DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Opinion: Utah incident reveals this inherent threat in anti-trans efforts to ‘protect’ girls in sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Opinion Frankie De La Cretaz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In 2022, the Utah legislature banned transgender girls from high school girls’ sports. In August 2022, a Utah judge granted a preliminary injunction allowing trans girls to compete on girls’ teams after the parents of two trans girls filed a lawsuit. But as long as transgender girls’ gender identities are policed, cisgender girls will continue to have theirs policed as well. “I avoided athletic activities out of terror, not disinterest,” one participant said (a new study published last month also found that trans girls are primarily avoiding sports out of fear of harassment). If cisgender girls avoid sports out of these fears as well, they stand to be similarly negatively impacted.

Persons: Frankie de la, “, Mary, CNN —, Natalie Cline, Delia M, Harrington, ” Gov, Spencer Cox, Deidre Henderson, “ unconscionable ”, Cline, What’s, Cox, Virginia Foxx, ludicrously, Megan Rapinoe, It’s, —, White, Jim Crow, Sarah Longwell, Melissa Gira Grant, Trevor, Trevor Project’s Organizations: National Women’s Football League, ”, The New York Times, Sports, CNN, Utah State Board of Education, Harrington The Utah State Board of Education, Facebook, Gov, GOP, US Women’s National, Berlin Olympics, Mental Health, Lifeline Locations: Utah, North Carolina, Idaho, California, Nazi Germany

☆ Racheal Kundananji: Bay FC signs Zambian soccer star for reported $787,000 world record fee
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Bay FC, the newest team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), has made an ambitious statement of intent ahead of the upcoming season by signing Zambian international Racheal Kundananji. “I want to give the [Bay FC] fans what they want – to enjoy the games, to enjoy seeing me playing and scoring.”Kundananji joins Bay FC from Spanish side Madrid CFF for a reported world record fee of €735,000 (around $787,000), according to multiple reports including ESPN. CNN has contacted Bay FC, Madrid CFF and the NWSL regarding the transfer fee. The contract runs through the 2027 season with an option for an additional year in 2028, Bay FC said. “We are delighted to add Racheal to our group,” Bay FC general manager Lucy Rushton said in a press release from the club.

Persons: Kundananji, ” Kundananji, Lucy Rushton, Diego Souto, Asisat Oshoala, Jen Beattie, Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner Organizations: CNN — Bay FC, National Women’s Soccer League, Zambian, “, BBC Sport Africa, FC, Bay FC, Madrid CFF, ESPN, CNN, Real Madrid, Liga F, Spain’s Liga, San, Spanish, Costa, US Women’s National, Sixth Locations: “ People, Zambia, Bay, Spanish, Scottish, San Jose, Kazakhstan, Costa Rica

☆ Irish women’s basketball team refuses to shake hands with Israeli team after accusations of antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Irish women’s national basketball team refused to shake hands with the Israeli women’s national team ahead of the first game of the 2025 Women’s EuroBasket qualifier in Riga, Latvia, on Thursday. Basketball Ireland fully supports our players in their decision,” the statement continued. On Wednesday, Israeli basketball player Dor Sa’ar called the Irish team “quite antisemitic,” in an interview posted on the Israeli Basketball Association’s website. After the game, Israel head coach Sharon Drucker said he had “never seen such things” in his life. “There was no game where you don’t give concessions, shake hands, congratulate each other.

