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☆ Marta: Brazil star to retire from international soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | Duarte Mendonça | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Brazil and Orlando Pride star Marta will retire from international soccer this year, she told CNN Brasil in an interview which will air on Sunday, April 28. The 38-year-old is Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer, male or female, with 115 goals and has appeared in six World Cup tournaments. If selected for the Brazilian squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Marta could make her sixth appearance at the Games. There is no longer Marta in the national team as an athlete from 2025 onwards,” Marta told CNN Brasil. Three times Marta has come agonizingly close to glory with Brazil, losing the 2007 Women’s World Cup final to Germany and twice suffering defeat in the Olympic gold medal match.

Persons: Marta, I’ll, ” Marta Organizations: CNN —, Orlando Pride, CNN Brasil, soccer, FIFA, Women’s Champions League, Copa Libertadores Femenina, Copa América Locations: CNN — Brazil, Brazil, men’s, Germany, Paris

☆ Where’s the Next Generation of Great Coaches?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Greek triumph came a few weeks after Porto, led by a charismatic young coach with hair more pepper than salt, lifted the Champions League trophy. That was after Werder Bremen finished the season as champion of Germany and Valencia secured its second Spanish title in three years. The compilation clip could, at a push, be used as a sort of generational Rorschach test. Werder Bremen should be able to win the Bundesliga. You might not want to watch Greece win the Euros again, but it was nice that it happened.

Persons: craven, Kate Middleton, —, pang Organizations: Greece, European, Champions League, Werder Bremen, Valencia, Caldas, Copa Libertadores, Bundesliga, Porto Locations: Porto, Germany, Colombian, Europe

☆ Copa Libertadores: Bolivian and Peruvian soccer teams set record after playing match at 4,150m altitude
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Standing 4,150 meters (more than 13,500 feet) above sea level, it is one of highest soccer stadiums in the world. And on Tuesday, Bolivian team Always Ready and Peruvian side Sporting Cristal set a new record for the highest match ever played in the Copa Libertadores, South America’s equivalent of the Champions League. “We must clarify something: playing at this altitude is very difficult,” Cristal head coach Enderson Moreira said after the match, per El Comercio. “We played in a complicated stadium, it is perhaps the game that Cristal has played at the highest altitude, but there are no excuses,” Cristal star Yoshimar Yotún told El Comercio. Always Ready beat Sporting Cristal 6-1 at high altitude.

Persons: Estadio Daniel Alcides Carrión, Cristal, “, ” Cristal, Enderson Moreira, Cristal’s, ”, Yoshimar Yotún, El, Raldes, Estadio Hernando Siles, Alberto Gallardo, Moreira Organizations: CNN, El, Bolivian, Peruvian, Sporting Cristal, Copa Libertadores, Champions League, Spanish, AS, Estadio, El Comercio, Libertadores, Bolivian national, El Alto Locations: Bolivian, El Alto, Peruvian, Cerro de Pasco, El Comercio, Lima, AFP, La Paz, El

☆ Brazil vs. Argentina: Historic World Cup qualifier is overshadowed by violence and chaos at the Maracanã stadium
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Brazil suffered its first ever home World Cup qualifying defeat on Tuesday, as Argentina earned a 1-0 win on a night of violence and chaos at the iconic Maracanã stadium. However, the match was overshadowed by violence in the stands which delayed the start of the World Cup qualifier. The Inter Miami forward first led his teammates over to the stand where the fighting was taking place and pleaded with both the police and Argentina fans – some of who were seen throwing ripped out seats at the security officials – for calm. “The truth is that this group continues to achieve historic things, once again,” Messi told reporters after the match, per Reuters. Wagner Meier/Getty ImagesThere are 18 rounds in South America’s World Cup qualifying system, with the top six teams progressing to the 2026 event while the seventh-placed country will go into the FIFA play-off tournament, which will involve six countries from other continents.

