Top sports news today - Europe World

US wants extra Winter Olympics spot for skeleton’s Uhlaender

27Jan

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Life Style, Sports

US wants extra Winter Olympics spot for skeleton’s Uhlaender

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is calling for Katie Uhlaender, the skeleton athlete at the center of an Olympic qualifying controversy, to be given a discretionary place at February's Winter Games at Milan-Cortina, to "preserve" her Olympic dream. Uhlaender, a two-time world champion, says she was unfairly denied the chance to reach her sixth Winter Games during a qualifying event in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month. She accused Canada's skeleton coach, Joe Cecchini, of deliberately pulling his female racers out of the event, in a move aimed at depriving her and other athletes of vital Olympic qualifying points. In a letter addressed to Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the USOPC said that Cecchini's actions had "circu...

Paul Pogba’s comeback, a gamble falling short so far

27Jan

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Paul Pogba’s comeback, a gamble falling short so far

Paul Pogba, the French midfielder for Monaco, during the Ligue 1 match against Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Louis-II in the Principality of Monaco, November 29, 2025. VALERY HACHE / AFP On July 3, 2025, Paul Pogba's eyes sparkled. After three seasons lost to injury, a doping suspension and a bizarre criminal case in which he was the victim, the new AS Monaco player fantasized about a return to competition against his boyhood club, Le Havre, on the opening day of the French football championship in mid-August. "That would be a beautiful story," the 2018 World Cup winner told the press at the time. However, his hopes were quickly quashed by Monaco's CEO Thiago Scuro. "I can guarantee you that he won't be able to play," said Scuro, suggesting tha...

Calls for boycott emerge to bring Donald Trump ‘to his senses’

27Jan

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Calls for boycott emerge to bring Donald Trump ‘to his senses’

President Donald Trump stands on stage next to the FIFA World Cup after receiving the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, on December 5, 2025. JACQUELYN MARTIN / AP The idea is beginning to gain traction. Slowly, but steadily. Should people boycott the Men's Football World Cup, from June 11 to July 19, in response to the policies – particularly foreign policy – of the United States president, one of the tournament's co-hosts (along with Canada and Mexico)? Donald Trump's intention to seize control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Danish crown, along with his threat to impose prohibitive tariffs on countries that oppose him, has certainly given weight to this possibility in Europe. Especially since,...

PSG returns to the top of Ligue 1 after late win at Auxerre

24Jan

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Sports

PSG returns to the top of Ligue 1 after late win at Auxerre

Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #33 Warren Zaire-Emery and French forward #29 Bradley Barcola celebrate after winning the French L1 football match between AJ Auxerre and PSG at Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps in Auxerre on January 23, 2026. JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP Bradley Barcola scored his second goal in two games to give Paris Saint-Germain a late 1-0 win over lowly Auxerre and return to the top of Ligue 1 on Friday, January 23. Coach Luis Enrique said that Paris Saint-Germain lacked confidence despite Barcola's deft chipped finish. "I think it's very obvious, it's a strange moment. We're putting pressure on Lens, which is key," said Luis Enrique, whose European champions suffered a shock 2-1 defeat away to Sporting Lisbon ...

Senegal stun hosts Morocco to win AFCON title after final walk-off protest

22Jan

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Sports

Senegal stun hosts Morocco to win AFCON title after final walk-off protest

CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Final - Senegal v Morocco - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 18, 2026. AMR ABDALLAH DALSH / REUTERS On Sunday, January 18, Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations as Pape Gueye's extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. But Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted "Panenka" chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award. ...

French government has ‘no desire’ for World Cup boycott ‘as it stands’

22Jan

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Sports

French government has ‘no desire’ for World Cup boycott ‘as it stands’

US President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / REUTERS The French government is not in favor of boycotting this year's World Cup finals being co-hosted by the United States, France's sports minister said on Tuesday, January 21. US President Trump has targeted France among the eight European countries threatened with tariffs for their opposition to his drive to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. That prompted a senior leftist French politician, Eric Coquerel, to say the US should be stripped of co-hosting this year's football World Cup, with Canada and Mexico the other two hosts. "As it stands now, there is no desire from the ministry for a boycott o...

PSG’s bid for top eight finish jeopardized after Lisbon loss

21Jan

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Sports

PSG’s bid for top eight finish jeopardized after Lisbon loss

Sporting Lisbon's Colombian forward Luis Suarez celebrates scoring his second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Sporting CP and PSG at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on January 20, 2026. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP A last-gasp Luis Suárez header condemned Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-1 defeat at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, January 20, jeopardizing the Champions League titleholders' chances of a top eight finish and direct qualification for the last-16. Colombian striker Suarez struck twice for Sporting in the second half, sealing victory with a 90th-minute header after substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had equalized for PSG. Following victories for Real Madrid and Tottenham, PSG, with 13, points have droppe...

‘Senegalese players were overwhelmed by emotion and completely lost control’

21Jan

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Sports

‘Senegalese players were overwhelmed by emotion and completely lost control’

Claude Le Roy (center), on the sidelines of the AFCON match between Morocco and Comoros, at Prince Moulay-Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, December 21, 2025. MANTEY STEPHANE / PRESSE SPORTS After a suspenseful and chaotic final, the Senegal national team prevailed over Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, held in Rabat on Sunday, January 18. The Lions of Teranga secured their second continental title thanks to a goal scored in the 94th minute, amid total confusion. Just minutes earlier, the players had left the field to protest the referee's decision to award a penalty to Morocco, which was ultimately missed by Brahim Diaz. This was unprecedented. It was Sadio Mané, the Senegalese captain, who convinced his teammates to return to the field, after q...

French figure skating champion Papadakis claims she was under her partner’s ‘control’

17Jan

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Sports

French figure skating champion Papadakis claims she was under her partner’s ‘control’

Retired French figure skater and Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Gabriella Papadakis poses for a photo session in Paris, on January 15, 2026. JOEL SAGET / AFP France's 2022 Olympic ice dance champion Gabriella Papadakis has spoken out about the world of figure skating, telling Agence France-Presse (AFP) that she found herself in "a dangerous situation for my physical and mental health." In a new book, she reflects on her relationship with Guillaume Cizeron, her partner at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where they took silver, and also in Beijing four years later, where they claimed gold. She claims in the book Pour ne pas Disparaitre ("So as not to Disappear") that she was under Cizeron's "control" throughout their career together, recounting how s...

Dembélé brings PSG back to the top of Ligue 1

17Jan

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Sports

Dembélé brings PSG back to the top of Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain's #10 Ousmane Dembele (C) evades a tackle from Lille's #23 Aissa Mandi (L) during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille LOSC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on January 16, 2026. ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP Ousmane Dembélé scored twice as champions Paris Saint-Germain climbed top of Ligue 1 on Friday, January 16, with a dominant 3-0 win over Lille at a rainy Parc des Princes. Surprise packages Lens could return to the summit on Saturday should they win at Auxerre, but PSG coach Luis Enrique will be buoyed by a return to form from his top striker. Dembélé won the Ballon d'Or last season but has suffered an injury-blighted season so far. His goals, including a st...