Persons: Dor Sa’ar, “, ” Sa’ar, Israel, Sharon Drucker, “ I’ve, I’ve, ” Drucker, ” Israel, Oksana Dzadan, let’s, James Weldon, ” “ It’s, ” Weldon, Weldon, didn’t, wasn’t Organizations: CNN, Irish women’s, women’s, Basketball Ireland, Ireland, FIBA Europe, Wednesday, Basketball, Israel, ” Basketball Ireland, FIBA Women’s, FIBA, Israeli Basketball Association Locations: Riga, Latvia, Israel, tipoff, Ireland

☆ Pro Sports in Las Vegas Aren’t Cheered by Everyone
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Ken Belson | Jenny Vrentas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The history of Las Vegas has been marked by a relentless churn of hotels, casinos, theaters and restaurants. The Golden Knights of the National Hockey League were the first to start play here in 2017. The Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association started in 2018, and the National Football League’s Raiders arrived from Oakland in 2020. Last year, Major League Baseball’s Athletics were given the go-ahead to make the same Oakland-to-Las Vegas move, and the National Basketball Association is expected to add a team in the coming years. Las Vegas’s transformation into a pro sports town reflects not just the leagues’ interest in the city and their general embrace of sports betting, but also the power of the region’s primary economic driver, tourism.

Organizations: Golden Knights, National Hockey League, Aces, National Basketball Association, National Football League’s Raiders, Major League Baseball’s Athletics, Allegiant, Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers Locations: Vegas, Oakland, United States

LOS ANGELES (AP) — SoFi Stadium will begin work Monday on renovations to increase the size of its playing field area in preparation for hosting eight matches during the 2026 World Cup. “It's really just changing pre-cast concrete in the corners of the stadium to a more retractable system,” Demoff said Sunday. SoFi also will have a temporary grass field for the World Cup in place of its usual artificial turf. The changes that we will make to the stadium were always contemplated for the World Cup. Although the Los Angeles-area World Cup organizers didn't get the final, only AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will host more total matches than SoFi.

Persons: — SoFi, Kevin Demoff, “ It's, ” Demoff, “ We'll, ”, Chris Klein, we’re, Stan Kroenke, SoFi, Demoff, didn't, Larry Freedman Organizations: ANGELES, —, Los Angeles Rams, NFL, FIFA, U.S, Copa America, Rams, Arsenal, NBA, Denver Nuggets, CONCACAF, Mexico, SoFi, Los Angeles Chargers, Super, T, men's Locations: Los Angeles, Inglewood, United States, Arlington , Texas, LA, U.S

☆ Asian Cup: South Korea beat Saudi Arabia in dramatic penalty shootout to advance to the quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —South Korea was on the verge of being eliminated from the AFC Asian Cup after going 1-0 down against Saudi Arabia, but managed to turn things around with a late equalizer from Cho Gue-sung followed by a decisive 4-2 penalty shootout win. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty ImagesSouth Korea managed to grow into the game and began to rain chances down on the opposition goal late on. Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar was called into action to deny Hwang In-beom and Seol Young-woo as the game ticked towards the final whistle. Hassan Tambakti of Saudi Arabia and South Korea captain Son Heung-Min battle for the ball. Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSouth Korea keeper Jo Hyeon-woo played hero in the shootout, saving Saudi Arabia’s final two spot-kicks before Wolves’ Hwang fired his deciding penalty into top corner, punching South Korea’s ticket to the quarterfinals.

Persons: Cho Gue, Roberto Mancini, Saleh Al, Ali Lajami, Salem, Abdullah Radif, slotting, Radif, Giuseppe Cacace, Ahmed Al, Kassar, Hwang, Seol Young, Cho, Hwang Hee, Hassan Tambakti, Son Heung, Robert Cianflone, Jo Hyeon, Wolves ’ Hwang, Jürgen, ”, “, Klinsmann Organizations: CNN, AFC Asian, Manchester City, Green Falcons, Getty, Warriors, Saudi, Wolves, South, US men’s, “, Australia –, Tottenham Hotspur Locations: South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Italy, AFP, Korea, Saudi, Indonesia, ” South Korea

“It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium. If he plays and the U.S. wins, Durant would be the first men’s player with four basketball golds. “I will play in the Olympics,” Durant adamantly said last fall at Phoenix’s media day. The other 28 players on the list are headlined by a pair who may make their Olympic debuts — Embiid and Curry among them. Players not in the pool aren’t exactly ineligible to make the Olympic team; while it is a long shot, it has happened before.