Persons: Nicolas Otamendi’s, Lionel Messi, –, Aston, Emi Martinez, Ricardo Moraes, Messi, “, ”, ” Messi, Lionel Scaloni, ” Scaolini, “ It’s, Fernando Diniz, Wagner Meier, CNN’s Duarte Mendonça Organizations: CNN, The Inter Miami, Aston Villa, Brazilian Football Confederation, FIFA –, CONMEBOL, CBF, RJ Military Police, Argentine, didn’t, Reuters, Argentina, Fluminense, Copa Libertadores, FIFA Locations: Argentina, Brazil

☆ Violent clashes mar Brazil v Argentina World Cup qualifier
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Brazil v Argentina - Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - November 21, 2023 Fans clash with security staff in the stands causing a delay to the start of the match REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes Acquire Licensing RightsRIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The start of the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina was delayed by half an hour after violent clashes between police and visiting fans at Maracana Stadium on Tuesday. Some Argentina fans responded by ripping up and throwing seats at the officers as nearby fans panicked and came onto the pitch to escape the fighting. One Argentina fan lay prone on the pitch with a bloodied face before being taken from the stadium on a stretcher. On Tuesday, the Argentina players eventually returned once the police had corralled the visiting fans in a pen and the match started after a lengthy delay. It was a third straight defeat for five-times World Cup winners Brazil, who had midfielder Joelinton sent off 18 minutes from time.

Persons: Ricardo Moraes, Lionel Messi, Messi, Nicolas Otamendi, Joelinton, Fernando Kallas, Nick Mulvenney, Stephen Coates Organizations: Soccer, Estadio Maracana, REUTERS, DE, Maracana, Argentina, Libertadores, Argentina's Boca Juniors, Brazil's Fluminense, Copa Libertadores, Brazil, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Argentina, Rio de Janeiro, DE JANEIRO

☆ Soccer clashes, Taylor Swift fan death tarnish Rio de Janeiro ahead of G20
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Gabriel Stargardter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TV images showed Rio state cops beating Argentina fans with truncheons as chairs rained down upon them. On Wednesday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Rio's state military police traded blame over arrangements for the mixed seating section of Brazil and Argentina fans where the trouble erupted. Rio's policing of high-profile soccer matches was already under scrutiny after the Copa Libertadores final this month. In October, three doctors enjoying a late-night beer along one of Rio's beaches were brutally murdered after being confused for rival gangsters. A few days later, militias set fire to dozens of Rio buses after police killed one of their bosses in an operation.

Persons: Ricardo Moraes, Taylor, Nilton Santos, Daniel Scioli, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gabriel Stargardter, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Soccer, Estadio Maracana, REUTERS, DE, Police, year's, Olympic Games, Nilton, Argentina, Brazilian Football Confederation, CBF, Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors, Fluminense, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Argentina, Rio de Janeiro, DE JANEIRO, Maracana, Rio, Copacabana, India, Rio's

Goalkeeper Dibu Martinez raced to one of the rails in front of the Argentina fans to ask police to stop the violence. Brazil fans, who jeered and applauded Messi before the brawl began, chanted against him when he returned to the pitch. Argentina leads South American World Cup qualifying with 12 points from five games. The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina started at the club level and grew after the Argentinians won their first World Cup title in 1978. The reginal rivals have since played fierce matches in World Cup qualifying and in Copa America, but not in World Cups.

Persons: — Lionel Messi, Dibu Martinez, jeered, Messi, Diego Maradona, Brazil's Organizations: RIO DE, American, Argentina, Police, Inter Miami, South, Argentinians, Copa America, Messi, Brazil's Fluminense, Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors, ___ Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Argentina, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Argentine, Barcelona, Copa, Qatar, Croatia

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Tensions remained high Friday in Rio de Janeiro on the eve of the Copa Libertadores soccer final, following a brawl between fan clubs and a fierce police response on the Copacabana beach the previous day. The incident marred the excitement ahead of the game between Brazil’s Fluminense and Argentina’s Boca Juniors, due on Saturday at Rio de Janeiro’s famed Maracana stadium. A mob swept across Copacabana beach, sending hundreds of others stampeding away from the commotion, some clutching caipirinhas and hastily-gathered clothes. The meeting was called after Thursday's brawl on Copacabana that saw nine arrested across the city's affluent southern zone, police said. “Fluminense fans came to take photos with the Argentines and the atmosphere was relaxed until 19:30 when the police arrived, hitting people with batons, firing shots and using tear gas,” Barbero said.

