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CNN —Sam Kerr, Chelsea FC star and Australia women’s captain, pleaded not guilty to a “racially aggravated offense” of a police officer, British authorities said Monday. The 30-year-old striker was charged following an incident involving an officer on January 30 last year in Twickenham, a suburb of southwest London. Kerr was charged “via postal charge requisition on 21 January with a racially aggravated offense under Section 4A Public Order Act 1986,” the Met Police added. CNN has reached out to Chelsea FC, who declined to comment. Last year, she led the Australia women’s team in making national history by becoming the first team – men’s or women’s – to reach a soccer World Cup semifinal.
Persons: Sam Kerr, Kerr, , Organizations: CNN, Chelsea FC, Australia women’s, Metropolitan Police, Met Police, Thames, Crown Prosecution Service, Wimbledon, Court, Football Australia, , ” Football Australia, Chelsea, League, Super League, AFC, Uzbekistan Locations: Twickenham, London, Kingston, United Kingdom, Perth
CNN —From this week, soccer fans will be able to buy Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s Nike jersey, more than six months after she wore the purple top at the Women’s World Cup. Arnold kept a tournament-high four clean sheets during the Matildas’ run to the semifinals of last year’s Women’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. That prompted England shot-stopper Mary Earps to campaign vociferously for the sportswear company to release the women’s goalkeeper jerseys ahead of the tournament. CNN has contacted Nike for comment regarding the release of the Australian goalkeeper jersey. Arnold kept four clean sheets at the Women's World Cup last year.
Persons: Mackenzie Arnold’s Nike, Arnold, ” Arnold, England, Mary Earps, vociferously, Brendon Thorne, Ashley Reade, Organizations: CNN, Football Australia, France, Australia, Nike, Reuters, Nike’s Pacific, Australian, Uzbekistan Locations: Australia, New Zealand, England, US, France, Netherlands, Melbourne, Paris
CNN —Football Australia says it is providing an Iranian-Australian referee and his family with “all the support they require” over the fallout from an Asian Cup match. Iraq had just taken a 2-1 lead in the 75th minute when Hussein was shown a red card by Faghani. “Aymen Hussein excessively delayed the restart of the game after scoring a goal in the 75th minute,” an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) statement said. “During the player’s celebrations, the referee strongly warned Aymen Hussein three times before finally showing him the second yellow card. Alireza Faghani shows Aymen Hussein a red card.
Persons: Alireza, Aymen Hussein, Jordan, Hussein, “ Aymen Hussein, , Hussain Al Khurasani, Thaier, Reuters “, ” Al Khurasani, Aymen, Faghani, Organizations: CNN — Football Australia, Iranian, Faghani, Asian Football Confederation, AFC, Jordan, CNN, Reuters, . Football Australia, -, Football Australia Locations: Australian, Iraq, Iraqi, Iran, Australia
CNN —Jordan reached the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Cup after producing a remarkable late comeback thanks to two stoppage-time goals to beat Iraq 3-2 in controversial circumstances. Jordan’s Hamza Al-Dardour was then shown a red card to leave both sides a man short, before Nizar Al-Rashdan scored the winning goal in the 97th minute. Hussein is shown a red card after his goal. “However, I bear part of the responsibility for the loss, but there are others who bear greater responsibility than me for our defeat,” he added, likely referring to referee Faghani. “Considering that Aymen had already received a yellow card in the first half, a warning would have been more appropriate.