Persons: LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Golden, Steve Kerr, Miami's Erik Spoelstra, Mark, Grant Hill, — Durant, James, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, James Harden, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Jrue, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Durant, ” Durant, — Embiid, Curry, ” Curry, ” Embiid, Nick Nurse, Jarrett Allen, Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Scottie Barnes, Mikal, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Alex Caruso, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Ingram, Jaren Jackson Jr, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Derrick White, Trae Young, “, ”, Adebayo, ” Green, Green, Antonio’s Keldon Johnson, Gregg Popovich, Johnson, JaVale McGee, Bradley Beal, Kevin Love —, — Organizations: USA Basketball’s, Paris Olympics, U.S, Janeiro Games, USA Basketball, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, ”, Philadelphia, France, ” 76ers, Golden State, Olympic, Tokyo Games, Spurs, AP Locations: USA, Paris, United, Cameroon, Mikal Bridges, Golden, paris

☆ Former Chinese central banker took ‘extraordinarily massive’ bribes, state media says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Fan Yifei, a disgraced former Chinese central banker, has admitted making a “huge mistake” in comments aired as part of a documentary by state broadcaster CCTV that alleges he accepted massive bribes from the beginning of his tenure. It described how he had received “extraordinarily massive” payments from executives of various companies in exchange for favors after taking up the PBOC’s second-highest position. “I wanted to possess great power, and at the same time, to be rich,” Fan said in the documentary. “I made a huge mistake.”According to CCTV, Fan accepted payments from businesspeople through his brother’s investment company. In addition to Fan’s case, the CCTV documentary exposed graft at a state-owned energy investment group and at the highest levels of Chinese sport.

Persons: Fan, Xi Jinping, “, Qian Long, Liu Liange, Wang Bin, Tang Shuangning, Tang, Wang Yongsheng, Wang, Li, China’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China’s, Central Commission, Xinhua, Communist Party, National Supervisory Commission, of China, China Life Insurance, China Everbright, China Development Bank, China Daily, soccer team, China’s Twitter Locations: China, Hong Kong, Xinhua, Weibo

☆ Copa América 2024: CONMEBOL announces 14 host cities as tournament returns to the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —CONMEBOL, South America’s soccer federation, has announced the 14 cities that will host matches at the 2024 Copa América as the tournament returns to the United States for the first time since 2016. Ecuador was originally designated as the tournament host but pulled out in November 2022 due to economic and security concerns, as well as a lack of viable stadiums. CONMEBOL has encountered obstacles in hosting the last three editions of the Copa América held in South America. Now, for the third edition in a row, the host nation has been changed after the US took over organizing duties from Ecuador. Argentina won the postponed 2020 edition of the Copa América, which was moved to Brazil.

Persons: América, Atlanta United’s Mercedes, Michael Zarrilli, ” Ezequiel Fernández Moores, Copa América, Fernández Moores, Amanda Perobelli, ” Fernández Moores, “, Lionel Messi’s, Henry Romero, he’s, hasn’t, Messi, ” Sean Gregory, –, ” Organizations: CNN — CONMEBOL, Miami Gardens, Kansas City, Atlanta United’s, Benz, Copa América, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF –, Copa, Reuters, State, América, FIFA, USA, Canada, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, US, National, Inter Miami, Host Chile, Copa America, –, Leagues, “, TIME, FIFA Club Locations: South, United States, Vegas, Arlington (, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, Santa Clara, Atlanta, East Rutherford ( NJ, Houston, Austin, Inglewood, CA, Glendale, AZ, Kansas, South America, Ecuador, Peru, North America, Central America, Caribbean, American, America, Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, California, United, Mexico