Persons: ”, Brazil Daniel Scioli, “, Facundo Barbero, ” Barbero Organizations: RIO DE, —, Copa Libertadores, Brazil’s Fluminense, Argentina’s Boca Juniors, Rio de, Conmebol, Brazilian Football Confederation, Argentine Football Association, Fluminense, Boca Juniors, Argentine's Diario, Boca, Argentine, Diario, Globo, Fluminense “ Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Rio de Janeiro, Maracana, Copacabana, South America, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentine, Rio

☆ Fact Check: Brazil soccer fans video shared as pro-Palestinian rally in France
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A video of soccer fans walking to the Oct. 5 Copa Libertadores semi-final between Palmeiras and Boca Juniors has been mislabeled online as showing a pro-Palestinian rally in France. The nighttime video of a large column of people was also shared on Facebook. The video, however, was posted on X on Oct. 5 by a Brazilian football page called “Planeta do Futebol” and was credited to sports journalist Marcela Rafael. Rafael told Reuters in an email that the video shows fans of Brazil’s Palmeiras team before a match against the Argentine Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of Europe's Champions League. The video shows soccer fans heading to watch a match in Sao Paolo, not a pro-Palestinian protest in France.

Persons: Marcela Rafael, Rafael, Rua Jose Benedito Boneli, Read Organizations: Copa Libertadores, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors, “, Palestine, Twitter, Facebook, Hamas, Reuters, Planeta, Futebol, Argentine Boca Juniors, Europe's Champions, Allianz Parque, Thomson Locations: France, “ France, Palestine, Israel, Palestinian, Sao Paolo

☆ US judge throws out two soccer bribery convictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has thrown out the convictions of a former Fox executive and an Argentine sports marketing company for attempting to bribe soccer officials in exchange for lucrative broadcasting contracts. In a Friday night decision, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn said the March 9 convictions of Hernan Lopez and Full Play Group could not stand because the federal law governing honest services wire fraud did not cover foreign commercial bribery. The judge also voided Lopez's and Full Play's money laundering convictions, because they were predicated on the fraud convictions. David Sarratt, a lawyer for Lopez, said: "We are obviously pleased with Judge Chen's thorough and correct decision. At least 31 people and corporate entities pleaded guilty, and two soccer officials were convicted in a 2017 jury trial.

Persons: Hernan Lopez, Brendan McDermid, Pamela Chen, Joseph Percoco, Andrew Cuomo, Chen, Lopez's, Attorney Breon, David Sarratt, Lopez, Chen's, Carlos Ortiz, Ortiz, Prosecutors, Carlos Martinez, Alejandro Burzaco, Torneos, Jonathan Stempel, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Century Fox, Court, REUTERS, Fox, U.S, New, Attorney, Saturday, U.S . Department of Justice, FIFA, Fox International, South, CONMEBOL, Copa Libertadores, North, CONCACAF, Argentine, Thomson Locations: Brooklyn New York City, U.S, Argentine, Brooklyn, U.S ., South American, North American, New York

☆ Factbox: Brazil and Al-Hilal forward Neymar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

* Made 33 appearances and scored 10 goals in his first league season. * Scored 42 goals in 60 appearances in all competitions in 2010 as Santos won the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil. * Scored six goals in the 2011 Copa Libertadores as Santos won the competition for the first time since 1963. * The following season, Neymar became the fastest in the club's history to reach 50 league goals (58 games), but PSG finished second in Ligue 1. * Neymar scored 118 goals in 173 appearances in all competitions for PSG, winning 13 domestic trophies.

