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☆ Scandal Brought Reforms to Soccer. Its Leaders Are Rolling Them Back.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The 12-page report was intended to save soccer’s governing body, FIFA, in its moment of existential crisis. Filled with reform proposals and drawn up by more than a dozen soccer insiders in December 2015, the report was FIFA’s best chance to show business partners, U.S. investigators and billions of fans that it could be trusted again after one of the biggest corruption scandals in sports history. In bullet points and numbered sections, the report championed high-minded ideas like accountability and humility. It also proposed concrete and, for FIFA, revolutionary changes: transparency in how major decisions were reached; term limits for top leaders and new limits on presidential power; and the abolition of well-funded committees widely viewed as a system of institutional graft. And there on the report’s final page, deep down a list of its authors, was the name of the man positioning himself as FIFA’s savior: Gianni Infantino.

Persons: Gianni Infantino Organizations: FIFA

☆ France Says It Built the Olympics Safely. Migrant Workers Don’t Count.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Sarah Hurtes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, promised to build the Summer Olympics safely, free of the construction hazards and migrant worker abuses that tarnished soccer’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar. “We are living up to the commitments we made,” Mr. Macron said in February. Government data shows fewer than 200 injuries at Olympics sites over a four-year construction blitz. But inspection records and other documents show that Olympics sites have been more dangerous than organizers have let on, with some projects failing to meet basic safety standards. When undocumented immigrants are hurt on the job, workers and officials say, the injuries are often handled off the books, all but guaranteeing that they will not show up in government statistics.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Mr, Macron Locations: Qatar, Paris

☆ Jude Bellingham: How a 20-year-old Englishman fueled Real Madrid’s record-extending La Liga title
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Jude Bellingham celebrated winning his first ever La Liga title with his mother, posting a picture on Instagram of the two hugging with the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium stretching out behind them. We had a lot of continuity from the first to the last game.”When Bellingham joined Real Madrid, expectations were high for the young Englishman. Jude Bellingham celebrates with Real Madrid fans after winning the Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City. He scored 10 goals in his first 10 games, won La Liga’s player of the month for August and quickly displayed his knack of finding late winners, rescuing Real late on against Getafe in September. It isn’t just his goalscoring that has proven so effective for Real Madrid.

Persons: CNN — Jude Bellingham, Santiago, Rodrygo, Ballon, Carlo Ancelotti, ”, Realmadrid, “, Jude Bellingham, Molly Darlington, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, “ Jude Bellingham, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Zidane, Steve McManaman, “ There’s, I’ve, Cádiz, CNN’s Amanda Davies Organizations: CNN, Liga, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, La Liga, Bellingham, El, Barcelona, League, Manchester City, Reuters, Champions League, La, Real, Getafe, Spanish, Marca, TNT Sports, TNT, Warner Bros . Locations: Bellingham, La, Spanish, Madrid

☆ Torino Superga disaster: How an air crash instantly wiped out one of soccer’s great teams
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

A local boy born in the northern Italian city of Turin and the captain of Torino’s youth team, Motto seemed destined to represent his boyhood club. Umberto Motto as a youth team player for Torino. Other Italian teams loaned – and even gave – players to Torino, Pennino says. The federation accepted a proposal from Torino that it would play its youth team, the champions of Italy at the time, against the youth teams of its four remaining opponents. Torino’s youth players beat Genoa 4-0 in an atmosphere Motto has never forgotten.

Persons: Umberto Motto, ’, hadn’t, Umberto, Mario Lanati, “ Umberto, ” Lanati, Torino’s, Roberto Pennino, Torino, Pennino, “, –, ” Giulio Andreotti, Feruccio Novo, ” Pennino, Roberto Pennino ‘, Lanati, Novo, ”, Forza, It’s Organizations: CNN, Torino FC, Stadio, Torino, Italian, Benfica, Aeritalia, ‘ Grande Torino, didn’t, –, Roberto Pennino ‘ Forza, Novo, Genoa –, ”, Genoa, Palermo, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Monumental Locations: Italian, Turin, Lisbon, Portugal, ’, Torino, Italy

