Premier League

The Premier League said on Wednesday that the 2020 summer transfer window dates will be open for 10 weeks from July 27 and close on Oct. 5, with a domestic-only window for English Football League (EFL) clubs until Oct. 16.

The league made the announcement after all shareholders agreed on the dates. It added that the transfer window was subject to the approval of FIFA.

The window, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent late finish to the season, opens one day after the completion of the top-flight campaign.

In the wake of Manchester City overturning its two-year ban from European competition, the only take I really appreciated was this one. It’s sarcastic.   

Seems like football's golden era of financial fairness is coming to an end. You mark my words, it'll be dominated by money from now on.

LONDON — An underwhelming Chelsea boosted their chances of a berth in next season’s Champions League, overcoming a slow start to beat relegated Norwich City 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Olivier Giroud scored with virtually the last touch of the first half as Chelsea consolidated third place in the Premier League and moved four points above Leicester City and Manchester United in the battle for a top-four finish. After the goal, he shoved Jorginho to focus on hugging American winger Christian Pulisic, who set up the goal.

LONDON — British soccer fans have reacted with shock to the surprise announcement that leading commentator Clive Tyldesley has been demoted from his number one role at broadcaster ITV.

In a statement, ITV said the 65-year-old Tyldesley would "no longer hold the role of ITV's main football commentator from the start of next season" with Sam Matterface taking over.

The brother of Tottenham Hotspur's Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier has been shot dead in France, the Premier League club said on Monday.

The brother, Christopher Aurier, was shot at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning in the southern French city of Toulouse, according to La Depeche, a French media outlet.

The suspected gunman fled the scene and is being sought by police, according to a French police source.

Serge Aurier, who is 27, joined Spurs in 2017 from French club Paris St-Germain.

Players and coaches around Europe are becoming increasingly perplexed by the current handball rule which one has said is best suited to foosball. 

Forwards have seen goals chalked off for almost imperceptible handballs while defenders have conceded penalties for unintentional ones in innocuous situations because their arm was seen as making the body "unnaturally bigger."

Bournemouth breathed life into its Premier League survival bid on Sunday, coming from a goal down to beat fourth-place Leicester City 4-1 for a first win in 10 games.

Leicester were in command after Jamie Vardy's scrappy first-half goal. But with the relegation trapdoor creaking underneath their feet, Bournemouth turned the match around in stunning fashion with Dominic Solanke scoring twice.