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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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ Josh Cavallo: Australian first openly gay top-flight male soccer star proposes to partner on home pitch
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Josh Cavallo, the first top-flight male professional soccer star to come out as gay, has blazed a new trail by proposing to his partner on the pitch of his club. Since then, Cavallo, 24, has become one of the most recognizable faces in the sport and an outspoken advocate for greater equality for the LGBTQ community. On Thursday, he announced that he had proposed to his fiancée at Coopers Stadium, home pitch of his Australian A-League team Adelaide United. To this day there are still very few professional male footballers who have come out as gay. “I want my brother… – or anyone of any sexuality, race or religion – to come to games without having to fear abuse.”

Persons: Josh Cavallo, Cavallo, ”, CNN Cavallo, “, I’m, ” Cavallo, I’ve, Aaron Ramsdale, … –, – Organizations: CNN, Coopers, League, Adelaide United, ”, Attitude Magazine, FIFA, Qatar, Rapid Vienna, Arsenal Locations: Qatar

CNN —Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in said on Wednesday that he apologized to Tottenham Hotspur forward and South Korea captain Son Heung-min in person in London after a brawl took place between them at the Asian Cup this month. The pair clashed about playing table tennis while on international duty with South Korea ahead of the team’s 2-0 loss to Jordan in the Asian Cup semifinal on February 6. A television screen in Seoul, South Korea, shows the image of the pair that Son shared on Instagram. “So even if I were to face the same situation again, I would act for the sake of the team,” Son added. The Taegeuk Warriors scraped through to the Asian Cup semifinals, despite only winning one game in regulation time during the competition, before being upset by Jordan.

Persons: Germain, Lee Kang, Son Heung, Jordan, ”, Son, Ian Walton, Kim, Lee “, ” Kim, Lee, Heung, ” Lee, Lee’s, Instagram, Jung Yeon, Kang, ” Son, “, “ Kang, Karim Jaafar, Jürgen Klinsmann Organizations: CNN, Paris Saint, Tottenham Hotspur, South, Korean national football, Korea Football Association, Athletic, Yonhap News Agency, English Premier League, Brighton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham, South Korea, Instagram, Getty, South Korean, Taegeuk Warriors, Qatar Locations: South Korea, London, Seoul, AFP, Jordan

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korean and Tottenham Hotspur soccer superstar Son Heung-min was involved in a fight with a teammate the night before the national team’s disastrous loss in an Asian Cup semifinal match earlier this month, the country’s football federation confirmed to CNN on Friday. In the wake of the incident, the Korea Football Association later Friday fired head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, who had questioned the resolve of his team during the tournament. A KFA statement said the team dinner took place in Qatar on February 5, before South Korea’s 2-0 loss to Jordan at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup. 87 in FIFA’s world rankings, was seen as a major embarrassment for the 23rd-ranked South Korean side. Son is the captain of both Tottenham Hotspur in England’s Premier League and of the South Korean side.

Persons: Son Heung, Jürgen Klinsmann, Lee Kang, Jordan, ”, Lee, Germain, Heung, Visionhaus, “, Lee “, ” Lee, ” “, Son, Klinsmann Organizations: South Korea CNN — South Korean, Tottenham Hotspur, CNN, Korea Football Association, Korean national football, Asian Football Confederation Asian, England’s Premier League, Paris Saint, France’s Ligue, English Premier League, Brighton & Hove Albion, JTBC, South, Asian, South Korea Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Qatar, France’s, London, Instagram

☆ 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

☆ Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday condemn ‘racist gesture’ aimed at player during English soccer match
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —English soccer clubs Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday have jointly condemned a “racist gesture” allegedly aimed at Coventry midfielder Kasey Palmer during their match on Saturday. Palmer, who is Black, said it was a “couple” of fans making “monkey chants.”The alleged incident took place during a match in the Championship, English football’s second tier, which Coventry won 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium. “Disappointed to even have to come on here & write this,” Palmer said on X, formerly known as Twitter. “They’re ignorant people… You can be booed or whistled when you’re away from home, that’s normal, but what happened today has no place in football,” Maignan said. The match resumed less than 10 minutes later, and Milan would win a dramatic encounter 3-2 in the final minutes.