☆ Caledonian Braves: How a tiny Scottish soccer club is chasing ‘Wrexham’-sized dreams
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On any given evening, Ewing receives emails informing him that some fan in a far-flung location – say, Los Angeles – has just invested in his tiny Scottish soccer club, the Caledonian Braves. “A community club, most people would think, is a local community bound by a certain geography,” says Ewing. National Basketball Association/Courtesy Caledonian BravesAgainst this backdrop, fan ownership has emerged as somewhat of a utopian panacea for some fans. As time went by, the academy’s first team started playing in the Scottish soccer leagues and separated to form the Caledonian Braves in 2019. “You can be anyone really from anywhere and you can also own a football club for as little as £10 ($13).”

Persons: Ted Lasso ”, Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney’s, –, Chris Ewing, Ewing, Los Angeles –, ’ ” Ewing, ”, “, Mujtaba Elgoodah, Elgoodah, braving, ” Elgoodah, Alastair Ross, Nassir Criss, Elizabeth Ball, Kristen Hamilton, Hailie Mace, Isaiah Covington, ” Covington, ” Hamilton, that’s, ‘, ’, ” Criss, Mutjaba Elgoodah, Kiera Burns, ” Ball, Tom Brady, Matthew McConaughey Organizations: CNN — Soccer, Welsh soccer, Scottish soccer, Caledonian Braves, CNN Sport, Scottish, Scottish Premier League, NBA, US, Super League, Golden State Warriors, National, Players ’ Association, Braves, Twitter, Kansas City, Boston Celtics, NFL, National Basketball, English Premier League, St Mirren, Motherwell, Rangers, Celtic, –, Edusport Academy Locations: Wrexham, ”, Los Angeles, Scottish, Australia, Motherwell, Glasgow, – Wyoming, Kansas, Scotland, Heart of Midlothian, France

☆ Jude Bellingham wants ‘more extreme consequences’ for fans who racially abuse players
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Amanda Davies | Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham said players should have greater involvement in how decisions are made to tackle racism in soccer. “I do think there’s got to be more extreme consequences,” said Bellingham. In 2023, La Liga told CNN Sport that it cannot impose punishments on clubs or fans itself. European soccer’s governing body UEFA told CNN Sport that it has continued to publicly denounce racism and has launched multiple campaigns to try tackle the issue. Real Madrid superstarBellingham has flourished since joining Real Madrid from German side Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season, settling in much more quickly than many had expected.

Persons: Jude Bellingham, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Vinícius Júnior, there’s, ”, “, Vinícius Jr, Vinícius, Jose Breton, Gianni Infantino, Bellingham, he’s, El, Gareth Southgate’s, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN — Real Madrid, CNN, Black, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Osasuna, Real, Bellingham, Getty Images, ” CNN, La Liga, Royal Spanish Football Federation, CNN Sport, FIFA, FIFA Congress, UEFA, Borussia Dortmund, League, England Locations: Bellingham, Madrid, Spain, Mallorca, Real Valladolid, Atlético, Getty Images Bellingham, “, German, England

☆ Everton Is Back on Market as Deal With 777 Partners Falters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Everton announced in September that it had signed an agreement to sell the club to an American investment firm, 777 Partners. But seven months later, the Premier League has still not granted more than conditional approval of the deal amid questions about 777’s financials. At the same time, the club continues to struggle on and off the field. Of perhaps more concern is the state of the 146-year-old club’s finances. Everton has now borrowed about £160 million (almost $200 million) from 777 Partners, a privately held investment company — cash infusions that have been required to help the team stave off bankruptcy.

Organizations: Everton, Premier League, Premier, Partners

☆ FIFA Said to Be Close to TV Deal With Apple for New Tournament
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, is close to an agreement with Apple that would give the tech company worldwide television rights for a major new tournament, a monthlong, World Cup-style competition for top teams that will be played for the first time in the United States next summer. The value of the deal might be as little as a quarter of the $4 billion FIFA had first estimated, the people said. It is unclear if the deal with Apple will include any free-to-air rights, meaning the entire event could be available only to subscribers of Apple TV+, a factor over which senior executives at FIFA have raised concerns. Should the deal go through, it would be the first time that FIFA, which will stage the first expanded 48-team men’s World Cup in the United States in 2026, has agreed to a single worldwide contract. It would also represent the latest foray into soccer for Apple, which in 2022 signed a 10-year, $2.5 billion agreement for the global streaming rights to Major League Soccer.