☆ Timothy Weah and Samuel Iling-Jr.: Why Juventus duo are talking about mental health in soccer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Matias Grez | Darren Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —“It was definitely heartbreaking to see,” American soccer star Timothy Weah says of a moment which, even 10 years on, he can still clearly recall. As a 12-year-old, it was the first time Weah – son of legendary Liberian soccer great George Weah – had seen racism in sport. “I think that was a moment that really … shook me as a young man,” the 23-year-old Weah tells CNN Senior Sport Analyst Darren Lewis. Weah and Iling-Junior agree that not spending much time with family is one of the most difficult challenges young soccer players face, especially those who move abroad, as they both did. “And I think, in mental health, that’s important to understand because I think there’s going to be a time where a lot more footballers are going to come and speak out about their mental health.

Persons: Timothy Weah, Kevin, Prince Boateng, Weah, George Weah –, Darren Lewis, “, we’re, they’ve, Samuel Iling, Marco Bertorello, ” Weah, Sam, ”, “ I’ve, Germain, I’ve, Iling, ” Iling, I’m Organizations: CNN, AC Milan, Liberian, Weah, Juventus, CNN Sport, Juventus ’ “, Getty, Junior, US, National Team, Paris Saint, London Locations: American, Europe, AFP, Paris, Turin, Italy, I’m, London

☆ Sam Kerr nets hat-trick as she captains Chelsea Women to a 4-1 Champions League win against Paris FC Féminines
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Australian superstar Sam Kerr scored a stunning hat-trick in Chelsea’s 4-1 win against Paris FC Féminines in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) on Thursday. Paris sought to take the game to Hayes’ team early on and forward Mathilde Bourdieu forced a save from Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger with a low strike. The deadlock was broken on the half hour as Kerr collected a pass from Lauren James, who was coming off a hat-trick in a 5-1 WSL win against Liverpool on Sunday, and poked past Paris goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. A long ball forward by Berger evaded the Paris defenders and put the Australian striker through on goal. With Nnadozie off her line, Kerr audaciously lobbed the Nigerian goalkeeper from outside the penalty area to score her third.

Persons: Sam Kerr, Emma Hayes, Hayes ’, Mathilde Bourdieu, Ann, Katrin Berger, Kerr, Lauren James, Chiamaka Nnadozie, deservedly, Thea Greboval, Berger, Jess Carter, Fran Kirby, Bourdieu, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, John Walton, Nnadozie, Kerr audaciously, Erin Cuthbert, Louise Fleury, Kirby, Sophie Ingle, Ève, “, ” Hayes, “ Sophie, Ingle, Millie Bright Organizations: CNN, Paris FC Féminines, UEFA Women’s Champions, Chelsea, Super League, US, National, Stamford, Liverpool, Paris, Häcken, Real Madrid Locations: Paris

CNN —After more than three years of going missing from world soccer, North Korean striker Han Kwang Song has reappeared, playing for his country in two recent World Cup qualifiers and scoring in the 6-1 win over Myanmar on Tuesday. Attempting to qualify for the World Cup for a third time, North Korea lost 1-0. The North Korea football federation, the Asian Football Confederation and world soccer governing body FIFA didn’t respond to CNN’s request for comment on Han’s return to international football. The return of the North Korean wunderkind has surprised soccer pundits and fans, who worried about his safety and promising career being cut short. The Covid-19 pandemic led to North Korea fully sealing its borders, making it impossible for Han and fellow repatriated North Korean nationals to return home.

Persons: Han Kwang, Han, Duhail, –, Korean wunderkind, Max Canzi, ” Canzi, Han’s, Nicholas Pennington, Kwang, Choe, Pölten, Alberto Mier, Qatar’s, ”, Kim Jong, Kim, Tullio M Organizations: CNN, North, Myanmar, North Korean, Qatar, Al, Asian Football Confederation, FIFA, Korean, Serie, CNN Sport, Syria, Cagliari, Austria’s SKN, Italy’s, UN, Juventus, United Nations Security Council, Qatar Stars, Qatar Stars League, UNSC, Qatar Airways, Perugia, Getty, Tokyo, Beijing Winter Games, International Olympic Committee Locations: North Korean, Syria, Saudi Arabian, Jeddah, North Korea, Yangon, Rome, Qatar, Korean, Pyongyang, Myanmar, Austria’s SKN St, Arezzo, Qatari, Korea, Ahli, Doha, Puglia, Beijing, Asia

