The Western Sydney Wanderers have announced the signing of World Cup-winner Juan Mata ahead of the 2024-25 A-League Men season. Mata, 36, joins the Wanderers as a free agent after leaving J1 League side Vissel Kobe, where he was part of the squad that won the Japanese top flight by seven points. Set to become one of the most-decorated players to ever ply their trade in Australia, the Spaniard has…
Netherlands football is considering doing away with the offside law in its amateur ranks to decrease the rising number of matches halted because of aggression over disputed decisions. The Dutch football association (KNVB) said abolishing offsides at the lower levels of the game, where there are no KNVB linesmen but matches are rather flagged by club members, could lead to an end to the threats and violence that is on…
The Premier League have cleared Chelsea’s £76.5 million ($101m) sale of two hotels to a sister company in a deal which aids their compliance with the division’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), sources have told ESPN. In the club’s accounts for the 2022-23 financial year published in April, it was revealed that the west London club made a loss of £89.9m, but that figure would have been £166.4m had they…
Five United States women’s national team players are nominated for the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or, an annual award presented by France Football magazine. Captain and midfielder Lindsey Horan, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson were all nominated for the award Wednesday, a few weeks after helping the U.S. win the 2024 Olympic gold medal. The U.S. co-leads representation on the 30-player shortlist alongside 2023…
A judge has denied a request from Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Pedro Rocha to grant a temporary injunction against his suspension, leaving him unable to continue in the position, barring an urgent appeal. In July, just two days after Spain’s men won Euro 2024, the country’s Administrative Sports Court (TAD) suspended Rocha from holding management positions in sporting bodies for two years, ruling that he had exceeded his authority…
Other than being subbed off after having already entered the fray as a substitute, there are few indignities felt more keenly in football than seeing your designated shirt number given away to a new signing. Raheem Sterling was on the receiving end of that very snub last week after Chelsea removed the England winger’s No. 7 shirt and exiled him from the first-team group and gave it to Pedro Neto,…
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich was appointed captain of Germany’s national team on Monday after his predecessor Ilkay Gündogan was among a string of senior players to retire from international duty after Euro 2024. Kimmich will be backed up by two vice-captains, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, when he takes up the captaincy for upcoming Nations League games against Hungary on Saturday and the Netherlands…
Manuel Ugarte will never forget his first day at Old Trafford. It began with Manchester United’s new £50 million midfielder narrowly avoiding being soaked by sprinklers on the pitch as he was introduced to the crowd before the game with Liverpool and ended with manager Erik ten Hag warning it will take time for him to get the best from Ugarte because: “I’m not Harry Potter.” In between his prematch…
Erik ten Hag has said that it is difficult to effectively integrate new signings into his team so early in the season following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, adding: “I’m not Harry Potter.” During a fierce defence of his record in what was at times a tense news conference after the game, the Dutchman assured fans his team “will be fine” and have a…
Kylian Mbappé said he hadn’t felt under pressure to score his first LaLiga goal after grabbing a brace in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday. Mbappé scored twice in the second half at the Santiago Bernabeu — the first after Federico Valverde’s back-heel assist, and the second from the penalty spot — after three league games without finding the net. “The pressure I have is to adapt…