Persons: Gianni Infantino Organizations: FIFA, Apple, FIFA’s, Major League Soccer Locations: United States, China

☆ ‘Peasants vs. Marie Antoinette’: What the Premier League does with its billions of dollars is riling 72 other soccer clubs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

DisparityThanks to its multi-billion-dollar TV deals, the Premier League is often celebrated as a UK Inc. success story. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty ImagesBy targeting talents from lower-league academies, Premier League clubs don’t have to pay inflated transfer fees. The mooted introduction of an independent regulator comes against the backdrop of some Premier League clubs falling foul of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Earlier this month, Everton were handed a further two-point deduction for allegedly breaching Premier League financial rules. Relegated from the Premier League in 2023, Leicester denies any wrongdoing and opened legal proceedings against the Premier League and the EFL, but could face a points deduction if found guilty.

Persons: Abu, –, Kieran Maguire, Marie Antoinette ”, Marie Antoinette, – James McConnell –, Gabriele Biancheri, James McConnell, Bobby Clark, Andrew Powell, Caroline Dinenage, Maguire, Richard Masters, ” Maguire, ”, “, ” Masters, Phil Noble, we’ve, It’s, Mike Egerton, they’ve Organizations: CNN —, Manchester City, League, Reading FC –, Reading, English Football League, CNN, British, Premier League, Inc, Sunderland, Manchester United, Cardiff City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Liverpool FC, Getty, Premier League clubs, Culture , Media, Sport Committee, Premier League clubs “, Premier League’s, ” CNN, The Times, European Super League, National League, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City –, Reuters, Nottingham, “ Premier League, Leicester City, Leicester Locations: Istanbul, Manchester, Abu Dhabi, France, Europe, England’s, Britain's

☆ ‘Drive to Survive’ or Ride to Thrive? MotoGP looks to break out of F1’s shadow after $4.2 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jonathan Hawkins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

One thing that MotoGP has in its favor is its frequently raucous unpredictability, a far cry from the sometimes-processional nature of F1. Reigning double world champion Pecco Bagnaia agreed. What that documentary series delivered in spades was human drama, making household names out of F1’s competitors and their teams. Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty ImagesThree-time MotoGP world champion Wayne Rainey now runs the MotoAmerica series, which nurtures US motorcycle track talent, as well as King of the Baggers. We need entertainment, and now Baggers are here at MotoGP, strictly to help build the crowd, build the excitement, and in the end it’s about entertainment.”Wayne Rainey is a three-time MotoGP world champion.

Persons: COTA, ” Carlos Ezpeleta, Pecco Bagnaia, “, ”, Dan Rossomondo, doesn’t, Rossomondo, ’, ’ ”, Marc Marquez, ” Marquez, Valentino, Rossi, Dani, Pedrosa, Jorge, Lorenzo, Casey, Stoner, Roland Sands, Jonathan Hawkins, Harley Davidson, Sands, “ You’ve, who’s, ” Sands, Viñales, ” Rossomondo, Lionel Messi, Valentino Rossi, Mirco Lazzari, Wayne Rainey, King, Wayne, Rainey, ” Wayne Rainey, Natalie Cardenas, Christopher, Silas, Jack, “ We’ve, Natalie, ” Christopher, Maverick Viñales, Pedro Acosta’s, Bastianini, you’ve, it’s Organizations: Texas CNN, Formula, Liberty Media, MotoGP, Liberty, CNN, One, Premier League, “, Sprint, CNN Sport, Ducati, Maverick, Aprilia, MotoGP’s Locations: Austin, Texas, Austin , Texas, Americas, California, America, Italian, States, Spain, COTA

☆ Lamine Yamal: Spanish TV channel to ‘stop working’ with pundit Germán Burgos following derogatory comment about Barca teen
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Spanish television channel Movistar Plus+ says it will “stop working” with pundit and former Atlético Madrid assistant coach Germán Burgos following a derogatory comment he made about 16-year-old Barcelona star Lamine Yamal. Burgos is from Argentina, though he has spent much time in Spain as both a player and coach. “It was not my intention to harm Lamine Yamal in any way, the people of FC Barcelona, the players, UEFA, or the Movistar Plus+ platform where I work,” Burgos wrote on Instagram. My intention was not to disparage Lamine Yamal, quite the opposite. “Movistar Plus+ condemns any type of discrimination and will not allow these type of comments from any of its workers or collaborators tied to the platform.

