Matchday three of the 2023-24 Women’s Champions League group stage is over and we’re at the halfway stage as things start to get really interesting. Swedish side BK Häcken are the main surprise still at the top of Group D after a 0-0 draw with Chelsea, while Paris FC picked themselves up with a 2-1 win over disappointing Real Madrid to reignite their campaign. Group C is wide open as…
Roma coach Jose Mourinho escaped a touchline ban after cooperating with the Italian football federation’s disciplinary prosecutor and was instead only fined €20,000 ($22,000) on Friday for labelling a referee unstable. Before a recent match with Sassuolo, Mourinho questioned the abilities of referee Matteo Marcenaro. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “We had him three times as a fourth official and I don’t think he has the emotional…
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has confirmed the club will try to sign a centre-back in January after admitting his squad lacks cover in defensive positions. Spurs are without Mickey van de Ven until next year due to a thigh injury and have allowed Davinson Sánchez, Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon all to leave in the summer, the latter pair on loan. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) With…
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) said on Thursday its disciplinary board had imposed a permanent ban on Ankaragucu club president Faruk Koca for punching a referee after a game this week in the country’s top soccer league. The TFF board also ruled that Ankaragucu, a club in the top-tier Super Lig in Turkey, would pay a two million lira ($69,000) fine and would play five home games without fans as…
Welsh football side Pontypridd United face an historic 141 point deduction after fielding ineligible players and breaching players’ contracts, an independent panel has found. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) investigated the Cymru Premier team and the panel found them guilty on all 18 charges, which include not paying players, breaching player contracts, failing to register players correctly with the FAW and fielding ineligible players. Pontypridd United denied all charges.…
Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina has reinforced his statement that abuse of officials is a “cancer” on football, after Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler was punched in the face by Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca. Ankaragucu conceded a 97th minute equaliser in their Super Lig clash against Rizespor on Monday, before Koca rushed the field and assaulted Meler. A Turkish court ordered the president’s arrest following the incident.…
Former Juventus and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini retired from professional football on Tuesday, calling time on a career which began in 2000. Chiellini’s final game came in Saturday’s MLS Cup final, where his LAFC team were beaten 2-1 by Columbus Crew. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life,” Chiellini wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “You have been…
Napoli eased into the knockout stages of the Champions League with two first-half goals in a 2-0 home win over Sporting Braga on Tuesday.
From Dec. 12 to Dec. 22, the top team from each continent will compete for the honour of being the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup champion in Saudi Arabia as the tournament kicks off on Tuesday between Al Ittihad and Auckland City. Reigning champions Real Madrid were knocked out by Manchester City in the 2022-23 Champions League season, with the Premier League side representing Europe with strong backing to win.…
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended all leagues on a night of “shame” for the nation’s soccer after Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca punched the referee in the face at the end of their Super Lig home match against Rizespor. Koca entered the field and hit referee Halil Umut Meler when the final whistle blew after Rizespor scored a 97th minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium on…