Football’s most prestigious individual prize, the Ballon d’Or, will be co-organised by UEFA from next year, giving the European governing body a global event that traditionally out-ranks FIFA’s own world awards. The deal comes seven years after a previous partnership between the French organisers of the award and world governing body FIFA ended. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) – Women’s Ballon d’or mess shows soccer has long…
BIRMINGHAM, England — There’s a tough crowd at Birmingham City and Wayne Rooney has already experienced the wrath of the club’s long-suffering supporters, who booed him at the end of his first home game (a 2-0 loss to Hull City) as manager last month. Birmingham are a blue-collar team and proudly so, rooted in the Small Heath area of England’s second-biggest city that was the setting for “Peaky Blinders,” the…
Leading players from the U.S. women ‘s national team and across Europe have joined forces in an effort to tackle rising mental health issues within football through a new initiative called “Create the Space.” USWNT stars Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith and Sofia Huerta are among the stars to back the project, which aims to provide mental health practitioners to facilitate in-person training at all levels of the game, from the…
LONDON — “I’ve been heroic / I’ve been criminal / I’ve been angelic / I’ve been infernal/ You hate me/ You love me/ I’m only judged by myself.” Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is back performing in front of a crowd, re-modelled as a world-weary troubadour, and the lyrics he sings at the start of his live show are exactly as you would expect. A stripped-back version of the autobiographical…
LONDON — The result didn’t really matter for Arsenal on Wednesday but the performance does. The Carabao Cup was never going to define the Gunners’ season, yet a dreadful 3-1 defeat at West Ham raises questions that will linger beyond their fourth-round exit. Before this game, Mikel Arteta tasked his players with showing the mindset required to maintain a high level impervious to switching competitions. It was a challenge they…
The chief executive of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has ruled out broadcasting the audio of VAR decisions live during games, believing it would be “a chaotic experience.” There have been growing calls for the discussions between officials to be played out during matches, but it remains outlawed by IFAB. There are also fears that live VAR audio could create “an unsafe environment for referees.” – Stream on ESPN+:…
The summer transfer window has closed throughout Europe, but there are still moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years because of his behaviour after the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, FIFA announced Monday. FIFA’s disciplinary committee had earlier suspended Rubiales for 90 days after his actions — kissing forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips, grabbing his crotch, and throwing another player over his shoulder — marred Spain’s 1-0 win over England in…
Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior vowed to keep speaking out against racism in world soccer after receiving the Socrates Award on Monday at the Ballon d’Or ceremony for his contribution off the field. Vinícius, who has been racially abused repeatedly in LaLiga games over the last two seasons, was recognized for starting a foundation that is building schools in impoverished areas and investing in education in Brazil. “I will remain…
Ilkay Gündogan said Barcelona must show more emotion and more anger if they are to compete in the biggest games after losing Saturday’s El Clásico 2-1 to Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium. Barça took the lead in the first half through Gündogan, but a brace from Jude Bellingham after the break, including the 92nd-minute winner, helped Madrid return to the top of LaLiga, level on points with Girona and…