Persons: Germán Burgos, Lamine Yamal, Germain, Burgos, doesn’t, it’s, ” Germán Burgos, AP Burgos, Lamine, ” Burgos, “, Ricardo Sierra, Barça, ”, Yamal, Xavi, “ He’s, Yamal’s Organizations: CNN, Barcelona’s Champions League, Paris Saint, Wednesday, Argentina’s, Barcelona, PSG, “, Argentina, Europa Press, AP, FC Barcelona, UEFA, Football, Movistar, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, ” CNN, European, Gavi, Real Betis Locations: Spanish, Madrid, Barcelona, Spain, Latin America, Burgos, Argentina, Mono, Atlético Madrid, AFP7, Marca, Yamal

☆ Is Soccer’s Model Club Actually … Real Madrid?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Florentino Pérez had a contented smile on his face, and with good reason. He had just watched Spain and Brazil share a thrilling, freewheeling draw at the stadium he has expensively, lavishly, reappointed. Now, Pérez, Real Madrid’s all-powerful president, found himself in a whitewashed tunnel, presented — completely by chance, obviously — with his favorite kind of photo opportunity. To one side stood Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s standard-bearer and main event, dutifully introducing the man who pays his wages to his Brazil teammates. But Pérez’s focus was on Endrick, the 17-year-old star-in-waiting who will complete his long-awaited move to the Santiago Bernabéu this summer.

Persons: Florentino Pérez, —, Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Pérez, “ We’re, ” Locations: Spain, Brazil, Santiago

☆ Germany to redesign Adidas soccer jersey numbering amid Nazi symbol controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —German soccer authorities will redesign the number “4” on the country’s national jerseys amid claims it resembles a logo used by Nazi paramilitary units. The DFB unveiled Germany’s new uniforms, which will be worn by both men’s and women’s teams, in late March. Less than two weeks ago, the DFB announced that Nike will take over from Adidas as the German soccer team’s official shirt supplier from 2027. Adidas has produced the country’s jerseys since the 1950s, during which time the men’s team (either as Germany or West Germany) has claimed four World Cups. The logo was so widely used at the time that some German typewriters were produced with a stylized “SS” key.

Persons: Oliver Bruggen, Adolph Hitler, Walter Heck, Hitler, Guido von Organizations: CNN, Nazi, German Football Association, DFB, Schutzstaffel, UEFA, Adidas, Reuters, France, UEFA European, Nike, soccer, SS Locations: Germany, West Germany, Austrian

☆ Quincy Promes: Dutch soccer star convicted in absentia for drug trafficking is arrested in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Leading European soccer player Quincy Promes, who was convicted in absentia for drug smuggling last month in the Netherlands, has been arrested in Dubai at the request of Dutch prosecutors who are seeking his extradition, according to his lawyers. “The extradition procedure will now have to be completed in the United Arab Emirates,” said Promes’ Dutch lawyers in a statement on the company’s website. “We would like to point out that an independent judge in Dubai will now decide on the Dutch extradition request. “The arrested man was reportedly staying in luxury in Dubai according to various media reports. “At this time, it is not possible to provide additional information to avoid disruption of the ongoing investigation,” added Dutch prosecutors.

