Category Other

Alonso slams Leverkusen ‘complacency’ after draw

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Hosts Bayer Leverkusen paid the price for being complacent after squandering a two-goal lead and losing control of the game before drawing 2-2 against promoted Holstein Kiel in the German Bundesliga on Saturday. Champions Leverkusen scored twice in the opening eight minutes but wasted a two-goal advantage for the third time in six Bundesliga matches this season. “I am not satisfied with our performance. It was our…

Other
October 6, 2024

Spain coach: FA crisis imperils 2030 World Cup

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is concerned by reports that the country could be stripped of its 2030 World Cup hosting rights because the Spain football federation (RFEF) has yet to elect a new president. FIFA is due to ratify Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as main hosts of the 2030 tournament at its Congress meeting on Dec. 11. However, FIFA met in Madrid this week with representatives of the…

Other
October 5, 2024

Pogba doping ban reduced; can return in March ’25

World Cup winner Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been reduced to 18 months from an initial four years, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Friday. “The suspension is now 18 months, starting Sept. 11, 2023,” CAS director general Matthieu Reeb told Reuters. The decision means that the former France international will be eligible to make a return to competitive football in March 2025. Pogba welcomed the decision in…

Other
October 5, 2024

FIFA adjusts transfer rules for Club World Cup

FIFA has agreed on interim transfer rules aiming to help players change teams and go to the Club World Cup in the United States next June-July. The move on Thursday opens the door for players whose contracts expire on June 30 to sign early as free agents for one of the 32 teams who qualified for the relaunched FIFA club tournament. They include Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and…

Other
October 4, 2024

Endrick shrugs off critics: ‘That’s what football is’

Real Madrid forward Endrick has said he isn’t affected by outside criticism after a defeat, stating “that’s what football is.” Endrick, who joined Los Blancos this summer from Palmeiras, became Madrid’s youngest player to start in a Champions League game aged 18 years and 73 days in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at Lille. Asked about handling negative comments after defeats when playing for Madrid, Endrick said: “To be honest, I don’t…

Other
October 4, 2024

Watkins pre-Bayern: I want Kane’s England spot

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins said he hopes to put down an England marker when he faces Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight with Harry Kane in a race to be fit. Kane picked up an ankle injury at the weekend in Bayern’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, but Vincent Kompany is optimistic he will be available for Wednesday’s European clash at Villa Park. If Kane is fit to…

Other
October 3, 2024

After years as Klopp’s assistant, Lijnders is ready to lead at Salzburg

The walls of Pep Lijnders’ garage in his new Salzburg home are still bare. The unpacked boxes on the floor contain memories of his journey from coaching apprentice at PSV to becoming Jürgen Klopp’s “equal partner” at Liverpool, as Klopp calls it. There are framed photos, shirts and match balls from the several finals he helped the team reach. But there is one other keepsake he cherishes above all as…

Other
October 3, 2024

Mbappé in line for early injury return in UCL

Kylian Mbappé has recovered from injury and is available to play for Real Madrid against Lille in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed, saying “if there’s no risk, he’ll play from the first minute.” Mbappé suffered a thigh injury in Madrid’s 3-2 LaLiga win over Alavés on Sept. 24, with a source telling ESPN the forward was expected to be out of action for around three weeks. However, the France…

Other
October 2, 2024

Shame on Diego Simeone for amplifying Madrid derby mess

Under the cover of apparently “doing the right thing,” I think that Diego Simeone shamed himself, his club and LaLiga on Sunday during and after Atlético Madrid’s heated, controversial 1-1 draw with Real Madrid. By now, you’ve no doubt seen that the derby was temporarily halted because of a hail of objects thrown at Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois, and that the eyes of the footballing world were turned to how…

Other
October 2, 2024

FIFA bans Eto’o from games for conduct violations

Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o was banned by FIFA on Monday from attending any national team games for six months. Eto’o, who has been president of the Cameroon football federation since 2021, faced two charges from an incident at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia on Sept. 11. FIFA did not specify details of what happened at the round-of-16 game that Brazil won against Cameroon 3-1 after extra time. Eto’o…