Persons: Neymar, Saudi Arabia's Al, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr, SANTOS, Santos, FIFA Puskas, Dunga, Pele's, Trevor Stynes, Ken Ferris Organizations: Saudi Arabia's, Paris St Germain, Portuguesa Santista, Santos, Real Madrid, Campeonato Paulista, Copa, Brasil, Libertadores, FIFA, Flamengo, South, Barcelona, Supercopa, Atletico Madrid, Barca, Champions League, Juventus, Brazilian, La Liga, Copa del Rey, PSG, UEFA, Manchester United, Rennes, Bayern Munich, Ligue, PSG's, Brazil, Confederations, Colombia, Croatia, Thomson Locations: Hilal, Spain, Barcelona, BARCELONA, Nou, BRAZIL, United States, Brazil, Germany, Belgium

☆ Women's World Cup Scores and News
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Her Colombia teammates followed in her wake, eating up the ground in the rush to close the distance, to catch her to celebrate the goal that would soon take the country past Jamaica and into the first Women’s World Cup quarterfinal in Colombia’s history. Caicedo’s emergence at this World Cup has not exactly been a surprise. She has long been earmarked as the next big thing: for Colombia, for South America, and increasingly for women’s soccer as a whole. She played in the under-17 World Cup — Colombia finished second — and the under-20 World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals, almost contiguously. This tournament is, in effect, her third World Cup in a year.

Persons: Catalina Usme, Linda Caicedo, Usme, Ana María, Caicedo, —, Hamish Blair, Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair, Alex Morgan, Marta, bookmarked, Italian Giulia Dragoni, Hinata Miyazawa, Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman, Melchie Dumornay, England’s, — Lauren James, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, ” Organizations: Copa Libertadores, Copa América, Colombia, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid, world’s, —, Germany, Associated, United, South, England Locations: Colombia, Jamaica, South America, América de Cali, Barcelona, Europe, Real, Madrid, Spain, United States, Nigeria, Germany, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, Italian, South Korea, Sydney

☆ Marcelo in tears at horror injury for Sanchez
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Fluminense's former Brazil international Marcelo was sent off in tears after his lunge at Luciano Sanchez during a Copa Libertadores match in Buenos Aires left the Argentinos Jrs defender with a horrific injury on Tuesday. Marcelo was dribbling past Sanchez when his leading foot went past the ball and caught the Argentine high on the shin with force. The Argentinos player's leg buckled underneath him at a shocking angle, leaving him lying in agony on the pitch. "Today I had a very difficult moment on the pitch," Marcelo posted on Instagram. "Fluminense FC expresses its solidarity and wishes a speedy recovery to Argentinos Juniors defender Luciano Sanchez, who was injured in an accidental move in tonight's match," it read.

Persons: Marcelo, Luciano Sanchez, Sanchez, Argentinos, Diego Armando Maradona, Angelica Medina, Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brazil, Copa Libertadores, Argentinos, Argentine, Brazilian, Fluminense FC, Argentinos Juniors, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Mexico City

☆ Marta: How Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer became the greatest of all time and an ‘icon’ in her country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

10, it the greatest women's player of all time and has become an 'icon' Brazil. Marta has won the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award an unprecedented six times. The only achievement missing from a glittering CV is a major title with her beloved national team. Australia and New Zealand 2023 is her sixth and final Women's World Cup. If it weren’t for Marta, women’s football in Brazil would probably still be a very incipient thing.

Persons: CNN —, ” Sissi, “, Sissi, Vasco da Gama, Marta Viera da Silva, ”, Marta, chuckles, Stuart Franklin, wasn’t, Marta ’, John Walton, ’, that’s, ” Marta, Feng Li, Brazil’s, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Tina Ellerston, Ellerston, –, Juca Kfouri, Ronaldo O Fenômeno, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, ” Kfouri, Doug Pensinger, Pelé, Marta “ Pelé, Raphael Alves, she’s, Neymar, ‘ Marta ’, King, Marta –, Paul Currie, Kfouri, “ Marta Organizations: CNN, Brazil, Rio, Vasco, CNN Sport, FIFA, Nigeria, women’s, Champions League, Copa Libertadores, Germany, United, United States Women’s National, AFP, Getty, Brazil ” Locations: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, United States, men’s, Germany, USA, nestling, Australia, New Zealand, Alagoas, Marta’s, Brazilian

The ninth Women's World Cup, which kicks off on July 20, is expected to attract the largest television audience in the history of women's soccer and FIFA will pay $30,000 directly to each participating player. In Argentina, the big local teams do not always open the doors of their stadiums for women's soccer matches, which are played at smaller venues. The South American Soccer Confederation (CONMEBOL)recognizes the disparity between men's and women's soccer and said recently it was taking steps to reduce it. Invigorated by Argentina's qualification for a fourth Women's World Cup, fans hope that progress into the knockout stage will generate more support for the sport. In women's soccer, everything is more difficult," she said.