Persons: CNN — Jordan, Yazan Al, Naimat, Jordan, Iran’s Saad Natiq, Aymen Hussein, Hussein, Alireza Faghani, Jordan’s Hamza Al, Dardour, Nizar Al, Rashdan, Jesús Casas, Faghani, Jordan’s, ” Casas, Thaier, , Casas, Hussain Al Khurasani, , ” Al Khurasani, Aymen Organizations: CNN, Iraq, , Reuters, Asian Football Confederation, AFC, -, Football Australia Locations: Iraq, Spanish, Jordanian, Iraqi, Iran, Australia
GENEVA (AP) — The near certainty that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men's World Cup unites two of the most influential men in world sports: the leader of soccer's governing body and the kingdom's crown prince. In the case of Saudi Arabia, U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was slain inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The men’s World Cup should earn Switzerland-based FIFA more than $10 billion in almost entirely tax-free revenue. “Mohammed bin Salman wants Saudi Arabia to be a hub of anything and everything,” Middle East expert James Dorsey said. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and FIFA canceled the planned June 2021 relaunch in China of its Club World Cup event.
Persons: Gianni Infantino, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sportswashing, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed, Infantino, King Salman, Prince Mohammed's, “ Abraham, , Donald Trump, ” Infantino, Mohammed's, Cristiano Ronaldo, “ Mohammed bin Salman, James Dorsey, Greece —, , Australia –, they’ve, James Johnson, , Yasser Al Misehal –, Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, Australia, Qatar, White House, “ Abraham Accords, United Arab, Soccer, Newcastle, Russia, Saudi, ” Football Australia, ” FIFA, FIFA Council, Fox News Locations: Saudi Arabia, Persian, Saudi, U.S, Istanbul, Riyadh, Switzerland, Gulf, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Europe, Swiss, China, Qatar, United States, Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Greece, Africa, South America, Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabian, Australia
LONDON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Australia would have found it difficult to compete with Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2034 men's World Cup, Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said on Tuesday after his country opted not to enter the race to stage the tournament. Johnson said Australia, who recently co-hosted the Women's World Cup with New Zealand, would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport's continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said "the entire Asian football family" would stand united in support of the Saudi bid. The 2026 men's World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA awarded the 2030 World Cup earlier this month to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, also adding centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Persons: James Johnson, Johnson, we've, they've, Christian Radnedge, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Saudi, Football Australia, Australia, FIFA, Doha, Australian, New, Asian Football Confederation, Thomson Locations: Australia, Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, New Zealand, Brisbane, United States, Mexico, Canada, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay
Football Australia (FA) boss James Johnson had said the country was "exploring the possibility" of 2034, but on Tuesday the governing body said it would instead focus on bids for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the 2029 Club World Cup. The president of the Asian Football Confederation, the sport's continental governing body to which Australia belongs, said "the entire Asian football family" would stand united in support of the Saudi bid. Australia hosted a successful Women's World Cup this year but has never hosted a men's World Cup. "We believe we are in a strong position to host the oldest women’s international competition in the world - the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 - and then welcome the greatest teams in world football for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup," FA said. FIFA awarded the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Portugal and Spain, also adding World Cup centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
Persons: James Johnson, Bernadett Szabo, Ian Ransom, Neil Fullick, John Stonestreet Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA World, Qatar, Australia Press, Football Australia, Rights, Australia, FIFA, Asian Football Confederation, Saudi, AFC, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Oceania, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Melbourne
Saudi Arabia looks set to be the host of the 2034 World Cup after the only other country to have shown an interest in hosting — Australia — made a last-minute decision not to bid. Some fans were also frustrated at the location, as the World Cup took place in the winter due to the Gulf region's soaring summer temperatures. The 2030 FIFA World Cup, meanwhile, will be hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with the three opening matches to be played in South America. Saudi Arabia is criticized for its well-documented human rights violations, abuses of women's rights and criminalization of homosexuality. Amnesty International reported that Saudi Arabia in 2022 oversaw the highest number of yearly executions in 30 years, with 196 people killed.
Persons: Australia —, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Australia, Football Australia, Amnesty International, Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, South America, Saudi
GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia is all but certain to host the men's 2034 World Cup after the Australian soccer federation declined to enter the bidding contest. “We have explored the opportunity to bid to host the FIFA World Cup and — having taken all factors into consideration — we have reached the conclusion not to do so for the 2034 competition,” Football Australia said in a statement. Indonesia’s football association initially showed interest in a joint bid with Australia, potentially alongside Malaysia and Singapore, but that faded when Indonesia instead backed Saudi Arabia. Australia and New Zealand successfully co-hosted the Women's World Cup in July and August. Saudi Arabia also will host the men's Asian Cup in 2027 and has started a widespread construction program to build and renovate stadiums that likely also will be used for the World Cup.
