A-League club Newcastle Jets have been bought by China-based business Ledman Group, Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced on Tuesday.
The governing body had taken control of the club in May 2015 after revoking the licence of previous owner Nathan Tinkler.
But the Jets will now be in the hands of the Ledman Group, a high-tech LED signage manufacturer, operator and integrated sports business based in Shenzhen.
The business owns Shenzhen Renren, who are in League Two in China.
We see a bright future for football across Asia and the Hyundai A-League is at the forefront as one of the top professional leagues in the region, Ledman Group chairman Martin Lee said.
The investment aligns with Ledman’s activities in several sectors of the sports …
Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has cooled speculation surrounding his future, insisting he is happy in the Premier League.
With Spurs missing out on Champions League qualification last season, reports have been rife of interest in the Dutchman from around Europe, most notably from German outfit Schalke.
However, van der Vaart has revealed he wants to stay with the north London side and has dismissed rumours of a move away.
There is always an interest (from other clubs), but I am happy in England and I want to stay, he told Sky Sports News.
I only said that in soccer everything is possible but not at anytime.
The 29-year old joined Spurs in August 2010 for 8 million pounds from Real Madrid and has made 61 appearances for the White H…
Germany head coach Joachim Loew has hailed the quality of Portugal ahead of the Euro 2012 Group B contest between the two sides.
As one of the pre-tournament favourites for the European Championship title, Germany are tipped to defeat Portugal in their opening match, but Loew has warned his players about the quality of Paulo Bento s team.
Portugal have the capacity to defeat any side, Loew said.
They have very good players, who play at big clubs.
They have gone far in these tournaments. They have excellent players.
Cristiano Ronaldo is fantastic and can decide a match on his own, but they also have other players like Nani and Pepe.
While several members of his squad featured in Germany s run to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World…
Maurizio Sarri hopes Eden Hazard will stay at Chelsea but will respect whatever decision the forward reaches on his future.
Hazard s contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire at the end of next season and he has been linked with a big-money move to Real Madrid.
The Belgium international said after Chelsea s final Premier League game of 2018-19 that he had made a decision and informed the club.
However, Chelsea head into next Wednesday s Europa League final against Arsenal with the future of star player Hazard still up in the air.
Asked if the match in Baku could be Hazard s last for the club, Sarri said: I don t know. As I said in every press conference, I want to respect his decision.
I hope that he will stay with us, but we need to be ready …
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SPAL welcome AC Milan to their Stadio Paolo Mazza in Ferrara on the last matchday of the 2018/19 Serie A season.
S.P.A.L.
The home side have nothing but pride and a hope of a good performance in front of their fans against one of the biggest clubs in the world to play for. Sitting 11th with 42 points to their name, another three, or one, or none, would mean absolutely nothing. They are quite safe from relegation, while the European places are far out of their reach ahead of the last round of the season.
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There are two players in their squad that need assessing ahead of the game due to injury defender Felipe and midfielder Simone Missiroli, and it s not very likely that boss Leonardo Semplici will want to risk them wi…
Despite fighting back from 2-0 down to lead, Lens were forced to settle for a point in Friday s Ligue 1 encounter with Saint-Etienne.
Lens were undone by a late Mevlut Erding strike as their recovery from a two-goal deficit was rewarded by just a point in Friday s 3-3 draw at Saint-Etienne.
With 15 places separating the sides before the clash at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, things initially seemed to be going to form Landry N Guemo giving the hosts an early lead with a stunning strike from the edge of the area 18 minutes in to punish some slack defending from Antoine Kombouare s side.
It was the Cameroon international s first Ligue 1 goal since December 2013 and, when Yohan Mollo added a second before the hour mark, the result seemed wrapped up.
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Kyle Bartley has followed Swansea City captain Ashley Williams by signing a new contract at the Liberty Stadium.
Kyle Bartley has followed Swansea City captain Ashley Williams by signing a new contract at the Liberty Stadium.
Williams committed his future to Swansea on Friday and Bartley, whose previous contract was due to expire next June, has now put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
A former academy player at Arsenal, Bartley joined Swansea in August 2012.
The defender spent much of last season on loan at Championship side Birmingham City but was recalled at the end of January and went on to make two Premier League appearances under Garry Monk.
With Monk having been appointed as the permanent successor to Michael Laudrup in May, Bartley is hop…
Barcelona s Malian defender Seydou Keita will be out for two weeks, including Wednesday s Champions League clash with Basel, after picking up a calf sprain at the weekend, the club said.
But midfielder Xavi Hernandez, voted the best player at Euro 2008, will be back for the Group C match in Switzerland.
Xavi was rested for the first division game at Athletico Bilbao on Sunday, which Barca won 1-0.
…
Steve Clarke once got into trouble for losing his younger brother on a trip to see Scotland play England at Wembley.
The Scotland manager hopes to gain a lot more from the latest in the series of the world’s oldest international fixture.
The two teams meet at Hampden on Tuesday to mark the 150th anniversary of the first international – a goalless draw at the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Partick.
Clarke’s side go into the game on a high having won 11 qualifying matches in a row. Friday’s 3-0 victory in Cyprus made it five wins from five in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and kept open the possibility of Scotland qualifying on Tuesday.
But Clarke will put aside thoughts of Germany next summer as Scotland host a side who will provide a stern test of the…
Ravel Morrison s agent claims his client retains the respect of English clubs, despite a tough season with Lazio.
The former England youth international joined the Serie A outfit from West Ham United in 2015, but struggled to make an impact in his first campaign, starting only one game in all competitions.
But, while Morrison s Italian predicament led to talk of a return to the Premier League, his representative, Daniel Wilson, has insisted his future is with Lazio.
He did, though, add that English clubs are always likely to be interested in a player of Morrison s talents.
He is number 11 at Lazio, Wilson told Football Italia.
That s his status. Clubs in England will always respect his talent, because he played in the Premier League at a young a…