Persons: Quincy Promes, Promes, ”, “, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Francesco Pecoraro Organizations: CNN, Ajax, Sevilla, Spartak Moscow, United Arab Emirates, Dubai Police, Reuters, Europa League, SSC Napoli, Stadio, Dubai ’ The, Dubai ’ The Amsterdam Public, Transfermarkt, Spartak Locations: Netherlands, Dubai, Brazil, Russian, Naples, Italy, Europe, Dubai ’, Dubai ’ The Amsterdam, Moscow, Amsterdam, UAE

☆ The Best Player in the Premier League? Look Deeper.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pep Guardiola would, in an unguarded moment, probably concede that he has a slight tendency toward hyperbole. With eyes wide and voice breathless, he will sing the praises of some hopelessly overmatched opponent his Manchester City team has just beaten by 6-1, his players’ jerseys untainted by sweat. “Guys,” he will say, “guys, they are so good. The likeliest explanation is that it is just who Guardiola is: passionate and intense and deeply enthusiastic, still, about his sport. There might be just a dash of noblesse oblige in there, too, a little well-intentioned clemency from soccer’s great conqueror.

Persons: Pep Guardiola, breathless, Guardiola, soccer’s Organizations: Manchester City

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish state prosecutors have accused Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti of alleged tax fraud, claiming he used shell companies to hide parts of his income during his first stint at the club a decade ago. Prosecutors in Madrid said in a statement Wednesday that they are accusing Ancelotti of two accounts of tax fraud and are requesting a prison sentence of four years and nine months. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesFormer Madrid coach Jose Mourinho received a one-year suspended sentence after reaching a guilty plea for tax fraud in 2019. Star players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — among others — have also been found guilty of tax fraud in Spain. Madrid is leading the Spanish league and is set to play Leipzig on Wednesday for a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Persons: Carlo Ancelotti, Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo —, —, Mourinho, Ronaldo, Messi, ___ Organizations: Real Madrid, Prosecutors, Madrid, Champions League, AC Milan, Spanish, Star, Leipzig Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, Spanish, Madrid, Ancelotti, England, Italy, Germany, France

☆ Chelsea vs. Leeds United: Soccer fan rushed to hospital after falling from top tier of stadium
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A Leeds United soccer fan was admitted to hospital after reportedly falling from the top tier of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium in southwest London on Wednesday night. The incident took place shortly after Leeds took a 1-0 lead against Chelsea in the first half of their FA Cup last-16 match, according to reports by British media, citing footage from social media. “Leeds United can confirm an incident involving a Leeds United supporter occurred in the Shed End of Stamford Bridge during the first-half of tonight’s FA Cup game,” the Championship club, who play in English soccer’s second tier, said in a statement. Chelsea will face Leicester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals next month. Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty ImagesThe FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world.

Persons: ”, Conor Gallagher’s, Glyn Kirk Organizations: CNN, Leeds United, Leeds, Chelsea, FA, tonight’s FA, Championship, ” London’s Metropolitan Police, Chelsea FC, CNN Sport, English Premier League club Chelsea, Leicester City, Getty, Manchester City Locations: Chelsea’s Stamford, London, Stamford, ” London’s, AFP

☆ Lionel Messi’s last-gasp goal earns Inter Miami a draw against LA Galaxy in front of star-studded crowd
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The stars were out in force to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami against LA Galaxy in Sunday’s 1-1 draw – and the Argentine, unsurprisingly, didn’t disappoint. LA Galaxy, once a home for some of Major League Soccer’s superstar signings following David Beckham’s arrival in 2007, took the lead in the 75th minute through Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić. Despite its new star-studded lineup, which now also features Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami was thoroughly outplayed for much of the match and looked to be heading for defeat until Messi’s intervention in the 92nd minute. Former Galaxy star Beckham, who has a statue outside of the the club’s stadium and is now a part-owner of Inter Miami, didn’t celebrate the equalizing goal against his former team. Actors Edward Norton and Liv Tyler watched alongside David Beckham and son Brooklyn Beckham.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Novak Djokovic, Halle Berry, Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Anderson Paak, Tobin Heath, Diana Taurasi, David Beckham’s, Dejan Joveljić, Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Kevork Djansezian, Messi, Alba, John McCarthy, Marco Delgado, Busquets, Beckham, “, Riqui Puig, Gerardo Martino, ” Martino, Joseph Paintsil, David Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, Leo, ”, Cristiano Ronaldo Organizations: CNN, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, Argentine, Christen Press, Major League, Serbian, Inter Miami, Barcelona, Galaxy, Miami, didn’t, North, Messi Locations: Miami, Argentina, North America

