPN reported, which would break the Major League Soccer record of US$22 million that Atlanta United paid to acquire Emmanuel Latte Lath in the last off-season. Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham, saying he achieved... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320777/son-heung-min-has-deal-join-los-angeles-tottenham-hotspur-reports-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320777/son-heung-min-has-deal-join-los-angeles-tottenham-hotspur-reports-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:59:41 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The English Premier League’s elite have been busier than ever this summer. Whether it’s bringing in top-class talent from abroad or raiding the mid-table clubs for their most important assets, no one seems to be standing still. Of course, it’s been a more productive summer for some than others. So as we near the end of pre-season, let’s take a look at how a busy summer of transfer business is shaping the 2025-26 campaign – and the consequences for your Fantasy Premier League (FPL)... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320696/fantasy-premier-league-all-you-need-know-liverpool-arsenal-city-spend-big?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320696/fantasy-premier-league-all-you-need-know-liverpool-arsenal-city-spend-big?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:43:35 +0000 Tom Bell Tom Bell Son Heung-min made what appeared to be his final appearance for Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul on Sunday evening, bidding a tearful farewell during his club’s pre-season friendly match against Newcastle United. There were emotional scenes when the South Korean forward, captain of both his club and country, was replaced after 64 minutes of the English Premier League clubs’ 1-1 draw at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The 33-year-old, who last Thursday played in Spurs’ 1-0 victory over Arsenal in Hong Kong,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320607/son-heung-min-makes-tearful-farewell-tottenham-hotspur-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320607/son-heung-min-makes-tearful-farewell-tottenham-hotspur-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 14:20:32 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press After 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur, captain Son Heung-min announced on Saturday that he plans to leave the English Premier League club. At a media conference in Seoul, Son, appearing at times to be holding back tears, said his decision to leave the Spurs was “the most difficult” of his career and said the club was supporting him as he looks to move on to another team. Spurs will face Newcastle United in a pre-season friendly on Sunday in Seoul in what could be the final match of Son’s time at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320526/son-heung-min-quit-spurs-calls-it-most-difficult-decision-his-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320526/son-heung-min-quit-spurs-calls-it-most-difficult-decision-his-career?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 04:49:03 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport By any metric, Hong Kong’s first football festival has been a roaring success. Thursday’s game was something of a historic occasion, marking the first time Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur had played each other outside the UK. And three weeks before the Premier League gets under way, a North London derby seemed like the ideal way to kick pre-season into high gear. Kick being the operative word when these two sides meet. If that wasn’t enough, Arsenal fans got their first glimpse of Viktor Gyokeres... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320289/arsenal-v-spurs-kai-tak-welcomes-1-millionth-visitor-ahead-historic-north-london-derby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320289/arsenal-v-spurs-kai-tak-welcomes-1-millionth-visitor-ahead-historic-north-london-derby?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:00:04 +0000 Tom Bell,Paul McNamara,Andrew Cesare Richardson Tom Bell,Paul McNamara,Andrew Cesare Richardson Football Festival fever swept Hong Kong as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur met in the event’s second and final match on Thursday. While the North London rivals prepared for their clash at Kai Tak Stadium, followers of the English Premier League clubs were in healthy competition off the pitch. Locally based and visiting supporters of both sides were snapping up merchandise, wining and dining, and attending festival-themed events, backing up forecasts that the city would enjoy up to HK$428 million... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320262/arsenal-selfies-spurs-drones-hk200000-bus-football-fever-sweeps-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3320262/arsenal-selfies-spurs-drones-hk200000-bus-football-fever-sweeps-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:00:18 +0000 Andrew Cesare Richardson Andrew Cesare Richardson AC Milan superfan Andy Yang travelled from Los Angeles to spend three days in Hong Kong just so he could watch his beloved Rossoneri in action. The Serie A giants face Liverpool at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday in their first visit to the city in more than 20 years. And Yang has taken a 24,000km (15,000-mile) round trip to ensure he would be among the 50,000-strong crowd taking in the action. “I got here on Thursday and I’m leaving on Sunday,” he told the Post. “I came just for the game. “I’m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319647/ac-milan-superfan-makes-24000km-round-trip-hong-kong-liverpool-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319647/ac-milan-superfan-makes-24000km-round-trip-hong-kong-liverpool-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 05:00:08 +0000 Andrew Cesare Richardson Andrew Cesare Richardson Liverpool Football Club claim to have 1.2 million fans in Hong Kong. On Saturday, several thousand of them will watch their heroes play in the city not only for the first time in eight years, but also as Premier League champions. For members of the Official Liverpool Supporters Club Hong Kong, it is an experience they will truly never forget. The group’s chairman, Ian McAlan, said the club had been full of surprises to ensure a memorable visit. “On Tuesday, the club put on an event with Lucas... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319650/liverpool-fc-claim-12-million-fans-hong-kong-heres-how-they-organise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319650/liverpool-fc-claim-12-million-fans-hong-kong-heres-how-they-organise?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Jerzy Dudek, one of the heroes of Liverpool’s astonishing 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan, said he had been “too scared” to rewatch the famous Istanbul clash for fear of being overcome with emotion. The English and Italian clubs are set to meet in a Kai Tak Stadium friendly on Saturday, 20 years after Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down to level at 3-3 before beating Milan on penalties in a match christened the Miracle of Istanbul. “Life changed for everybody in our team after... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319593/liverpools-champions-league-hero-dudek-too-scared-watch-famous-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319593/liverpools-champions-league-hero-dudek-too-scared-watch-famous-final?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:30:08 +0000