Persons: , LIV, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Gianni Infantino, Australia —, Minky Worden, ” Worden, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, ” Football Australia, Newcastle, Saudi Crown, South America — FIFA, Asian Football Confederation, AFC, Qatar, soccer, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi, Rights Locations: Saudi Arabia, Australian, Saudi, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, South, Asia, Oceania, Australia, Qatar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New, Brisbane, Queensland
CNN —Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup after Australia withdrew its interest in hosting the global showpiece just hours before the bid deadline on Tuesday. Instead the Australia football federation has opted to proceed with their bids for the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029. In a press release sent out on Tuesday, FIFA confirmed that Saudi Arabia was the only bidder for the 2034 tournament. In 2022, Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in a heavyweight title clash. To host the World Cup would be viewed as a major coup for Saudi Arabia, which has been frequently been criticized of sportswashing.
Persons: , Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua, Andrew Couldridge, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Luca Bruno, , Steve Cockburn Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Australia, ” Football Australia, FIFA Club, FIFA Council, ” FIFA, King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Formula One, Saudi Pro League, sportswashing, MBS, Fox News, Sports & Rights Alliance, Getty, Economic, Social, “ FIFA, Rights, Saudi Arabia Football Federation Locations: Saudi Arabia, Asia, Oceania, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Jeddah, Saudi Arabian, Saudi
"We are discussing (a bid) with Australia," PSSI President Erick Thohir was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. When asked for comment on a possible joint bid, Football Australia referred Reuters to a statement last week that said it was "exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and/or the FIFA World Cup 2034". The PSSI, Football Association of Malaysia and Football Association of Singapore have not responded to a Reuters request for comment. The 2026 World Cup, which will feature 48 teams, will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. "The potential to win if we join with Australia, Malaysia and Singapore is bigger too."
Persons: Erick Thohir, Akmal, Michael Church, Peter Rutherford Organizations: FIFA, Sydney Morning Herald, Football Australia, Reuters, Asian Football Confederation, Football Association of Malaysia and Football Association of Singapore, Qatar, Indonesian, Soccer, Herald, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Asia, Oceania, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Bali, Peru, Malang
In 2022, there were only about 1.4 million visitors, according to data provided by the government, still considerably below pre-pandemic levels. That’s why events like the Women’s World Cup are so important. Cities like Wellington and Auckland have catered to World Cup tourists by making public transportation free on game days for anyone with a match ticket. The extra effort has not gone unnoticed by tourists, especially those who have traveled to other World Cup events. Compared to the last Women’s World Cup in France, more businesses seem excited to welcome tourists, said US fan Carly Andler.
Persons: James Johnson, , ” Johnson, , Monchy, CNN’s Richard Quest, Iain Walker, Chow Tory, Chow Tory's, Tara Subramaniam, Carly Andler, Andler, we’ve Organizations: Wellington CNN — Soccer, Football Australia, Tourism, Zealand’s Ministry of Business Innovation, New Zealand, Air New Zealand, FIFA, CNN, New Zealand’s Football Ferns, Wellington Chocolate Factory, Wellington City Council Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, New, Tourism Australia, Cities, Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Hamilton, United States, Costa Rica, Spanish, Swedish, Italy, Japan, Rosebud, Bundaberg, Zealand, France
Two of Australia’s largest grassroots Indigenous football bodies – Indigenous Football Australia (IFA) and the Australian Indigenous Football Council (AIFC) – say there’s no funding for Indigenous football in Legacy ’23, the 357 million Australian dollar ($228 million) post-tournament fund dedicated to growing soccer in Australia. By contrast, the AIFC oversees state and territory Indigenous football councils and organizes the First Nations Indigenous Football Championships and teams who play as the Indigenous Roos and Koalas. The AIFC recently signed a “Football Treaty” with New Zealand equivalent, Māori Football Aotearoa, and Gilbert wants to create a World Indigenous Football Council and Indigenous World Cup, independently of FIFA. Pickering-Parker seems more hopeful that the World Cup will bring more funding to his small team of volunteers: “Right now. If hosting a Women’s World Cup isn’t going to do it, I don’t know what else is,” she said.