Persons: Kasey Palmer, Palmer, ”, ” Palmer, I’ve, Doug King, Dejphon Chansiri, Mike Maignan, “, ” Maignan, Maignan, Fabio Maresca, Gianni Infantino, Italy “, – Infantino Organizations: CNN, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Sheffield, Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough, Zuma, AC Milan, Udinese, Sky Sports, Milan, FIFA Locations: Sheffield Wednesday’s, Coventry, Italian, Milan, England, Italy

☆ FIFA Best Awards: Lionel Messi, Aitana Bonmatí, a green carpet and a mini tuxedo. Step inside the surreal world
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Matias Grez | Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Spaniard went on to be crowned the Best Men’s Coach after guiding City to the treble last season. That is not normal – for anything in history.”Manchester City Pep Guardiola poses with the trophy after being named the best men's coach in 2023. Later, shortlists were determined by two separate panels of experts in men’s and women’s football. Players past and present were in attendance, including the likes of Brazilian great Ronaldo and the newly crowned Women’s Best Player, Aitana Bonmatí. I’m very happy about how women’s football has evolved in Brazil and in the world.

Persons: CNN —, Pep Guardiola, Romina Polenta, Polenta, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, “, Messi, ” Polenta, Manchester City Pep Guardiola, Michael Regan, Johanne Perraud, “ Kiki, ”, Perraud didn’t, murmurs, shortlists, Ronaldo, Aitana Bonmatí, Oussama Nacer, I’ve, Nacer, Thierry Henry, ” Johanne Perraud, Romina, Matias Grez, Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Hermoso, Sarina Wiegman, Marta, “ There’ll, I’m, It’s, Hugo Íñiguez, Íñiguez’s, Íñiguez Organizations: CNN, FIFA, Manchester City, Spaniard, CNN Sport, Qatar, Inter Miami, MLS, Nacer, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Argentine, Colón, Salta Rodríguez Locations: London, Argentina, Qatar, Buenos Aires, France, men’s, Spain, Brazil, Salta

The women’s award finalists are 2023 World Cup winners Aitana Bonmatí and Jenni Hermoso of Spain, plus Linda Caicedo of Colombia. “The Best” awards represent FIFA’s version of the older and more prestigious Ballon d’Or prize. The awards ceremony at the Hammersmith Apollo theater in west London includes men's and women's awards for best coach, best goalkeeper and the Puskas Award for best goal. Messi, Mbappé and Haaland also comprised the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or award, which Messi won for an eighth time in October. The women’s eligibility period covered performances from Aug. 1, 2022 through the World Cup final last August.

Persons: —, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Aitana Bonmatí, Jenni Hermoso, Linda Caicedo, “, Puskas, Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Spain’s, Bonmatí, Ballon d’Or, Spain's Alexia Putellas, ___ Organizations: Ballon, Hammersmith Apollo, Messi’s, Mbappe’s, England, Barcelona, Spanish, Champions League, FIFA Locations: Spain, Colombia, London, Messi’s Argentina, Mbappe’s France, Qatar, Sydney, Australia

☆ Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes: He ignored a Linkedin message once, but not the second time. When he responded his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

I just thought it was a welcome message … so I ignored it.”Fortunately for Lopes, Cape Verde head coach time Rui Águas messaged the Shamrock Rovers defender again nine months later – this time in English – asking if he had considered his offer. Roberto Lopes, who plays for Cape Verde, was born and raised in Dublin. French forward Just Fontaine (L) scores in France's World Cup 5-2 semifinal defeat to Brazil in 1958. France’s captain at the first ever World Cup in 1930 was Algerian-born Alexandre Villaplane. But having recently reversed that policy, the Taifa Stars will have a number of players born outside the continent in its squad for the 2024 tournament.

Persons: CNN —, Roberto “ Pico ” Lopes, Lopes, “, ” Lopes, Rui Águas, Roberto Lopes, Ulrik Pedersen, Mohamed Salah, Lopes won’t, Alexandre Villaplane, Fontaine, Eusébio, Samuel Eto’o, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, ” Wissa, Darren Lewis, Benoît Assou, Ekotto, Ryan Byrne, ”, ‘, ’, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Wilfred Zaha, Les, Patrice Beaumelle, I’ve, I’m, ” Carlos ‘ Caluccha ’ Lopes, Roberto’s, Roberto, “ It’s, he’s, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Shamrock Rovers, Cape, CNN Sport, Africa, of Nations, LinkedIn, AP, Google, Blue Sharks, Rovers, Professional, Association of Ireland’s, body’s, AFP, Getty, France, UEFA, Benfica, English Premier League, Cameroon soccer, Brentford, Ireland, Democratic, Former Cameroon, Tottenham Hotspur, Lions, League of Ireland Premier Division, Everton, Mali, Ivorian national team, Galatasaray, Cape Verde Locations: Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Cape Verde, Lopes , Cape Verde, Ireland, Egypt, Cape Verde’s, Ghana, Mozambique, Brazil, Africa, Algerian, French, Marrakech, Morocco, Mozambican, Angolan, Portuguese, Portugal, Algeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Europe, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, France, Poland, you’re, Ivory Coast, Cape Verdean, Verdean