Persons: Julieta Cruz, UAI Urquiza, Mariana Nedelcu, Lionel Messi, Messi, Diego Maradona, Estefania, Yamila Rodriguez, Laurina, Oliveros, Laura Fortunato, Fortunato, Martina Borgatello, Jacinta, Borgatello, Lucila Sigal, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Daniela Desantis, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Boca, Libertadores, America, REUTERS, Boca Juniors, soccer, FIFA, South American Soccer Confederation, CONMEBOL, women's, Thomson Locations: Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES, Argentine, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, South Africa, Albiceleste, Paraguay

☆ Palmeiras' Tabata gets four-month ban after alleged racist abuse
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tabata and other Palmeiras substitutes drew attention to racist abuse from Cerro Porteno fans during the match, which was played in May. "What actually happened was that I heard the fans shouting 'monos' (monkeys) at the players who were on the pitch, near the north stand. "When we understood, I asked them back and wanted to understand if that was it, if they were calling us monkeys. "I was denouncing the racism that was taking place by their fans, because they are the ones responsible, not us," he added. In a video posted on social media and published by local media outlet Globo Ge, a Porteno fan recorded himself calling Palmeiras players monkeys and shouting other insults.

Persons: Bruno Tabata, Tabata, Pablo Rojas, Basta, Angelica Medina, Ken Ferris Organizations: Palmeiras, CONMEBOL, Copa Libertadores, Paraguay's Cerro Porteno, Cerro Porteno, South, Paraguayan, Libertadores, Porteno, Reuters, Thomson Locations: South American, Mexico City

☆ Soccer’s Next Big Thing Is Buying in Bulk
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Wednesday evening, the Colombian club Atlético Huila decided to treat its players and its coaching staff to what could be best thought of as an office night out. It finished at the bottom of the Apertura, the first half of the Colombian campaign. The host duly offered Huila an invitation to watch its Copa Libertadores game against Argentinos Juniors at its compact, modern stadium. What Huila’s players saw was, first and foremost, rousing entertainment. Thanks to a last-ditch goal from Kevin Rodríguez, Independiente won, 3-2, securing the top spot in its group in the process.

Persons: Atlético Huila, Huila, Kevin Rodríguez Organizations: Colombian, Independiente del Valle, Copa Libertadores, Argentinos Juniors, Independiente, Estadio Banco Guayaquil Locations: Sangolqui, Ecuador’s, Quito

☆ Secrets and Systems, Lost in the Video Age
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Udinese knew about Alexis Sánchez long before he had been called up to play for the Chilean national team. It knew about him before he had played in the Copa Libertadores, before the rest of South America discovered him and before he had caught the acquisitive eyes of Europe’s biggest, richest teams. There is a chance that Udinese knew about Sánchez even before, on April 23, 2005, Jawed Karim stood outside the elephant enclosure at the San Diego Zoo, filming himself for a website he had helped to launch. “The cool thing about these guys,” Karim said, correctly, “is that they have really, really, really long trunks.” It may not have been David Attenborough, but it was the first video uploaded to YouTube. And it would, ultimately, be possibly the most significant event in Udinese’s modern history.

Persons: Alexis Sánchez, Jawed Karim, ” Karim, David Attenborough Organizations: Udinese, Chilean national, Copa Libertadores, San Diego Zoo, YouTube Locations: South America, Calama, Chile’s, Atacama

☆ Chile's president Boric speaks out against violence in stadiums
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 1 (Reuters) - Chile's president Gabriel Boric criticised violence in stadiums after the derby between Universidad de Chile and Universidad Catolica was suspended on Sunday due to disorder, fireworks and noise bombs in the stands of the Estadio Municipal Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion. The National Professional Football Association (ANFP) said they will reschedule the match without spectators, as they will also request a meeting with the President to work against violence. The governing body will also call an urgent meeting of Chilean football to speed up the work of security in order to toughen the penalties and punishments for violence in stadiums. Boric has condemned violence in stadiums before. He addressed the issue in relation to the serious incidents involving Colo Colo and Universidad Catolica supporters at last year's Copa Libertadores matches.

