Sports News

Wales captain Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33. The nation's most-capped male player announced his decision on social media. Bale, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, is arguably Wales' finest ever footballer.

Players at the Australian Open will not need to take Covid-19 tests and could play if they have the virus. Last year players had to test daily and isolate if positive and also had to be vaccinated, while in 2021 the event took place in a biosecure bubble. The Australian Open starts on Monday, 16 January and runs until Sunday, 29 January.

The United States beat Italy 4-0 to win the inaugural mixed teams United Cup. World number nine Taylor Fritz secured the title with a victory over Matteo Berrettini in the third rubber of the best-of-five final. Madison Keys put the US 4-0 ahead with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Lucia Bronzetti.

Manchester City emerged victorious in a Carabao Cup thriller at Etihad Stadium as they saw off Liverpool. City led three times and, on the first two occasions, they were pegged back. The win, keeps Pep Guardiola on track for his fifth triumph in this competition, which would make him the most successful manager in its history.

Andy Murray beat England's Jack Draper on a deciding tie-break. Murray claimed a 6-2 1-6 12-10 victory for Team Scotland in Aberdeen after England's Dan Evans had won the opening rubber. Draper, took the momentum into the 10-point tie break but Murray turned the tide with some trademark hustle.

Chelsea has appointed Christopher Vivell as the club's new technical director. Vivell was previously head of scouting and recruitment at RB Salzburg in Austria. He succeeds Petr Cech, the former Blues goalkeeper, who left in the summer after three years in the role.  

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has denied reports that he is out of Napoli in the January transfer window. Osimhen has been on the radar of several top clubs in the Premier League, but he is not considering the option of exiting the Italian outfit at the moment. The player noted that he aims to win the league with Napoli.

Argentina’s World Cup winners led by Captain Lionel Messi returned home from Qatar in the early hours of Tuesday. Having beaten France, the players will head to the iconic Obelisk monument for a tour of the Buenos Aires city center from midday on Tuesday. Argentina won the final in Qatar 4-2 on penalties after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw over 120 minutes of unparalleled drama for their first world title in […]

Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard to compete in January's Australian Open at the age of 42. Williams will be back in Melbourne 25 years after her debut in the tournament, which begins on 16 January. She won just three matches in 13 tournaments last season but is yet to show any inclination to follow her sister Serena into retirement.