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From youngsters making their Champions League debuts, to 16-year-olds dazzling at the World Cup, 2023 was the year of the wonderkids in women’s football. In recent times we’ve seen the likes of Lauren James, Sophia Smith and Mary Fowler graduate from youth teamers to fully fledged professionals, but now the next generation are chomping at the bit to prove themselves. While there is still a large disparity in access and…

FIFA is set to create dozens of new committees and expert panels, reversing a governance reform passed in 2016 when the world football body was in turmoil during corruption scandals. FIFA’s plan to increase its number of standing committees from seven to 35 — with the option to let its president Gianni Infantino create and appoint extra panels of experts — was detailed in a draft update of its legal…

FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round next season as part of a six-year agreement with the Premier League to strengthen the domestic competition, the English Football Association (FA) announced on Thursday. The FA added that all FA Cup rounds will be played on weekends from next term, with the fourth and fifth rounds, plus quarterfinals, to be held exclusive of Premier League matches. – Stream on…

Brazil legend Romario, 58, has registered himself as a player for America Football Club in Rio de Janeiro, where he also serves as club president. After his registration was approved on Tuesday, the 1994 World Cup winner is available to play for the club in the second division of the Carioca Championship — the state league of Rio de Janeiro — which begins on May 18. – Stream on ESPN+:…

The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Napoli want to sign Lille striker Jonathan David this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Serie A side are reported to view the 24-year-old as the ideal…

I don’t think that this is particularly widely known or properly understood, but Jude Bellingham was always “scheduled” to be playing in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Only it was supposed to be for Manchester City against Real Madrid instead of Bellingham traveling to England’s north-west with Spain’s champions-elect this week. It was January last year that I had coffee with an unimpeachable…

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández fumed about the decision to send Ronald Araújo off as his side were eliminated from the Champions League after Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Olympic Stadium. Xavi said Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs was a “disaster” and that showing a red card to Araujo for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola with Barça leading 1-0 on the night in the 29th minute, 4-2 on…

Football Australia and NSW Police are investigating a spectator who appeared to perform a Nazi salute during the A-League derby between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. The man, standing in the Wanderers’ active supporter bay at Allianz Stadium, was filmed by Network Ten cameras at full-time in Saturday’s match, which was won 2-1 by Sydney FC. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Initially the man gives the…

The Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) will review its “spectator code of conduct” after the “disgraceful” incident that saw an individual whip Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah. During the award ceremony after Al Hilal’s 4-1 win over Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Thursday, a fan in the stands close to the field was captured on video reaching over the railing…

After Wrexham earned their second consecutive promotion with Saturday’s 6-0 win over Forest Green, Ryan Reynolds said the emotional journey of his and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of the club has been “the ride of our lives.” The ambitious Welsh side’s emphatic victory ensured their promotion to League One — the third tier of English football — for the first time in 19 years and with two matches to spare. –…