LONDON — England striker Harry Kane is being sent back to Bayern Munich to continue his recovery from an ankle injury, Gareth Southgate has confirmed. Kane won’t feature against Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday. Kane joined up with the England squad ahead of the friendly against Brazil despite suffering an ankle injury during Bayern’s 5-2 win over Darmstadt a week ago. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)…
The Football Association (FA) have defended the new England shirt that will be used at this year’s European Championship after political criticism over the alteration of the St. George’s Cross. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have criticised the jersey and called for it to be changed before the tournament. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The shirts have been under the spotlight…
There’s a pretty clear perception and stereotype associated with professional footballers (but hey, this probably applies to any team sport that generally expects you to sacrifice school for practice by the time you’re 16 and where your career earnings are in eight figures by the time you’re 25). Many are thought to inhabit a continuum that spans from dull nights doing dull pedestrian things at home in front of a…
Bukayo Saka has left the England camp and returned to club side Arsenal to continue his rehabilitation, the Football Association (FA) announced on Thursday. The FA’s press release said the 22-year-old arrived at the camp at St. Georges Park with an injury and has been unable to participate in training sessions. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Saka will miss England’s upcoming friendlies against Brazil on Saturday and…
The City Football Group (CFG) is considering signing Liverpool Montevideo starlet Luciano Rodríguez, sources have told ESPN. Manchester City’s ownership group could offer the Uruguayan club €15 million ($16.3m) for the transfer with a source telling ESPN that they would be willing to pay an extra €3m to the 20-year-old striker to complete the deal. However, the deal is complicated by the fact that Liverpool Montevideo control 80% of his…
It doesn’t happen often but the distinctly different worlds of football and professional wrestling collided this week after Manchester City striker Erling Haaland teamed up with wrestler and actor John Cena for a lighthearted skit to promote the Premier League club’s upcoming preseason tour. Fresh from an extremely revealing comic cameo at the Oscars, Cena was again at his jovial best as he video-called Haaland from Florida, posing as the…
International friendlies have undoubtedly fallen greatly in prestige, and the fans of European clubs football might understandably be irritated that this month’s FIFA dates are getting in the way of the closing stages of title races across the continent. Even so, there is a special reason to treasure — if not at least tolerate — the action that is taking place over the next few days. Brazil’s last World Cup…
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has offered its “total and unconditional support” to a referee accused of negligence by Real Madrid for failing to report insulting chants aimed at Vinícius Júnior. Referee Juan Martinez Munuera did not include chants from the crowd of “Vinícius, die” in his official match report after Madrid’s 4-2 win over Osasuna at El Sadar on Saturday, in which the Brazil forward scored twice. On Monday,…
The British government is planning to establish an independent football regulator to oversee the sport and encourage financial stability via a bill introduced in parliament on Tuesday. The regulator will be independent of government and football authorities with the power to fine clubs up to 10% of their turnover for non-compliance with financial regulations, the government said in a press release. The legislation will strengthen tests of the suitability for…
Real Madrid have filed a complaint with the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] calling the referee in their 4-2 LaLiga win at Osasuna “negligent” for failing to include insulting chants aimed at Vinícius Júnior in his match report. Television cameras picked up part of the crowd singing “Vinicius, die” during Saturday’s game at El Sadar, with Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal then gesturing towards referee Juan Martinez Munuera. Vinicius scored twice in…