Off the Pitch

Canada head coach Bev Priestman fired over Olympic drone scandal following independent report

Bev Priestman will not return as head coach of the Canadian women's soccer team following an independent report into the use of drones to spy on an opponent at this year's Paris Olympics, Canada Soccer said on Tuesday.

Priestman and two other team officials were previously banned by FIFA from any soccer-related activity for one year after New Zealand complained Canadian staff flew drones over their training sessions before their opening match in Paris.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs. Besiktas to be played behind closed doors after Amsterdam chaos

The Europa League match between Turkish club Besiktas and Maccabi Tel-Aviv from Israel on Nov. 28 will be contested in a neutral territory in Hungary, UEFA said on Monday.

The match was originally a home game for Istanbul-based Besiktas, but the Turkish government had earlier decided not to host it in Turkey. It will now be played at Nagyerdei Stadium in Debrecen.

Besiktas vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv

FC Cincinnati midfielder and Ecuador international Marco Anuglo dies at age 22

Ecuador international Marco Angulo has died at the age of 22, a month after suffering critical injuries in a car crash, the Ecuadorean football federation said on Tuesday.

Angulo was involved in a traffic accident on Oct. 7 that also resulted in the death of his former youth team teammate Roberto Cabezas.

Angulo sustained head injuries and a lung contusion and died at a hospital in Quito on Monday night after a week in intensive care.

Marco Angulo death

UEFA announces that PSG won’t face punishment over massive ‘Free Palestine’ tifo

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain will not face disciplinary proceedings after their fans unfurled a 'Free Palestine' banner before kick-off in Wednesday's Champions League game at home to Atletico Madrid, European soccer's governing body UEFA said.

The 50x20-meter banner was displayed in the Auteuil Kop of the Parc des Princes, prompting France's Interior minister Bruno Retailleau to criticize the Qatar-owned club.

PSG Free Palestine banner

Struggling Kylian Mbappé left off France’s national team roster by head coach Didier Deschamps

PARIS — France have left Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé out of their squad to face Israel and Italy in this month's two Nations League games, coach Didier Deschamps said on Thursday as his captain's absence now stretches to four matches.

Deschamps did not say whether Mbappe, who played for Real in their Champions League home defeat by AC Milan on Tuesday, was injured, arguing his choice was a "one-off decision" and that the player "wanted to come" and join the team.

Kylian Mbappé France roster exclusion

FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulates Donald Trump on election win

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this week then you likely know that Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. presidential election. FIFA President Gianni Infantino posted to Instagram to congratulate the 47th President of the United States.

Gianni Infantino Trump post

NBC’s Rebecca Lowe tears into ‘arrogant’ Vinicius Jr. and wants him disqualified from Ballon d’Or

Reactions of Vinícius Jr. missing out on the Ballon d’Or vary depending on who you ask. A Rebecca Lowe Vini Jr. rant on the “It’s Called Soccer” podcast showed exactly which camp she is in about the controversy. 

Lowe does not think highly of the Real Madrid star.

Viral: 23-year-old Enzo Fernández divorces wife of six years to live ‘single life he missed out on during youth’

The Argentina international has once again wrapped himself in controversy. This time, he’s been ‘outed’ to have separated from his wife whom he shares two young children for a shocking reason.

Report: Enzo Fernández 'separates from wife and kids to live single-life he missed out on during youth'

According to reports, Chelsea FC midfielder, Enzo Fernández, has separated from his partner of over six years after telling her "he needs to experience the stage he skipped out on by choosing to start a family early on."

Real Madrid vs. Valencia postponed after major flooding in area kills at least 95 people

All soccer matches scheduled to be played in the Valencian region this weekend have been postponed, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Thursday due to the deadly floods which have killed at least 95 people.

Saturday's clash between Real Madrid and Valencia as well as Villarreal v Rayo Vallecano are among the games postponed.

Real Madrid vs Valencia postponed due to flooding

Jürgen Klopp defends choice to join Red Bull following waves of backlash

BERLIN — Former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp defended his decision to join Red Bull as global head of soccer from next year following criticism from fans in Germany, saying the project was 'outstanding' for him.

Klopp, who ended a successful nine-year stint at Liverpool last season, also coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, with many of those clubs' fans angered by his decision to join Red Bull.

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