Persons: , that’s, it’s, , Ros Moriarty, James Johnson, Karen Menzies, John Maynard, “ I’ll, I’m, I’ll, Maynard, , who’ve, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Moriarty Football, John’s, Moriarty, ” Lawrence Gilbert, Gilbert, ” John Moriarty, John Moriarty, Johnson, We’ve, It’s, Jennifer Pickering, Tai Tokerau, “ You’re, ” Pickering, Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster, Mathias Bergeld, Phillip Pickering, Parker, Pickering, Kyah Simon, who’s, Lydia Williams, Williams, ” Williams, Matt King, Australia’s, That’s, crowdfunding, NIAG, we’ve, Menzies, we’re, Organizations: Sydney CNN —, Indigenous Football Australia, IFA, Australian Indigenous Football Council, Indigenous, Moriarty Foundation, Football Australia, CNN Sport, FIFA, Indigenous Advisory, CNN, Aboriginal Soccer Tribe, UNICEF Australia First Nations, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Elders, Commonwealth, First, First Nations, Reuters, Australian, soccer team, ” John Moriarty Football, New South, Nations Indigenous Football, Indigenous Roos, Treaty, Māori Football Aotearoa, Indigenous Football Council, Nations Australian, Nations, . New Zealand, , New Zealand Football, AFL, Australian Football League, Sydney Football Stadium Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Brisbane, New South Wales, Koalas, Tai, New, ., Norway, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Perth,
We need funding in our development. We need funding in our grassroots. We need funding. CNN has reached out to Football Australia who declined to comment but offered an interview opportunity at a future date. Sarina Wiegman, the Dutch manager of England’s Lionesses, was also asked how Australia could take advantage of the team’s successful World Cup run.
Persons: Sam Kerr, ” Kerr, , Seven, Steph Catley, , , ” Catley, Tony Gustavsson, ” Gustavsson, Sarina Wiegman, England’s, ” Wiegman Organizations: CNN, Seven Network, Seven, Football Australia, Australian Sports Commission, OzTAM Locations: Australia, England, Australian
The rights of Indigenous peoples was one of the social causes FIFA chose to highlight at this year’s World Cup. He and the other members of Indigenous Football Australia, a council that supports his initiative, John Moriarty Football, have called for meaningful support of Indigenous-led grass-roots programs from soccer’s Australian and global governing bodies. John Moriarty Football says it has received less than 20,000 Australian dollars, or about $13,000, from its country’s soccer governing body, Football Australia, since Moriarty launched the program in 2012. “If it wasn’t for programs like JMF, the pathways for children in Tennant Creek to get to elite football, let alone a World Cup tournament, would be nonexistent — an impossible dream,” Moriarty wrote in an email. Courtney Fewquandie, a Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi woman who serves as Football Australia’s general manager of First Nations, said the advisory group has agreed to a meeting with Indigenous Football Australia after the World Cup that she hopes will be “the first step to moving forward together.”
