UEFA clears Barcelona for Champions League, warns investigation into ref payments can be reopened
UEFA has confirmed Barcelona’s place in the next Champions League though said investigation into more than $7 million paid to a refereeing official could be reopened if more evidence emerges
2023-07-27 23:17
Austria defender Stefan Lainer diagnosed with cancer and faces months of treatment
Austria defender Stefan Lainer has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer
2023-07-27 22:59
Liverpool face fresh competition for Romeo Lavia as Southampton reject opening bid
Southampton have set a price of £50m for Romeo Lavia, having rejected Liverpool’s opening bid of £37m for the 19-year-old. The offer is expected to bring a move from Chelsea, as they seek to add at least one more midfielder. Liverpool have made a move after agreeing sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League, with Jurgen Klopp keen to add more depth in midfield. Lavia has been seen as one of the most attractive options in the window, due to his burgeoning quality midfield at the age of 19 and a relatively cheap price. That has also ensured both Arsenal and Manchester United have been looking at the Southampton player, with the former having previously been seen as favourites to sign him. Liverpool have since moved ahead, however, as Mikel Arteta is himself dependent on sales. Southampton have so far proved steadfast in their insistence Lavia is only available for £50m, but the view in the market is a deal for £45m could be struck. Liverpool are set to improve their offer after Henderson’s controversial move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq was completed on Thursday. Fabinho, who has been linked with Al Ittihad, is expected to follow the former Liverpool captain. Read More Jordan Henderson risks tarnishing Liverpool legacy after career built on triumph of character Who could replace Fabinho? Liverpool transfer options analysed Mohammed Kudus: Chelsea leading Arsenal in race for £40m Ajax star
2023-07-27 22:58
Former Premier League star slams Jordan Henderson over Saudi Arabia move
One of Jordan Henderson’s former Premier League stars has questioned whether his support for LGBT+ rights was “genuine” after he left Liverpool for Saudi Arabia. Thomas Hitzlsperger, the highest profile professional footballer to come out as gay in 2013, expressed his disappointment at Henderson’s decision to join Al Ettifaq in a £12m deal. He said: “So Jordan Henderson finally gets his move to Saudi Arabia. Fair play to him, he can play wherever he wants to play. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “Curious to know though how the new brand JH will look like. The old one is dead! I did believe for a while that his support for the LGBT+ community would be genuine. Silly me…” Henderson had gained a reputation for being an ally of the LGBT+ community after putting out various statements condemning homophobia in recent years. The England vice-captain previously expressed shock over Qatar's human rights record before the World Cup. He wrote in a Liverpool match day programme in 2021: “I do believe when you see something that is clearly wrong and makes another human being feel excluded you should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. “You also have a responsibility to educate yourself better around the challenges they experience. That's where my own position on homophobia in football is rooted.” That reputation is now in tatters. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Saudi Arabia, while the gender expression of trans people is also criminalised. Sentences include a maximum penalty of death. There is evidence of the law being enforced in recent years, according to campaign group Human Dignity Trust, and LGBT people are regularly subjected to discrimination and violence. Hitzlsperger, who played for Aston Villa, West Ham and Everton, as well as gaining 55 caps for Germany, is one of several in the footballing world to slam Henderson for moving to a Saudi club, which many see as tacit acceptance of the kingdom’s stance on LGBT+ rights. Liverpool LGBT+ fan group Kop Outs joined the chorus of disapproval after Henderson announced the deal. The organisation tweeted that when Henderson met Paul Amann, founder of Kop Outs, in August 2021, Jordan “said if there's ever anything I can do to help, just ask”. “So the ask is to stand by your words as a professed ally & champion of #LGBT+ rights, of women's rights and of basic human dignity. Don't go to Saudi.” Nonetheless, Henderson looks unlikely to be the last Premier League footballer to move to Saudi Arabia, after huge investment from the kingdom in sports such as football and golf as part of a move to burnish its previously faltering global reputation. Cristiano Ronaldo started the influx at the start of the year. Henderson is joining state-owned Al-Ettifaq, the club managed by his former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. The 33-year-old had initially rebuffed the approach but it seems it was too lucrative to turn down, with reports he will triple his current £200,000-a-week salary. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-27 22:50
Third Time May Be Charm for Women’s Pro Soccer in America
US women’s soccer has more often been associated with its national team—thanks in large part to four World
2023-07-27 22:50
Formed to combat Olympic sex abuse, SafeSport center is struggling 6 years after opening
Six years into its mission to remedy the sex-abuse crisis in Olympic sports, the U.S. Center for SafeSport is struggling
2023-07-27 22:48
Sean Payton Took Shots at Nathaniel Hackett, Last Year's Broncos and This Year's New York Jets
Sean Payton took shots at Nathaniel Hackett and the New York Jets.