☆ Former Fox Executive Found Guilty in FIFA Bribery Scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hernan Lopez is the former head of Fox International Channels, a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox. A New York federal jury found a former 21st Century Fox executive guilty of bribing FIFA officials for the broadcasting rights to lucrative soccer matches, but acquitted his former subordinate on the same charges. Hernan Lopez , the former head of subsidiary Fox International Channels, was convicted of conspiring to commit wire fraud and launder money, in a scheme to make tens of millions of dollars in illicit payments and kickbacks between 2000 and 2015 to South American soccer officials in exchange for the broadcasting rights to the region’s most popular club tournament, the Copa Libertadores, and other matches. His co-defendant, Carlos Martinez, was found not guilty of the two counts.

☆ United States to host Copa America 2024 tournament including CONCACAF teams
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 27 (Reuters) - The 2024 Copa America will be played in the United States, the CONCACAF and CONMEBOL confederations announced on Friday, as part of a new strategic partnership that will include a jointly organised club tournament. Next year's Copa America, organised by the South American confederation (CONMEBOL), will also feature six invited teams from the CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) region. It will be the second time that South America's most important national team tournament will be held in the U.S. after the special commemorative edition in 2016, which also featured six CONCACAF teams. "CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are united by historical and emotional ties. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani added: "This partnership is to support the continued growth of men's and women's football in CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, and will truly be of mutual benefit to both Confederations."

☆ Former Fox execs conspired to bribe FIFA officials, prosecution witness says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - An Argentine businessman testified on Wednesday that two former 21st Century Fox executives and a sports marketing company conspired with him to bribe South American soccer officials and secure lucrative broadcasting rights. FILE PHOTO: Businessman Alejandro Burzaco (R) of Argentina arrives at the Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, September 18, 2015. Burzaco said that he, Lopez and Martinez collectively paid up to $32 million in bribes together. Full Play Group paid or committed to pay up to $90 million, he said. Lopez, Martinez and Full Play Group have pleaded not guilty to crimes including wire fraud and money laundering.

☆ Former Fox execs' FIFA case about 'corruption of international soccer,' prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The charges are part of a long-running corruption probe surrounding FIFA, the world governing body for soccer. "This case is about the corruption of international soccer," prosecutor Victor Zapana told jurors in opening statements, saying the alleged scheme funneled money that could have gone towards building stadiums and developing youth and women's leagues into the pockets of corrupt officials. An attorney for Full Play Group said the allegedly illicit payments were "expected, asked for and even demanded" by South American soccer officials. An attorney for Lopez told jurors his client was not aware of the bribes and immediately reported them to Fox upon learning of them. The charges are part of a sprawling FIFA corruption probe unveiled in May 2015.

☆ Former Executives of Fox Subsidiary Face Trial in FIFA Bribery Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( James Fanelli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The World Cup closing ceremony before the final match between Argentina and France last month in Qatar. Two former executives of a 21st Century Fox subsidiary are set to go on trial beginning this week on charges that they bribed FIFA officials to secure broadcasting rights to soccer matches, the latest in a string of U.S. prosecutions alleging wide-ranging corruption in the sport’s international governing body. Hernan Lopez and Carlos Martinez , defendants in a Brooklyn federal court, are accused of working with others to make millions of dollars in illicit payments and kickbacks between 2000 and 2015 to South American soccer officials in exchange for the broadcasting rights to the region’s most popular club tournament, the Copa Libertadores, and other matches.

☆ Factbox: Pele's career in numbers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

* Became the youngest-ever player to win the World Cup trophy at 17, a record that still stands. * Scored 757 goals in 812 official matches for club and country, a record that stood for decades until Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo eclipsed his tally. * Netted 77 goals in 92 official matches for Brazil - the country's all-time leading goal scorer, alongside Neymar, who netted his 77th goal in the 2022 World Cup. * Registered six assists at Mexico 1970 - a record for one World Cup. * Scored 127 goals for Santos in 1959, thought to be the most goals scored by a club player in one calendar year.

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