Off the Pitch

MADRID — Spain's High Court has found former soccer federation boss Luis Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent and fined him over 10,000 euros ($10,434) in a case which caused a nationwide furore.

It acquitted him of a charge of coercion, the court said on Thursday in a ruling seen by Reuters. Rubiales told Reuters he would appeal, saying: "I am going to keep fighting."

A Lindsey Horan name change might confuse fans initially in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, but have no fear United States women’s national team supporters because the captain is still here.

The USWNT leader and Lyon midfielder will debut her husband’s surname, “Heaps”, on the back of her jersey for the first time in this year’s SheBelieves Cup.

Lindsey Horan name change

Lindsey and her new husband, Tyler Heaps, tied the knot in December 2024. After playing 161 games with “Horan” on the back of her kit for the USWNT, she’ll now play under a new name.

The 2034 FIFA World Cup promises to be a sobering experience for soccer fans after Saudi Arabia announced there will be no alcohol available.

And not just at the stadiums, but also at the hotels and elsewhere throughout the nation, the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom confirmed Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia World Cup alcohol ban

LONDON — Australia women's soccer captain Sam Kerr was on Tuesday found not guilty of racially abusing a British police officer after a dispute with a cab driver.

Kerr, who has Indian ancestry, called officer Stephen Lovell "stupid and white" after police were called following a drunken dispute with a cab driver in the early hours of January 30, 2023.

In a surprising move, FIFA has significantly slashed ticket prices for this summer’s inaugural 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.

2025 Club World Cup ticket price drop: FIFA 'panicking' amid low fan interest

Reports from Mail Sport indicate that the cost of the cheapest seats for matches at the last-16 stage and beyond has been reduced by as much as $385, with some tickets for the semi-finals plummeting from an eye-watering $526 to just $140.

Clubs worldwide spent a record $2.35 billion on international transfers in men's soccer in the January window, nearly a 58% increase from last year, world soccer's governing body FIFA said in a study published on Friday.

According to FIFA's International Transfer Snapshot, the amount is also 47.1% higher than the previous record set in January 2023 when there was a total outlay of $1.57 billion.

LONDON — Australia women's soccer captain Sam Kerr said she felt British police treated her differently because of the color of her skin, as she gave evidence in a London court on Wednesday while on trial accused of racially abusing a white police officer.

Kerr, who has Indian ancestry, told officer Stephen Lovell that "you guys are fucking stupid and white" after police were called following a drunken dispute with a cab driver in the early hours of Jan. 30, 2023.

Sam Kerr police officer video

Atlanta United announced the splash signing of speedy Ivory Coast striker Emmanuel Latte Lath on Tuesday.

Atlanta reportedly paid an MLS-record $22 million transfer fee to English second-tier side Middlesbrough FC, breaking the mark of $16.2 million that FC Cincinnati spent in November to acquire forward Kevin Denkey from Belgium's Cercle Brugge.

Atlanta United break MLS transfer record

Brazil forward Neymar will return to his boyhood club Santos from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, he posted on social media on Thursday.

Neymar, 32, joined Al-Hilal from Paris St Germain for a reported $93.8 million in 2023 but he managed only seven appearances for them after suffering a serious knee injury.

Neymar Santos transfer