2023-07-27 22:47
Captain Horan sets the tone for United States at the Women's World Cup
As co-captain of the United States, Lindsey Horan is setting a feisty tone for the team at the Women's World Cup
2023-07-27 22:45
End of an era as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo 'don’t feature' in EA Sports FC 24’s top 10 players
FIFA players could be witnessing the end of an era, after both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi reportedly missed out on a spot in the top 10 best players list in the new game. The upcoming instalment, which is the first of the franchise to ditch FIFA from the title and will go by the title EA Sports FC 24, is set to be released next month. However, details from the game and the updated squads have reportedly already been leaked and they may come as a surprise to some fans. According to SportBible, neither Ronaldo or Messi rank among the best players in the new game. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter They might be approaching the ends of their careers now, but it’s still a surprise to see the pair who have dominated the top echelons of professional football for the past two decades drop down the rankings. Instead, the top 10 player ratings reportedly see a number of both male and female players tied on the rating of 91. Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, Alexia Putellas and Sam Kerr are all tied as the best players in the game. Elsewhere, Wendie Renard, Karim Benzema, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Morgan and Robert Lewandowski are tied with a rating of 90. That completes the top 10, with Ronaldo and Messi said to have respective ratings of 83 and 88. For players of the game who have perhaps grown up with them dominating the ratings in the game, it’s a pretty major change. The upcoming game will see a number of new features introduced, including brand new commentators and an Ultimate Team featuring female players. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-27 22:17
Today at the World Cup: Australia rocked by Nigeria as Portugal earn first win
Nigeria sprung a shock at the World Cup on Thursday as they fought back from a goal down to beat co-hosts Australia 3-2. Defending champions the United States and the Netherlands battled out a 1-1 draw in a rematch of the 2019 final, while Portugal registered their first ever win at this level, defeating fellow debutants Vietnam 2-0. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the day’s action. Australia stunned Having opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland last week, Australia were left in danger of missing out on the last 16 following their second group game as Nigeria pulled off a stunning come-from-behind win in Brisbane. The Matildas, again without injured captain and record scorer Sam Kerr, took the lead through an Emily van Egmond finish in first-half stoppage-time, but Uchenna Kanu restored parity before the break and the African side – ranked 30 places below Australia at 40th in the world – then went in front via Osinache Ohale’s 65th-minute header. Substitute Asisat Oshoala added a third after 72 minutes, with Australia only able to reply with an Alanna Kennedy header deep in stoppage time, as Nigeria moved to the top of Group B, joining Canada on four points. They will aim to secure a place in the last 16 when they face already-eliminated Ireland at the same venue on Monday, when Australia, now third, take on Canada in Melbourne looking to avoid an early exit. The second-placed team in this group will face the winners of England’s in the next round, and vice versa. Heavyweights share the points In Group E, the US and the Netherlands are first and second respectively with four points apiece following an engrossing draw in Wellington. A 17th-minute strike from Jill Roord, teed up by Victoria Pelova, put the Dutch ahead. The United States equalised just past the hour mark when Lindsey Horan headed in Rose Lavelle’s corner and Alex Morgan later thought she had completed a turnaround, but her finish was ruled out for offside. History for Portugal A point behind the top two in that group are Portugal after their historic result against Vietnam in Hamilton. Telma Encarnacao scored in the seventh minute and Francisca Nazareth in the 14th – what proved the only goals despite Francisco Neto’s team having numerous further attempts, with Joana Marchao going closest with two efforts that hit the bar in the second half. Portugal take on the US in their final pool match in Auckland next Tuesday while Vietnam, whose campaign is confirmed as ending at the group stage after two defeats, will face the Netherlands in Dunedin. Post of the day Quote of the day The biggest and most important thing we have to prepare right now is to mentally bounce back. The truth is right in front of us - it’s a must-win game against an Olympic champion in the last round of the group stage to get out. Australia boss Tony Gustavsson Up next Group G: Argentina v South Africa (1am, Dunedin)Group D: England v Denmark (9.30am, Sydney)Group D: China v Haiti (midday, Adelaide)all times BST Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Today is a sad day for me – David Silva waves goodbye to football Manchester United confident of signing striker as Rasmus Hojlund talks continue Jordan Henderson completes controversial move to Saudi Arabia
2023-07-27 22:16
Free agent running back Dalvin Cook meeting with Jets this weekend, AP source says
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press free agent running back Dalvin Cook is scheduled to visit with the New York Jets this weekend
2023-07-27 21:58
Today is a sad day for me – David Silva waves goodbye to football
Former Manchester City playmaker David Silva has said his goodbyes to football as the World Cup winner and four-time Premier League champion announced his retirement. The 37-year-old played 436 games across 10 seasons at the Etihad Stadium, helping to turn City into the best team in England and winning a total of 11 major honours with the club. Silva started his career in the youth ranks at Valencia, making his senior debut in 2004 and spending six years in LaLiga before signing for City. He was capped 125 times by Spain, scoring 35 goals and winning the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and 2012. “Today is a sad day for me,” he said in a message posted on his Twitter account. “Today it is time to say goodbye to what I have dedicated my whole life to. “Today it is time to say goodbye to my colleagues, who are like family to me. I will miss you very much.” Addressing the fans of the clubs he represented, Silva added: “Thank you because you have made me feel at home.” He left City in 2020, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak confirming Silva would be one of three players whose contribution to turning the club into a top contender in Europe would be commemorated with a statue outside the Etihad. Silva spent three seasons at Real Sociedad and made almost 100 appearances but was forced to hang up his boots after suffering a serious knee injury in pre-season training earlier this month. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-07-27 21:54