☆ US men’s soccer team shocked by Trinidad and Tobago but still makes Nations League semifinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US Men’s National Team suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in the second leg of its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal, but survived the upset to reach the semifinals 4-2 on aggregate. Dest, who assisted Robinson’s opening goal, picked up his first booking for deliberately kicking the ball into the stands in frustration at a refereeing decision. After the match, Dest issued an apology on social media and called his actions “immature.”“I want to apologize to my teammates, staff, fans and whole nation for my behaviour,” he wrote on Instagram. “There’s not too many things that I can say here, publicly, that we said privately,” Ream told reporters after the game. This year’s CONCACAF Nations League also acts as the qualifiers for the expanded 2024 Copa América, which will take place in the United States.

Persons: Antonee Robinson, Dest, Robinson’s, ”, Tim Ream, “ There’s, ” Ream, it’s, John Dorton, Reon Moore, Alvin Jones Organizations: CNN, US Men’s National, CONCACAF Nations League, Fulham, Getty, US, América, CONCACAF Locations: Trinidad and Tobago, Texas, United States

Four years after calling time on his playing career, Berbatov has grand ambitions of reshaping the football landscape in his native Bulgaria. “Bulgarian football is in major crisis,” Berbatov tells CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies from London in a recent interview. Mihaylov re-electedTwo years after submitting his resignation, Mihaylov stood again and was re-elected as BFU president for a fifth term when Berbatov was also a candidate. In the voting, 241 voted for Mihaylov, 230 for Berbatov, eight for a third candidate, and four did not vote. Dimitar Kyosemarliev/ReutersBulgaria last qualified for a major international tournament at Euro 2004, when a squad featuring Berbatov lost all three of its games.

Persons: CNN — Dimitar Berbatov’s, Berbatov, it’s, Amanda Davies, “, – Stiliyan Petrov, Martin Petrov, –, Borislav Mihaylov, Mihaylov, Mihaylov’s, Gareth Southgate, Boyko Borissov, Bulgaria “, ” Mihaylov, Borissov’s, ” Borislav Mihaylov, Georgi Paleykov, Georgi Ivanov, “ I’ve, ” Berbatov, Dimitar Dilkoff, Nikolay Doychinov, ”, Dimitar Kyosemarliev, hasn’t, Simon Holmes, Aleksander Čeferin, Čeferin, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, Bulgarian, –, Manchester United, Bulgarian Football Union, England, Bulgaria, ”, Guardian, Balkan Insight, FIFA, UEFA, CNN Sport, Latvia, Getty, Bulgaria’s, Hungary, men’s, Plovdiv’s Hristo Botev Stadium, Police, Vassil Levski Stadium, Hungarian Football Federation, Reuters, Croatia Locations: Germany, England, France, Greece, India, Bulgaria, Europe, London, Sofia, Bulgarian, “ Bulgaria, AFP, Plovdiv, Reuters Bulgaria, BFU

☆ Emma Hayes: Chelsea ‘robbed’ of Champions League win against Real Madrid, says Blues manager
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says her team was “robbed” of a win after controversial refereeing decisions overshadowed her side’s entertaining 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League group stage on Wednesday. Firstly, a questionable penalty was awarded to Madrid in the 78th minute and then a last-minute winner was ruled out for offside. “I think we’ve been robbed of what should have been a 3-1 game,” Hayes said after the match. With Chelsea dominating proceedings, referee Frida Klarlund awarded Real Madrid the penalty after Blues defender Jessie Fleming brought down Athenea del Castillo. Real Madrid manager Alberto Toril said he was pleased with the performance and result against Chelsea.