Persons: Moriarty, John Moriarty, John Moriarty Football, ” Moriarty, Kyah Simon, Courtney Fewquandie, Gubbi, Organizations: FIFA, Australian, Indigenous Football Australia, John Moriarty Football, soccer’s, Football Australia, ” Football Australia, Indigenous Advisory Group, Australia, Nations, Football Australia’s, First Locations: Australia, New Zealand, Tennant, New South Wales
New Zealand keen to host men's World Cup with Australia
  + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
We’ve shown what we always knew - that we would host the best ever Women’s World Cup. "It's only natural that at some time in the future we would host a men's World Cup. Football Australia boss James Johnson has repeatedly said Australia would like to host the men's World Cup but will need stadiums that meet FIFA requirements. "From our experiences with FIFA in this World Cup, they are willing to work with you and be flexible." The next men's World Cup in 2026 will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Andrew Pragnell, Pragnell, We’ve, James Johnson, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA World, Qatar, Lusail, New Zealand, New, FIFA, Football Australia, Thomson Locations: Argentina, France, Lusail, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Pacific, Eden, United States, Canada, Mexico, Melbourne
But now, seemingly in the blink of an eye, we’re all wearing green and gold for our newest heroes, Australia’s Women’s World Cup hopefuls, the Matildas. Sam Kerr takes the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2023 round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7. “A lot of people just frankly don’t want to believe women’s sport is doing well,” Lassey told CNN. Football Australia said part of the rationale for bringing the Women’s World Cup to Australia was to use it to grow the women’s game – backed by a 357 million Australian dollar ($232 million) FIFA legacy fund. Argus says the World Cup is a turning point for women’s sport because the turnout and viewing numbers have proven that there’s an enthusiastic audience.
Persons: Barbie, Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Australia’s, they’ve, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Daniela Porcelli, , , Jackie Schougaard, Alfred Hotel, “ Everyone’s, It’s, Jason Lassey, , ” Lassey, Matildas, , “ I’m, Hannah Mckay, Bruce McAvaney, I’m, Maddie Meyer, Kevin Argus, ” Argus, we’ve, Lassey, We’re, Robbie, Gerwig, Barbie ”, ” Gerwig Organizations: Australia CNN, Neighbours, Hollywood, Chelsea, FIFA, Stadium Australia, France, Brisbane, Caxton, Footy Industry, , AFL, Australian Football League, CNN, Denmark, Sydney, Football Australia, team, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, Socceroos, , , Australian Broadcasting Corporation Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Denmark, Melbourne
REUTERS/David Gray/File PhotoMELBOURNE, July 7 (Reuters) - Global soccer governing body FIFA has agreed to requests from Australia and New Zealand to display Indigenous flags at the Women's World Cup, the co-hosts said on Friday. The Australian Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag will be on display at all 35 matches across Australia, with the Māori flag, known as 'Tino Rangatiratanga', to feature at all 29 matches in New Zealand. "Confirmation by FIFA that all official flags of Australia will be flown during the FIFA Women's World Cup is an important moment for all Australians, particularly First Nations People," Football Australia boss James Johnson said in a statement. Australia's World Cup squad includes Indigenous Australian players Kyah Simon and goalkeeper Lydia Williams. The World Cup starts on July 20.
Persons: David Gray, Tino Rangatiratanga, James Johnson, Kyah Simon, Lydia Williams, Simon, I'm, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Workers, Islands, Australian, Commonwealth Games, REUTERS, Global, FIFA, Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Nations, Football Australia, Indigenous, First Nations, Thomson Locations: Torres, Australian, Queensland, Australia, MELBOURNE, New Zealand, Melbourne
Australia, NZ consider joint bid for 2029 Club World Cup
  + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
SYDNEY, June 28 (Reuters) - Football Australia (FA) chief James Johnson believes FIFA's expanded Club World Cup is going to be a big success and is mulling a joint bid with New Zealand to host the second edition in 2029. Australia and New Zealand will co-host the Women's World Cup in July and August this year and Johnson has already said that could be a springboard for a joint bid for the men's version, possibly in 2034. "That's something we could look at, as well as the men's World Cup – but that's (after) we've delivered the best ever Women's World Cup." The last edition of the Club World Cup featuring seven teams will be hosted by Saudi Arabia later this year. The ninth Women's World Cup kicks off in Auckland and Sydney on July 20.
