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Lille’s Angel Gomes hospitalized with head injury

Lille’s game against Stade de Reims was halted for more than 30 minutes after Angel Gomes was knocked unconscious in a collision and needed lengthy treatment. Lille’s 2-0 victory was overshadowed by the serious head injury sustained by Gomes, an English attacking midfielder, after a collision with Reims’ Amadou Koné in the 11th minute. Gomes received medical attention for more than 20 minutes before being carried off on a stretcher.…

Buzzwords alone won’t save Premier League VAR from the abyss

“Well done, boys; good process,” referee Simon Hooper said to his team, praising them for a smooth VAR review as he restarted play after Liverpool’s Luis Díaz had been flagged offside at Tottenham Hotspur in September 2023. It couldn’t have been further from the truth. Hooper was oblivious to the huge error that had unfolded in the VAR room; Diaz was onside, and the goal should have been given. Hooper’s…

Álvarez: I left Man City to look for a new challenge

Julián Álvarez has said he left Manchester City after only two seasons to join Atlético Madrid because he needed “a new challenge.” The Argentina international, who had a contract with City through June 2028, completed his move to Atlético earlier this week for £82 million ($104m). “I felt that I needed a change in my career,” Alvarez said during his unveiling on Friday. “I needed to look for a new…

Prem loans £20m to women’s game oversight org

The Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), which was formerly known as NewCo and is taking over running the Women’s Super League (WSL) from the FA, has been granted a £20 million interest-free loan from the Premier League as the top two tiers of women’s football in England becomes independent for the first time. The announcement comes after last November’s news that that women’s football in England would be run by…

Arsenal to win the title, Arne Slot to thrive at Liverpool? Bold predictions for 2024-25

The 2024-25 European soccer season is finally here! After months of waiting — and with a brilliant summer of drama and excitement thanks to Euro 2024, the Copa America and the Olympics — we are back with a new club season on the continent, and there’s plenty to talk about. Who’s winning the Premier League? Can anyone topple Real Madrid in Europe? Will Bayern Munich reclaim their crown as the…

Mourinho: Europa League is Fenerbahce’s ‘level’

Fenerbahce coach José Mourinho has said the Europa League is “more adapted to our level” after the Turkish giants missed out on Champions League football for the 2024-25 season. Mourinho’s side drew 1-1 in extra-time with Lille on Tuesday and were consequently knocked out in the third qualifying round of Europe’s elite continental competition, losing 3-2 on aggregate. “I am experienced and realistic enough to say that in Champions league…

Etheridge looking forward to ‘fantastic’ ASEAN Club Championship with Buriram

After a hiatus of two decades, Southeast Asia’s leading football clubs will once again lock horns in official competition when the ASEAN Club Championship kicks off on Aug. 21. The tournament originally debuted in 2003 and was to be held biennially but was cancelled after its second edition due to several major obstacles, including clashes with the wider Asian Football Confederation calendar and a failure to gain traction with sponsors.…

Ahead of soccer’s longest-ever season, are players on verge of burning out?

Football is at a breaking point. If anyone doubts that, just ask Erling Haaland. Should all go to plan for the Manchester City forward during the 2024-25 campaign, his season will be 354 days long. Ready or not, the new football season will be the longest and most physically demanding ever. Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham — the game’s biggest stars — could each play over 70 games between now…