Persons: Emma Hayes, “, ”, ” Hayes, OIga Carmona’s, Millie Bright, Niamh Charles, Sam Kerr, Misa Rodríguez –, Frida Klarlund, Jessie Fleming, Athenea del, Isabel Infantes, Carmona, Hayes, Jessie, Fleming, shouldn’t, ’ Chelsea, Lauren James, Charles, Kerr, Niamh, Sam, Alberto Toril Organizations: CNN, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Women’s Champions League, Reuters, Real, Super League, Madrid’s, Blues, Athenea, Getty, US, National, ” Chelsea, UEFA, Madrid, BK Häcken, Paris FC Locations: Madrid, Spanish, Real Madrid, Athenea del Castillo, she’s, European

☆ Emma Hayes named coach of US women’s national team, signs record contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Wayne Sterling | David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Chelsea FC women’s manager Emma Hayes has been named head coach of the US Women’s National Team, the US Soccer Federation announced on Tuesday. She was named 2021’s Best FIFA Women’s Coach and is a finalist for the 2023 award. US Soccer, which reached an equal pay deal with female players in May 2022, said, without offering specifics, that Hayes’ contract makes her the highest paid women’s soccer coach in the world. “We felt strongly that Emma was the best person and coach to take the US Women’s National Team forward,” US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker said. “I remember being a young coach working my way up through the system in the US and watching all those young girls aspire to play on the US Women’s National Team.

Persons: Emma Hayes, Hayes, ”, Andonovski, “, Emma, Matt Crocker, ” Hayes, Twila Kilgore, I’ve Organizations: CNN — Chelsea FC women’s, US, National Team, US Soccer Federation, Blues, FIFA, Soccer, CNN, US Soccer, US Soccer Sporting, Chelsea, Interim, Hayes ’, Women’s Super League, Chelsea –, FA Women’s, USA, Iona College, Professional Soccer, National, Summer Games Locations: Sweden, Paris

☆ Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger take to the pitch for the last time in NWSL Final
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Friends and teammates for much of their illustrious careers, US Women’s National Team legends Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger will take to the pitch one last time on Saturday as foes. Rapinoe’s OL Reign takes on Krieger’s Gotham FC in Saturday’s NWSL Final, which provides a fitting stage for the grand finale of two women’s soccer greats. Ahead of the game, in the final pre-match press conference of her career, an emotional Rapinoe couldn’t hold back the tears. Krieger’s farewellPerhaps it was written in the stars that both Rapinoe and Krieger would enjoy their last dance on the pitch together in the NWSL Championship game. On Monday, after both teams had booked their places in the final, Krieger revealed on Instagram a two-month-old text exchange she had with Rapinoe.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Ali Krieger, Rapinoe’s, “ I’ve, ”, I’ve, Rapinoe, “, ” Rapinoe, Krieger, Stephen Brashear, Jessica Berman Organizations: CNN, National, Gotham FC, USA, Amazon Prime, ION, CBS, Paramount Plus, ESPN, Sports, Reuters, Champions League, Frankfurt Locations: Saturday’s, rondos, California

Gotham was able to run out the clock and marked its first NWSL title with a wild celebration near midfield. The non-contact injury to Reign star Rapinoe took some of the wind out of the crowd at San Diego State's Snapdragon Stadium. Rapinoe broke toward Maitane Lopez of Gotham, who was dribbling outside the penalty area, and suddenly went down in the third minute. Rapinoe announced before this summer’s Women’s World Cup that she was stepping away from the game after a career that included two World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal and an Olympic bronze. The field at Snapdragon appeared in better shape than it was on Sunday night, when the Reign beat the San Diego Wave to advance, some 24 hours after a home San Diego State football game.