☆ Soccer set to trial sin bins for dissent and ‘tactical offences’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Soccer is set to trial sin bins at the higher levels of the game in a bid to improve player behavior towards match officials – a move that has drawn a mixed response. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the sport’s lawmaking body, announced on Monday that sin bins should be trialed “for dissent and specific tactical offences” having been successfully implemented at a grassroots level. Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesBut not everyone is in favor of sin bins. “Considering football can’t decide what is clear and obvious from one week to the next, sin bins and the threshold for being banished to one have no chance,” CNN Senior Sports Analyst Darren Lewis wrote on X. He continued: “The success of sin bins in the grassroots game has been prevention, rather than cure.

Persons: –, bin, “, Pierluigi Collina, Jamie Carragher, “ I’ve, William Troost, Richard Heathcote, John Terry, ” Terry, ”, Darren Lewis, Mark Bullingham Organizations: CNN — Soccer, International Football Association Board, Liverpool, Sky Sports, Premier League, Chelsea, ” CNN, English Football Association, “ Locations: London, England

☆ Qatar World Cup: Amnesty International says ‘abuses persist’ and ‘too little has been done’ to protect workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Qatar now leads the region on workers’ rights and labor reforms, setting an example for other countries on how a system can be successfully overhauled. Argentina's Lionel Messi lifts World Cup after defeating France in the final. Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe/Getty ImagesIn the build-up to last year’s World Cup, the organizers received widespread criticism for their treatment of migrant workers. The report did not connect all 6,500 deaths with World Cup infrastructure projects and has not been independently verified by CNN. Amnesty International also reiterated its 10-point plan which was published in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup.

Persons: Qatar’s, “, Argentina's Lionel Messi, Julian Finney, Hassan Al Thawadi, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Steve Cockburn, “ Qatar’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Qatar’s International Media, FIFA, France, Getty, Guardian, Economic Social Justice, Qatar “, Qatar Locations: Qatar, Qatari, Europe

LONDON (AP) — One year after Qatar hosted the men’s World Cup, the gas-rich emirate and soccer governing body FIFA were urged Thursday by human rights group Amnesty International to do more for migrant workers who were essential to prepare the tournament and still face labor abuses. FIFA, under a different leadership, is now embarked on a similar journey toward Saudi Arabia hosting the World Cup in 2034. “Qatar’s continued failure to properly enforce or strengthen its pre-World Cup labor reforms puts any potential legacy for workers in serious peril,” Amnesty said. A key point for activists and some FIFA member federations has been compensating the families of workers in Qatar who were injured or died. Weeks before the World Cup started, FIFA’s top lawyer had said it was open to helping create a compensation fund.

Persons: ”, Steve Cockburn, “ Qatar’s, “, Weeks, Michael Llamas Organizations: —, Qatar, FIFA, Amnesty, Progress, “ Qatar, United Nations, International Labor Organization, Labor, ” Amnesty, InBev, Budweiser, ” FIFA, “, ILO, Ministry of Labor Locations: Qatar, United States, Saudi Arabia, Gibraltar, “, Geneva

Reviewing refereeing decisions has come a long – and increasingly unloved – way from the VAR (video assistant referee) project first trialed by FIFA in 2016. Two days earlier, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta lashed out at “an absolute disgrace” to allow Newcastle a decisive goal after a triple-layered VAR review. “Significant human error,” the league officials' group acknowledged after Tottenham's 2-1 win that is still title-chasing Liverpool's only loss in the league. Former Australia coach Postecoglou said he is traditional and prefers soccer without VAR, where all accept occasional mistakes and respect the referee. “You can’t tell me referees are in control of games,” Postecoglou said Monday.