☆ Want to Lose a Lot of Money, Fast? Buy a Small Soccer Team in England.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Few industries are quite as appealing or as prestigious as English soccer, and Mr. Thompson has a piece of it. But while his team might be small, Mr. Thompson is of the view that it is, at least, as perfectly formed as any minor-league English soccer club could hope to be. Mr. Thompson has spent considerable sums of money modernizing the bathrooms, the club shop and the private boxes. “We have done most of the hard yards,” Mr. Thompson said. After a cancer scare last year led him to reassess his priorities, Mr. Thompson has, reluctantly, decided that he has to “hand the baton” to someone else.

Persons: Geoff Thompson, Thompson, South Shields, Mr Organizations: Shields F.C, Premier League, English Locations: South

☆ MLS Season Pass: The world is obsessed with soccer. Can Apple make Americans love it too?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A centerpiece of that plan is “MLS Season Pass,” a sleekly designed streaming package that ditches the fragmentation other sports suffer from and lets fans stream globally every game — without blackouts — in the Apple TV app. The package costs $14.99 per month or $99 for the season and slightly less ($12.99 per month or $79 for the year) for existing Apple TV+ subscribers. “Once people tuned into the product, they were watching longer than our linear versions in past years,” Camilo Durana, executive vice president of MLS’ Apple partnership, properties and events, told CNN. On Wednesday, Apple released a new Sports app that shows live MLS scores and pushes people to watch them on “MLS Season Pass” on the Apple TV app. That matches a third-party report from analytics firm Antenna showing that “MLS Season Pass” was getting 6,000 new signups a day before Messi arrived but soared to 110,000 signups a day after he signed.

Persons: ” Sacha Kljestan, ” Kljestan, Kevin Egan, Andrew Wiebe, Kaylyn Kyle, Bradley Wright, Phillips, “, ” Camilo Durana, Maddie Meyer, Apple, Lionel Messi, Dre, Durana, Messi, It’s, Santosh Rao, ” Rao Organizations: New, New York CNN — Football, Major League Soccer, Apple, MLS, CNN, NFL, NBC, CBS, FOX, US, TSN, Columbus Crew, Inter Miami, Apple Music, Sports Business, Mobile, Manhattan Venture Partners, doesn’t Locations: New York, Spanish, Canada, Apple’s

☆ Want to Play in Asia’s Champions League? It Will Cost You.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At least nobody can accuse Asia’s soccer authorities of failing to sweat the small stuff. can still find the time to dictate precisely which water bottles, with which labels, fans should be allowed to carry into stadiums. That kind of attention to detail should reassure you that soccer’s future — from Beirut to Beijing, and Ulaanbaatar to Hobart — is in safe hands. Unfortunately, that is not quite the picture that emerges from a report, commissioned by soccer’s global players’ union, FIFPro, assessing the benefits and shortcomings of Asia’s most prestigious club competition, the Asian Champions League. Instead, the report documents a tournament that acts as an almost perfect microcosm of soccer’s general direction across the globe.

Persons: Hobart — Organizations: Asian Football Confederation, ’, Asian Champions League Locations: —, Beirut, Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Hobart

☆ Ukrainian soldiers who have lost limbs in the war against Russia are playing football to stay mentally and physically fit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( John Sinnott | Daria Tarasova-Markina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The 39-year-old has just lost a football game, but he isn’t too upset. The Ukrainian Football Federation organized this initiative a few months ago to support soldiers who lost limbs and help their rehabilitation and return to normal life. “I think football provides psychological support, first of all,” Rzondkovsky, who is also the coach of the Ukrainian amputee football team, told CNN. I was really surprised by how much these people love life, football, and sports. There were about 10 Ukrainian soldiers at that location, but she was the only one who was seriously injured.