Persons: Esther González, Megan Rapinoe hobbled, Mandy Haught, Nealy Martin, Rose Lavelle, Rapinoe, San Diego State's, Gotham's Ali Krieger, Maitane Lopez, Gotham, Krieger, González, Midge Purce, Claudia Dickey, Purce, Lynn Williams, Lavelle dribbled, ___ Organizations: DIEGO, Gotham FC, Women's Soccer League, Gotham, San Diego, Women’s, San Diego Wave, San Diego State football, Spain Locations: Gotham, San, Rapinoe, Snapdragon

☆ Endrick: 17-year-old Real Madrid-bound sensation earns milestone Brazil national team selection
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —17-year-old Real Madrid-bound sensation Endrick has earned a milestone call up to the senior Brazil men’s national team. Interim Canarinha head coach Fernando Diniz announced his squad on Monday for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifier later this month and revealed that the uncapped Endrick will feature in the national team for the first time. In doing so, the Palmeiras breakout star became the youngest player to get a senior Seleção call-up since iconic striker Ronaldo Nazario in 1994. Ronaldo – nicknamed O Fenômeno – is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time and won the World Cup twice with Brazil. The top six teams automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup which is being hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico, while the seventh-placed nation must go through a play-off to reach international soccer’s showpiece competition.

Persons: Endrick, Fernando Diniz, Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldo –, “, ” Diniz, It’s, Ricardo Moreira, Ronaldo, Ballon d’Or, Pedro, Atlético Mineiro’s, Neymar, Éder Militão Organizations: CNN, Brazil men’s, Interim, Palmeiras, Real Madrid, Brazilian, Corinthians, Brazil, Brighton, Hove Albion’s, Argentina, South Locations: Real Madrid, Brazil, Real, Spain, Qatar, Hove, Porto, Pepê, Colombia, Baranquilla, Rio de Janeiro, Canada, Mexico

☆ Tiger Woods and US sporting royalty set to tee off high-tech indoor golf league
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Staged in partnership with the PGA Tour, the televised indoor golf league – the TGL – is the brainchild of TMRW Sports, a company co-founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy, and will feature 15 of the world’s current top 20-ranked men’s players. Here’s everything you need to know about the competition before it tees off on January 9. Meanwhile TGL New York is led by New York Mets owner Steven A. Cohen and his family office, Cohen Private Ventures. How to watchThe first two-hour match will air on ESPN and ESPN+ from 9 p.m. ET (1 a.m. GMT) on Tuesday January 9, with the second match aired a week later at 7 p.m.

Persons: Woods, Steph Curry, Williams, Rory McIlroy, TGL, ” Woods, “, –, TGL Who’s, Justin Thomas, Arhthur, Blank, McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, Wyndham Clark, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Brian Harman, Richard Heathcote, Tom Kim, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Cam Young, Keegan Bradley, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Thomas, Sahith Theegala, Lucas Glover, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Billy Horschel, Kevin Kisner, Serena, Venus Williams, Alexis Ohanian, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Morgan, Michelle Wie, Marc Lasry’s, Curry, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, Steven A, Cohen Organizations: CNN, PGA Tour, TMRW Sports, NBA, NFL, Premier League, Palm Beach State College, Atlanta, GC, The Home Depot, MLS, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, TGL, ESPN, Fenway Sports Group, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Penguins, NASCAR’s RFK Racing, English Premier League football club Liverpool . Los, Reddit, National Women’s Soccer League, Angel City FC, Women’s National, Sports Fund, Golden State Warriors, New York Mets, Private Ventures, ABC Locations: Florida, American, Palm, LAGC, TGL New York

☆ 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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner head up the USA Basketball Women’s National Team roster announced Thursday for a pair of November exhibition games and training camp in Atlanta. The national team will play the Tennessee Lady Vols on Nov. 5 in Knoxville and Duke on Nov. 12. The team will hold a training camp Nov. 7-9 in Atlanta as the U.S. women chase an eighth straight Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This roster features seven Olympians including two-time gold medalist Griner (2016 and 2021), Angel McCoughtry (2012 and 2016), Ariel Atkins (2021), Gray (2021 in 3-on-3), Kelsey Plum (2021 in 3-on-3) and Jackie Young (2021 in 3-on-3). Stephanie White, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year with Connecticut, will be at training camp and a court coach at Duke.

