Erik ten Hag has set high standards at Manchester United this season, but Bruno Fernandes might be even more demanding. After watching his team beat Chelsea 4-1 to add a top-four finish to the Carabao Cup, Ten Hag declared his first year at Old Trafford as a success. Fernandes, though, disagrees. And he won’t change his mind even if United beat Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday and lift the…
As the controversial “Festival of Football” nears its crescendo, APL chief executive Danny Townsend has told ESPN the concept’s debut had delivered on its key goals and that planning for an expanded and improved effort for next year is already underway. Concluding when Melbourne City and the Central Coast Mariners face off in the A-League Men grand final on Saturday, this year’s festival is the first since the leagues signed…
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has apologised for speaking at a business event tied to a far-right politician and will officiate next week’s Champions League final, UEFA said on Friday. Marciniak’s appointment for the game between Manchester City and Inter Milan on June 10 was at risk after a Warsaw-based anti-racism group alerted UEFA to his conference appearance this week. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Marciniak, who officiated…
Real Madrid were the world’s most valuable club in 2022 with a worth of $6.07 billion (£4.9bn), according to Forbes. For a second straight year, the Spanish giants topped the 30-club list compiled by the American business magazine, with Manchester United second, valued at $6bn (£4.8bn). – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) LaLiga champions Barcelona, who ranked first in 2021, are third with a valuation of $5.51bn (£4.4bn).…
England and Tottenham forward Harry Kane has said he hopes artificial intelligence can revolutionise injury prevention, with a number of players set to miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Sarina Wiegman’s England side won Euro 2022 last year but enter this summer’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand without stars Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A number of other leading…
An anti-racism group on Thursday called on the head referee of the Champions League final to distance himself from a far-right politician in Poland, and UEFA said it wanted “urgent clarification” ahead of the Champions League final. “A further announcement will be made [Friday], after reviewing all the evidence,” UEFA said. Szymon Marciniak has been picked by UEFA to referee the biggest game in club soccer between Manchester City and…
The sports ministers of Europe’s top football nations on Wednesday urged FIFA and broadcasters to work together and “find a common path” over broadcasting rights for this year’s Women’s World Cup. The rights are being sold separately from the men’s World Cup for the first time and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said earlier this month that Britain, Spain, France, Germany and Italy would face a blackout unless “unacceptable” bids were…
Follow live coverage of the Sevilla vs AS Roma 2022-23 UEFA Europa League, Final football match.
Sports broadcaster Gary Lineker once famously said, “Football is a simple game: Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes, and at the end, the Germans always win.” That isn’t particularly true at the international level anymore — Germany hasn’t made it to even the quarterfinals in its past three major tournaments — but a version of it remains true within Germany. The Bundesliga continues to be an incredibly fun…
Liverpool have appointed Jorg Schmadtke as the club’s new sporting director, the Premier League side said on Tuesday, as they look to rebuild for next season after failing to secure Champions League qualification. Schmadtke spent more than four years in the same role at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg before leaving at the start of the year. He has held similar positions at Cologne, Hannover and Alemannia Aachen. – Stream on ESPN+:…