Shocking

Four fans arrested for campaign to spread hate toward Vinícius Jr. online

MADRID — Four people have been arrested and questioned in Spain on suspicion of conducting an online hate campaign encouraging fans to racially abuse Real Madrid star forward Vinicius Jr, police said on Thursday.

The men were detained on Oct. 14 and 15 then released as investigations continued into social media slogans which urged fans to wear face masks so they could insult the Black Brazil international without being identified, police added.

Watch: Raul Jimenez scores insane long-range free kick against USMNT

Jiménez is having an outstanding start to the 2024/25 Premier League season and the Mexican striker has translated his good form to the national team. And what a way to do it.

Raul Jimenez free kick goal vs. USMNT

Raúl Jiménez scored the opener during the international friendly between Mexico and the U.S. men’s national team on Tuesday, beating USMNT’s Matt Turner with an insane long-range free kick.

Watch: Crazy red card as player picks up ball and punts it into opponent’s face

A Copa del Rey red card in the preliminary round of the competition has gone somewhat viral after a player punted the ball into an opponent’s face.

During Wednesday’s game between Astur and Promesas EDF, chaos erupted near the sideline that would see two red cards. Two players were battling for the ball as it went out of play and an Astur player shoved an opponent into the wall close to the sideline.

Nottingham Forest fined nearly $1 million for a tweet criticizing VAR decisions

Nottingham Forest have been fined $979,500 and warned for misconduct in relation to a social media post criticizing the referee after their Premier League defeat by Everton last season, the Football Association said on Friday.

Forest were angered at being denied three penalty claims in the 2-0 loss and minutes after the game they issued a statement on Twitter accusing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Stuart Attwell of being a Luton Town fan.

Greek international and former Sheffield defender found dead in pool at 31

ATHENS — The body of British-born Panathinaikos and Greece defender George Baldock was found on Wednesday in a swimming pool at his home in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada, police sources said.

The cause of death remained unknown.

Police tried cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the 31-year-old former Premier League player but could not revive him, a police official said.

The time of death was put at 10pm (1900 GMT).

George Baldock death

‘The nightmare is over’ says Paul Pogba after 4-year doping ban reduced to 18 months

PARIS — French soccer player Paul Pogba’s doping suspension has been cut to 18 months from an initial four years, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Friday.

"The suspension is now 18 months, starting Sept. 11, 2023," CAS director general Matthieu Reeb told Reuters.

Paul Pogba ban reduced

FA charges Preston player after he pulls a Luis Suárez and bites opponent’s neck

Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been charged with allegedly biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck on the neck during their second-tier Championship draw on Sunday, the Football Association (FA) said on Thursday.

The incident occurred when the players clashed after defender Beck, on loan from Liverpool, was sent off for kicking out at Preston's Duane Holmes late in their goalless draw.

The incident led to a confrontation between the two sides and Osmajic was seen getting close to Beck's neck, with the 25-year-old receiving a yellow card.

Watch: Endrick purposely knees opponent in the privates and gets away with only a yellow card

Endrick has only received one red card in his career, however he should’ve seen his second on Tuesday during Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory vs. Alavés.

In the 83rd minute the 18-year-old was shown a yellow card for a skirmish with defender Santiago Mouriño. A look at the replay shows that the Madrid phenom was lucky to stay on the field.

Endrick blatantly launched a knee to the groin of Mouriño in a rush of blood.

Endrick knees opponent in the groin

Referee shockingly confesses to have spared Messi of a red card in exchange for his match-worn jersey

A former referee has admitted to have spared Lionel Messi from a second yellow card in return for his match-worn shirt.

Chilean refereee, Carlos Chandía, has confessed to having purposefully avoided giving Messi a booking. And all in the plan to receive the Argentine’s jersey at the end of a match.

Chandía was in charge of the 2007 Copa America semifinal match between Argentina and Mexico, with the Albiceleste blowing past El Tri with a 3-0 scoreline. 20-year-old Messi scored a beautiful lob to seal his country’s spot in the final.

Former Arsenal player arrested at airport with 132 pounds of weed

Former Arsenal and Ipswich Town forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged after he was arrested by Scotland's National Crime Agency (NCA) in connection with the seizure 132 pounds of cannabis worth $793,620 at Stansted Airport.

The 33-year-old, who now plays for Scottish second division side Greenock Morton, was detained by NCA officers on Wednesday in an operation supported by Police Scotland.

Former Arsenal player arrested

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