Other
October 1, 2024

Champions League quarterfinal predictions, from Real Madrid-Arsenal to Villa-PSGMarch 14, 2025
Well, the Champions League round of 16 concluded on Wednesday night with some unforgettable second legs and plenty of penalty shoot-out drama. Not only did Paris Saint-Germain eliminate Liverpool on spot-kicks at Anfield this week, but Real Madrid emerged from a trip to rivals Atletico Madrid with a similar victory after 120 tension-packed minutes to… Read more: Champions League quarterfinal predictions, from Real Madrid-Arsenal to Villa-PSG
The Football Reporters: Do Chelsea prove WSL has competitiveness problem?March 13, 2025
On the latest episode of The Football Reporters podcast, ESPN’s Emily Keogh, Tom Hamilton and Jeff Kassouf ask whether Chelsea’s dominance in the Women’s Super League shows the league has a competitiveness problem? Chelsea have won 16 of their 14 games and remain unbeaten in the WSL this season under head coach Sonia Bompastor as… Read more: The Football Reporters: Do Chelsea prove WSL has competitiveness problem?
Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal eye Bayern winger Leroy SanéMarch 13, 2025
Arsenal are considering a move to sign Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané, while Manchester United prefer a move for Harry Kane over Jean-Philippe Mateta. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s January grades | Women’s January grades – Man Utd CEO:… Read more: Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal eye Bayern winger Leroy Sané
Why does Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas have a statue in Melbourne?March 12, 2025
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in May 2020, but has been updated ahead of the release of the new documentary Ange & The Boss, which will be screened in select cinemas from March 13. MELBOURNE — There are a lot of statues in Melbourne’s Olympic precinct. Bronze statues encircle the famous Melbourne Cricket… Read more: Why does Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas have a statue in Melbourne?
Man United’s new stadium will be big, but it won’t be world’s biggest football groundMarch 12, 2025
It’s been a long time coming, but Premier League giants Manchester United have formally announced their plans to build a new stadium in the city rather than attempt to redevelop the crumbling infrastructure at Old Trafford. The Theatre of Dreams has been United’s home since 1910 but has been showing its age in recent years,… Read more: Man United’s new stadium will be big, but it won’t be world’s biggest football ground
Arsenal’s title race ends with Man United draw, Real Madrid win ugly: Marcotti explains the weekendMarch 11, 2025
The European soccer weekend delivered a ton to talk about as usual, so let’s dig in. In the Premier League, Arsenal’s draw at Manchester United and Liverpool’s comeback win at Southampton more or less puts the title race to bed for Arne Slot and the Reds, while Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti played their way… Read more: Arsenal’s title race ends with Man United draw, Real Madrid win ugly: Marcotti explains the weekend
Liga MX chief Arriola named federation presidentMarch 11, 2025
Liga MX president Mikel Arriola will now be assuming the role of Mexico Football Federation interim president for upcoming events sanctioned by Concacaf and FIFA, given the absence of a permanent figure. Juan Carlos Rodríguez, nicknamed “La Bomba,” previously held the position of FMF president before resigning in December 2024. Under Rodríguez, Mexico had three… Read more: Liga MX chief Arriola named federation president
Transfer rumors, news: Man United eye £40m move for MatetaMarch 10, 2025
Manchester United have reportedly opened talks with Crystal Palace for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s January grades | Women’s January grades… Read more: Transfer rumors, news: Man United eye £40m move for Mateta
Amorim: Man United need ‘more Brunos’ to step upMarch 10, 2025
Ruben Amorim said Manchester United “need more Brunos” after captain Bruno Fernandes scored a first-half free kick and almost netted a late winner in a 1-1 Premier League draw against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday. Declan Rice’s 74th-minute goal cancelled out Fernandes’ 45th-minute strike to earn Arsenal a point, but Arsenal needed a crucial… Read more: Amorim: Man United need ‘more Brunos’ to step up
Xavi: I was too emotionally connected in Barça jobMarch 9, 2025
Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has said he was too emotionally connected to the Catalan club to deliver the sustained success demanded from him. Xavi, who made 767 appearances for Barça as a player, returned to the LaLiga side in 2021 when he replaced Ronald Koeman as manager. He led Barça to a first LaLiga… Read more: Xavi: I was too emotionally connected in Barça job