Persons: Mikel Arteta, Massimo Busacca, ” Busacca, “, ”, Ange Postecoglou, Bjorn Kuipers, Thierry Henry’s, we’re, Postecoglou, Liverpool's, Busacca, ” Postecoglou, “ They’re Organizations: FIFA, Tottenham, Chelsea, English Premier League, Arsenal, Newcastle, Premier League, Associated Press, ” Tottenham, Burnley, Bournemouth, Norway, League, Former, Swiss FIFA Locations: Russia, Zurich, France, Ireland, Liverpool, Former Australia

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

☆ Saudi Arabia set to host 2034 World Cup as Australia withdraws interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Sammy Mncwabe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

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

☆ Saudi Arabia Is Set to Be Sole Bidder for 2034 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Tariq Panja | More About Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

FIFA’s move to speed up the bidding for 2034 surprised many, coming 11 years before the scheduled start of the tournament and a full three years before the 2034 host was supposed to be decided. FIFA also said only bidders from Asia and Oceania, two of soccer’s six regional confederations, could be considered for selection. Saudi Arabia, which had for years been public about its desire to host the World Cup, moved fast to secure the tournament after FIFA set the rules this month. In the face of that support, Australian officials concluded they would have been overmatched if they challenged Saudi Arabia to secure the votes of the majority of FIFA’s 211 federations. Saudi Arabia has signed agreements in the past year with scores of FIFA’s member nations, committing millions of dollars to projects across Asia and lavishing attention on Africa, where it signed an agreement with the regional governing body and sponsored a new tournament.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al Khalifa Organizations: FIFA, Saudi Locations: Asia, Oceania, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Australia, Africa, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabian

☆ FIFA Bars Former Spanish Soccer Chief for 3 Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Tariq Panja | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Soccer’s global governing body on Monday barred Luis Rubiales, the former president of Spain’s soccer federation, from the sport for three years over his forcible kiss of a player after the Women’s World Cup final in August. It also led to accusations in the days that followed that Mr. Rubiales and others at the federation had pressured the player to say the kiss was consensual. Ms. Hermoso instead filed a criminal complaint of sexual assault, and Mr. Rubiales — who initially resisted calls to resign — was placed under a provisional 90-day suspension while FIFA, soccer’s governing body, investigated the episode. He quit as the head of Spain’s soccer federation less than a month after the final, under pressure from players who were refusing to take the field for the women’s national team. It did not provide further details on the findings but said that Mr. Rubiales could request them, at which point a so-called reasoned decision would be made public.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Hermoso, Rubiales —, — Organizations: Mr, FIFA, women’s

☆ Jenni Hermoso scores the winner on triumphant Spain return after unwanted kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Spain’s Jenni Hermoso scored a late winning goal on Friday in a glorious return to the national team following the unwanted kiss controversy that overshadowed La Roja’s World Cup win in August. Television broadcasts showed traveling Spanish fans jumping for joy as Hermoso was surrounded by her celebrating teammates. “When Italy sat deep, we needed someone like Jenni to step up with her shooting boots,” Spain’s head coach Montse Tomé said after the game. The fallout over Rubiales’ behavior triggered a crisis in Spanish soccer and sparked condemnation in Spain and across the world. Rubiales’ actions partly “ruined” the tournament and “derailed” Spain’s joyous celebrations, a senior official at soccer’s governing body FIFA said.

Persons: CNN — Spain’s Jenni Hermoso, “, Jenni, ”, Montse Tomé, We’ve, ” Hermoso, Tomé, Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, General Fatma Samoura, Darren Lewis Organizations: CNN, La, UEFA Women’s Nations League, Italy, Salerno . Television, Pachuca Femenil, Spain, Sweden, Spanish Football Federation, England, Spanish, FIFA Locations: Salerno, Italy, Switzerland, Sydney, Spanish, Spain, Africa, London

☆ Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on Jennifer Hermoso ‘derailed’ joy of Spain’s Women’s World Cup success, says FIFA Secretary General
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Zayn Nabbi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —FIFA’s outgoing Secretary General Fatma Samoura said she was encouraged by the global support Jenni Hermoso received after Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on her following Spain’s triumph in the Women’s World Cup final, saying the Spanish football federation president’s actions partly “ruined” the tournament and “derailed” the world champion’s joyous celebrations. Rubiales resigned from his roles as president of the Spanish Football Federation and one of UEFA's vice-presidents. I think we have to have 211 member associations deciding who’s the best for the FIFA president. Samoura shakes hands with Spain's Salma Paralluelo during the award ceremony following the 2023 Women's World Cup final. It takes 1,000 people to organize the World Cup, it takes even more to fight all forms of discrimination in the stadium,” said Samoura.

