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From Beckham to Messi: How much has MLS grown in a decade?

Lionel Messi announcing that he is signing with Inter Miami CF has created plenty of conversation around what, exactly, he has gotten himself into. Major League Soccer is unique and full of quirks, but it’s far from the low-rent, retirement-league stereotype it’s often characterized as. This isn’t the MLS that David Beckham left behind a little more than a decade ago. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) When…

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July 1, 2023

French court upholds ban on hijabs at matches

France’s highest administrative court said on Thursday that the country’s football federation is entitled to ban headscarves in competitions even though the measure can limit freedom of expression. The Council of State issued its ruling after a group of headscarf-wearing football players called “Les Hijabeuses” — the word hijab refers to the headscarf — campaigned against the ban and launched legal action. The ruling is likely to refuel the lingering…

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June 30, 2023

Modern game’s roots go beyond Johan Cruyff

We abbreviate history over time. As time passes, we sand down more edges and eliminate a few more details. At some point we arrived at a pretty straightforward summary of the evolution to modern soccer: The Dutch did the Total Football thing, Johan Cruyff taught it to Pep Guardiola and Pep Guardiola won eleventy kajillion trophies by perfecting it. AC Milan’s Arrigo Sacchi had his own version of that, Jose…

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June 30, 2023

Espanyol get ban for fans chasing Barca off pitch

Espanyol have been ordered to play their first two matches of next season behind closed doors after supporters chased Barcelona players down the tunnel at the Stage Front Stadium in May. Hundreds of fans breached the security ring and entered the pitch following Barca’s 4-2 win, which saw Xavi Hernandez’s side clinch their first LaLiga title since 2019. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Espanyol have said they…

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June 30, 2023

Italy bans players from wearing No. 88 jersey

Football players in Italy will be banned from wearing No. 88 as part of an initiative combating antisemitism, it was announced on Tuesday. The No. 88 is a numerical code for “Heil Hitler”; H is the eighth letter of the alphabet. In March, a fan wearing a Lazio shirt with the name “Hitlerson” and the No. 88 was banned for life from attending matches of the Roman club. The initiative,…

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June 29, 2023

Ten Hag can’t let Man United fall behind in transfer market

This summer was supposed to mark the start of a new era at Manchester United. Instead, so far, it’s been the same old story. Rather than new owners sweeping into Old Trafford to inject new life into a sleeping giant of a football club, supporters have seen their rivals take the first steps in the transfer window. Of the Premier League’s traditional top six — which has expanded to seven…

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June 29, 2023

Bayern end Qatar Airways deal amid fan outcry

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich will not renew a much-criticised sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways after it expires at the end of June, it was announced on Wednesday. The club said the deal would end by mutual consent after five years and that the “connections forged with fans in the Arab world through Qatar Airways would remain.” – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Bayern have drawn criticism over the…

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June 29, 2023

Jamaica, Canada feuding over funding before Women’s World Cup

Squads are convening, warm-up games are kicking off and players will soon be boarding flights to Australia and New Zealand with less than a month until the 2023 Women’s World Cup starts in Auckland. Yet with time ticking down to the opening game on July 20, at least two participating nations are still locked in significant disputes with their federations. Much was made of Canada’s threat to strike ahead of…

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June 28, 2023

Rapper Stormzy, Palace’s Zaha buy 9th-tier club

Rapper Stormzy has teamed up with Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha to buy ninth-tier English soccer side Croydon Athletic, the club said on Tuesday. Zaha was born in the Ivory Coast but grew up in Croydon from the age of four, while Grime sensation Stormzy also hails from the London borough. The duo have joined forces with former Palace head of player care Danny Young to buy the club. –…

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June 28, 2023

Sources: Spurs in advanced talks over Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks with Leicester City over the transfer of midfielder James Maddison, sources told ESPN. Spurs have tracked Maddison, 26, for several seasons, and new manager Ange Postecoglou is thought to be keen on the move. Sources told ESPN that negotiations are ongoing, with the two sides are still trying to find mutual ground on the transfer fee. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)…

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June 28, 2023

Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasionApril 3, 2025
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told a Spanish court on Wednesday that he “never thought about committing fraud” as he gave evidence in a trial in which he’s accused of failing to pay over €1 million ($1.08m) in taxes. Prosecutors have accused the veteran coach of evading paying tax on his image rights income during… Read more: Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasion
Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategyApril 2, 2025
NOTTINGHAM, England — Anthony Elanga chose a muted celebration after his wonderful solo goal against Manchester United, but the smile that crept over his face gave away the quiet satisfaction of scoring against his former club. Who could blame him? Man United decided Elanga wasn’t good enough when he was allowed to move to Nottingham… Read more: Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategy
Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this seasonApril 2, 2025
Hansi Flick has said there is no luck to Barcelona success this season but he knows it is trophies that matter as he prepares for Wednesday’s “final before the final” against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Barça and Atlético drew 4-4 in the first leg of their Copa semifinal in February and finally… Read more: Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this season
Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for himApril 1, 2025
Real Betis midfielder Isco has joked that crowdfunding will be needed to keep Manchester United’s loanee Antony at the club for at least next season. Antony has been a big hit in Spain since joining on loan from United after a difficult first half of the campaign at Old Trafford. However, the loan deal which… Read more: Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for him
Haaland’s nightmare game, Napoli back in Serie A title race, RB Leipzig chaos, moreApril 1, 2025
The international break has finished and this weekend brought us plenty to talk about as European club action returned with a bang! Manchester City advanced in the FA Cup despite a game to forget by Erling Haaland, and Napoli took a decisive step back into Serie A’s title race while simultaneously wrecking Milan’s aspirations of… Read more: Haaland’s nightmare game, Napoli back in Serie A title race, RB Leipzig chaos, more
Football Australia: ‘No further action’ on KerrMarch 31, 2025
Sam Kerr has avoided being stripped of the Matildas captaincy after meeting with the Football Australia board, with the striker finally joining the Australian women’s team in camp. The parties met to address Kerr’s recent U.K. court case, where she was found not guilty on one charge of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.… Read more: Football Australia: ‘No further action’ on Kerr
Arsenal name Berta as new sporting directorMarch 31, 2025
Arsenal have appointed Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, the club announced on Sunday. Berta will take on the permanent role, replacing Edu Gasper who resigned in November and has been on a six-month period of gardening leave since. “I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for… Read more: Arsenal name Berta as new sporting director
Transfer rumors, news: Leipzig want Jobe Bellingham amid links to Chelsea and othersMarch 30, 2025
RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko could be moving to the Premier League, while Man United have targeted his teammate Xavi Simons. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors, and gossip from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s January grades | Women’s January grades – Sources: Griezmann to delay Atleti exit… Read more: Transfer rumors, news: Leipzig want Jobe Bellingham amid links to Chelsea and others
Iraola ‘happy’ at Bournemouth amid Spurs talkMarch 30, 2025
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said he is happy at the south coast side and is hoping to make history at the club as they chase their first major trophy, amid speculation linking the Spaniard with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. With Spurs languishing 14th in the Premier League after 29 matches and bowing out of… Read more: Iraola ‘happy’ at Bournemouth amid Spurs talk
Ronaldo to lead CONMEBOL anti-racism task forceMarch 29, 2025
Brazil’s two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazario will lead a special task force created to try to eradicate racism, discrimination, and violence in South American soccer, the sport’s continental governing body said Thursday. “Its mission will be to design policies and establish prevention and sanction mechanisms that contribute to eradicating these behaviors that affect both… Read more: Ronaldo to lead CONMEBOL anti-racism task force