Persons: James Johnson, FIFA's, Johnson, Gianni Infantino, Infantino, Gianni, we've, Nick Mulvenney, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, Football Australia, New, New Zealand, FIFA, Sydney Morning Herald, League, UEFA, Club, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, New, United States, Saudi Arabia, Auckland, Sydney
Australia to ban swastika, SS sign citing rise of far-right
  + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
SYDNEY, June 8 (Reuters) - Australia said on Thursday it would introduce laws to the parliament next week banning public displays and sales of Nazi hate symbols, citing a rise in far-right activities at home. A ban on the Nazi salute will not be added to the federal law, the attorney-general said. Australia's spy agency has been warning far-right groups were on the rise in Australia and that they had become more organised and visible. Last year, a soccer fan who gave the salute at the Australia Cup final was banned for life from any games sanctioned by Football Australia. Dreyfus said all Australian states and territories had either passed laws or announced plans to ban Nazi symbols, and the proposed federal laws will mesh with the states'.
Persons: We've, Mark Dreyfus, we've, Dreyfus, Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, Nazi, Channel Seven, Australia, Football Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia, Melbourne, Sydney
In a full page statement published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Rugby Australia (RA) said the proposed referendum is "too important a contest to watch in silence". "Provision for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in our Constitution is long overdue," it added. RA and the AFL join the National Rugby league (NRL), several AFL clubs, and other sports governing bodies like soccer's Football Australia, Tennis Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee in formalising support for Indigenous recognition through a referendum. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has staked significant political capital on the referendum, has been keen to get the support of leading sports bodies and players. Some of Australia's top athletes are Indigenous, like NBA star Patty Mills, former Olympic sprinter Cathy Freeman and former woman's tennis world number one Ash Barty.
"But this women's tournament is not just about football, it's about celebrating women's sports and women's empowerment all over the world." "Currently, only 40% of football facilities nationwide are classified as female-friendly," Football Australia said in a statement. 'UNITY BEAT'New Zealand is staging its third global sporting event in less than two years, having hosted the women's Rugby World Cup and women's Cricket World Cup last year. Rugby World Cup organisers hailed record crowds as New Zealand's Black Ferns swept to the title last November. According to a FIFA report, some 1.12 billion viewers tuned into the 2019 Women's World Cup in France where the U.S. won their fourth title and their second in succession.
MELBOURNE, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Football Australia (FA) has launched an investigation into the violent pitch invasion that left a player injured during the abandoned A-League derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City. The pitch invasion shocked Australian soccer, with Socceroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic, who plays for A-League side Central Coast Mariners, describing it as the "darkest day for football in Australia". Melbourne Victory managing director Caroline Carnegie said the club would assist a police investigation into the incident and apologised to Glover, King and the camera operator. "There’s no place at our club, no place in the game, no place in the league for that sort of behaviour." The pitch invasion occurred amid a fan backlash against the A-League's decision to sell its men's and women's title-deciding Grand Final matches to Sydney until 2025.
Sky News quoted Infantino and Samoura as saying in the letter to the 32 nations contesting the World Cup. The World Cup, the first held in the Middle East, starts on Nov. 20. read moreFootball Australia was unable to provide immediate comment to Reuters on the FIFA letter on Friday. World Cup organisers have said that everyone, no matter their sexual orientation or background, is welcome, while also warning against public displays of affection. Qatar has acknowledged there are "gaps" in its labour system but the World Cup has allowed the country to make progress on worker rights.
SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Australia's national soccer team spoke out against World Cup host Qatar's record on human rights and same-sex relationships in a video released on Thursday, adding to criticism of the country in the weeks ahead of the tournament. Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, has come under intense international pressure for its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws. A separate statement from Football Australia, the peak soccer body, on Thursday acknowledged reforms but said the games had been associated "with suffering for some migrant workers and their families." Disquiet over the country's human rights record has led to calls for teams and officials to boycott the games. Australia will play against France, Denmark and Tunisia after the World Cup kicks off on Nov. 20.
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