Persons: CNN —, General Fatma Samoura, Jenni Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, “, ” Samoura, Darren Lewis, Rubiales, Irina R, Hipolito, ”, Samoura, George Floyd, Catherine Ivill, Hermoso, Jorge Vilda, Jenni, you’ve, Shane Anthony SInclair, “ It’s, Gianni Infantino, ” Infantino, FairSquare, Lise Klaveness, Klaveness, Infantino, Spain's Salma Paralluelo, Alex Pantling, Sepp Blatter, Jérôme Valcke Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Spanish Football Federation, Europa Press, UN, FIFA, Samoura, Amnesty, Norway, organisation’s, FIFA Congress, “ Locations: Spanish, Africa, London, Spain, America, Russia, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, Doha, Kigali

GENEVA (AP) — Saudi Arabia formally informed FIFA of its wish to host the men’s World Cup in 2034 on Monday in a bidding contest that increasingly looks designed for the kingdom to win. That allows the 2034 edition to return to Asia 12 years after Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup. Infantino has built close ties to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on frequent visits to the oil-rich kingdom since before the 2018 World Cup. The Saudi soccer project has seen the sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund buy English club Newcastle in 2021. The FIFA Council which agreed to the 2034 World Cup bidding process included nine delegates from European soccer body UEFA, which now has the 2030 tournament.

Persons: “, ”, Gianni Infantino, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, PIF, Karim Benzema, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, Oceania, Qatar, New Zealand, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Newcastle, FIFA Council, UEFA Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian, Europe, Africa, South America, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, United States, Mexico, Canada, Asia, Australia, Saudi, Qatar, Egypt

☆ Christiane Endler: Chile’s football federation criticized for handling of star player’s 100th appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The Chilean football federation (ANFP) has been criticized for its handling of a star player’s 100th appearance for the women’s national team. On Tuesday, Endler, the team’s captain and goalkeeper, made history by becoming the first player to reach 100 caps for the Chile women’s national team in a 2-1 victory over New Zealand. One more for you guys,” Chile national team player Daniela Pardo replied to the graphic on Instagram. Endler captained Chile at its first ever Women's World Cup in 2019. That she has been able to achieve so much is remarkable, coming from a country whose federation has sometimes overlooked its women’s national team.

Persons: Christiane Endler, Endler, “, Edgar Merino, Pablo Milad, ” Milad, Justin Tallis, Tiane, Daniela Pardo, Claudio Bravo, Endler hasn’t, Michael Chow, ” Endler, Germain, Harold Cunningham, FIFPro, Gabriel Boric, ” Camila Garcia, ” Organizations: CNN, Chilean, women’s, Chile women’s, New, New Zealand, Lyon, Women's Champions League, Getty, Chile’s Sports Commission, La Tercera, Chile national, Chile men’s, South, Estadio Nacional, Argentina, Santiago’s, USA, Network, Reuters, ADN, FIFA, Paris Saint, Champions League, America Femenina, Ministry, Labour Locations: Chile, New Zealand, France, La, South American, Santiago’s La Florida, La Florida, Paris, Lyon, Chilean, Haiti

☆ US Women’s National Team victorious in Megan Rapinoe’s final match
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —International soccer star Megan Rapinoe will leave her national team career a winner. The United States Women’s National Team defeated South Africa 2-0 in a friendly at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday as Rapinoe played her final match with the team. Before kickoff, Rapinoe was recognized with a jersey bearing “203” for her number of appearances for the national team. US forward Megan Rapinoe played the final match of her international career on Sunday. While celebrating with teammates, Rapinoe did her iconic celebration, arms widely outstretched, to the crowd’s delight.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Rapinoe, Sue Bird, Trinity Rodman, Erin Hooley, Emily Sonnett, ” Rapinoe, ”, “ It’s, Féminin Organizations: CNN — International, United, United States Women’s National Team, South, Soldier, WNBA, Trinity, AP, US Soccer Federation, London Olympics Locations: United States, South Africa, Chicago, California

☆ Megan Rapinoe to leave behind a remarkable legacy after final US game
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Rapinoe won the Women's World Cup twice, most recently in 2019. She continued to do so for the US national team, a symbol not appreciated by everyone in the country. But, despite all the success that went before, her World Cup dreams ended in a penalty shootout heartbreak. There was to be no perfect ending for Rapinoe as the US was dumped out of the 2023 Women's World Cup last-16. A smile of disbelief masked the pain as she trudged off the pitch, never to play in a World Cup again.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, she’s, ” Rapinoe, Féminin, Rapinoe, Richard Heathcote, Bill Simmons, Colin Kaepernick, Donald Trump, she’d, Joe Biden, “, Biden, Emma Lazarus, ‘, ’ ” Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, ”, “ We’ve, I’m, Alex Pantling, ’, Kelley O’Hara, “ There’s Organizations: CNN, US, National, South, London Olympics, Getty, France, Seattle, NFL, White House, Reuters, US Soccer, men’s, FIFA, Fox Sports Locations: California, South Africa, Chicago, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden

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