Persons: Oleksandr Malchevsky, Malchevsky, ” Malchevsky, Daria Tarasova, CNN Amputees, Dmytro Rzondkovsky, ” Rzondkovsky, CNN Rzondkovsky, “ I’m, ”, Lyndov, Olha Benda, Benda, It’s, ” Beneda, “, Andriy Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian Football Federation, UEFA, League of Nations, European Football Federation, Ukrainian, 72nd Mechanized Brigade Locations: Ukrainian, Eastern Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine, Kharkiv, –, Kyiv, European, Greece, Belgium, Georgia, Israel, Avdiivka, Poland, Donetsk

☆ Shakhtar Donetsk: Serhii Palkin was running the biggest soccer club in Ukraine. After war broke out, his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Ben Church | Martynas Ruseckas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

While he scrambled to keep his young family safe amid the near constant bombardment, Palkin also had the responsibility of looking after Ukraine’s most successful soccer club, Shakhtar Donetsk. Almost two years we have been in these kinds of conditions.”Palkin was named Shakhtar Donetsk’s CEO in 2004, taking charge of the most decorated club in Ukraine. In addition to its domestic dominance, the team regularly competes in the UEFA Champions League, alongside the biggest names of the sport. Since the conflict began, though, six people with direct ties to the club have died, according to Palkin. But many of those players, which the club had invested in before the war, left Shakhtar for free as a result of the ruling.

Persons: Palkin, ” Palkin, Milos Bicanski, didn’t, ”, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he’s, it’s, Matteo Ciambelli, Fernandinho, FIFA’s, Mykhailo Mudryk, Marvin Ibo, GES Sportfoto Organizations: CNN, Shakhtar Donetsk, CNN Sport, Shakhtar Donetsk’s, UEFA Champions League, Soccer, country’s Premier League, ” Shakhtar, FC Barcelona, Champions League, Shakhtar, Getty, FIFA, Manchester City, Atlético Paranaense, Premier League, Sport, European, European Commission, English Premier League club Chelsea, Barcelona, “, ” Shakhtar Donetsk, Europa League, Marseille Locations: Russia, Ukraine, London, Kyiv, Europe, Germany, Donbas, Crimea, Russian, Brazil, Hamburg

☆ Host nation Ivory Coast continues miraculous run to AFCON final to set up a matchup against Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The host nation is seeking its third AFCON title, while Nigeria is looking to lift the trophy for the fourth time. ET on Sunday and will take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast midfielder Ibrahim Sangare (L) fights for the ball with DR Congo's Simon Banza. Against Mali, Ivory Coast pulled off yet another great escape, grabbing a last-minute equalizer. Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made two saves and striker Kelechi Iheanacho netted the deciding penalty to send Nigeria into the final.

Persons: Ouattara, Ivory, Les Éléphants, Jean, Louis Gasset, Emerse Faé, Ibrahim Sangare, DR Congo's Simon Banza, Franck Fife, Faé, Franck Kessié, Simon Adingra, Sébastien Haller, Ivory Coast's, Sia Kambou, William Troost, Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Osimhen, Percy Tau, Teboho Mokoena, Issouf Sanogo, Grant Kekana, Stanley Nwabali, Kelechi Iheanacho Organizations: CNN, Africa, of Nations, beIN Sports USA, DR Congo, Guinea, Equatorial, Coast, Ivory, DR Congo's, Getty, Senegal, Against, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Super Eagles, South Africa Locations: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ivory, Abidjan, South Africa, Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, AFP, Against Mali, Europe, AFCON, Cameroon, Angola, Africa

☆ UEFA Eases Term Limits but President Says He Won’t Test Them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

European soccer leaders on Thursday fell squarely in line behind their powerful president, Aleksander Ceferin, by approving a change to term-limit rules that would have allowed him to retain his post through 2031, years beyond the organization’s 12-year term limit. The vote, though, may have been meaningless: About an hour after winning the right to pursue a new four-year term as president of European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, Mr. Ceferin said he would not seek one. “I’ve decided I am not planning to run in 2027,” a stony-faced Mr. Ceferin said as he read from prepared notes. He said he had not revealed his decision earlier because he wanted to first understand the loyalty of UEFA’s members. In recent months, several members of the governing body’s leadership had objected, publicly and privately, to any weakening of term limits.

Persons: Aleksander Ceferin, Ceferin, “ I’ve Organizations: European, UEFA Locations: Ukraine, Gaza

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