Persons: Diana Taurasi, Brittney, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Taurasi, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Azurá Stevens, Griner, Angel McCoughtry, Ariel Atkins, Gray, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Betnijah Laney, Plum, Ionescu, Dearica, Natasha Howard, Arike Ogunbowale, Cheryl Reeve, Mike Thibault, Curt Miller, Tanisha Wright, Stephanie White, ___ Organizations: USA Basketball Women’s, Team, Tennessee Lady Vols, Duke, USA Basketball, Paris Games, Las Vegas Aces, WNBA, Atkins, New York Liberty, Aces, Boston, Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, Mystics Locations: COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo, Atlanta, Knoxville, Sydney, Connecticut

☆ Sandro Tonali: Newcastle United and Italy midfielder banned for 10 months for violating betting regulations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Newcastle United and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months for violating betting regulations, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, said on Thursday. Tonali signed for Newcastle in the summer for a reported fee of $74 million, per Reuters. Tonali came on as a second-half substitute in Newcastle’s Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. The decision comes just weeks after Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli was handed a seven-month ban and fined €12,500 ($13,200) for also breaching betting rules. Tonali and his fellow Italy international teammate Nicolò Zaniolo withdrew from the national team squad earlier this month after their involvement in gambling investigations was released.

Persons: Sandro Tonali, Gabriele Gravina, “, ”, Gravina, Tonali, Eddie Howe, Reuters –, Nicolò Fagioli, Nicolò Zaniolo, Zaniolo, CNN’s Barbie Nadeau Organizations: CNN, Newcastle United, Italian Football Federation, Federal Prosecutor’s, Sky24, Newcastle, AC Milan, men’s, Newcastle’s Premier League, Crystal, BBC, FIFA, UEFA, Reuters, Serie, League, Newcastle’s Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, Wednesday, Juventus, Italy Locations: Italy, Italian

☆ Pakistan coach says ‘I’ve not seen so many grown men cry in all my life’ after first-ever World Cup qualifying round win
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Stephen Constantine, the head coach of Pakistan’s men’s national football team, said he has “not seen so many grown men cry in all my life” after his side claimed its first-ever World Cup qualifying round win. Pakistan beat Cambodia 1-0 at Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium thanks to a 67th-minute goal from Harun Hamid. “It is an unbelievable atmosphere here, I’ve not seen so many grown men cry in all my life,” Constantine told the BBC. Pakistan is ranked 197th in the world and will now face matches against Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Jordan in the second round of qualifying, which begins in November. “We don’t have regular football; half of them have part-time jobs … and that makes the double result even more impressive.

Persons: Stephen Constantine, Pakistan’s, Harun Hamid, I’ve, ” Constantine, haven’t, “, I’m, Li shanze, Constantine, ” Organizations: CNN, football team, Pakistan, Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports, BBC, Saudi, Pakistan Football Federation, FIFA Locations: Cambodia, India, Nepal, Malawi, Sudan, Rwanda, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Jordan

☆ Christine Sinclair: Record goalscorer announces retirement from international soccer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Christine Sinclair, one of the most decorated soccer players of all time, has announced her retirement from the international game, effective at the end of the year. “You’ll learn Canadian women’s national team players were playing for $10 a day. “You will stand up to your federation to push forward on a landmark equal pay agreement for the national team. “Here I am preparing to tie the bow on an unbelievable international career shared with so many incredible teammates, coaches, support staff, fans and of course family. While Sinclair will be retiring from international football, the Portland Thorns star hints at an encore for her NWSL side.

Persons: Christine Sinclair, Sinclair, “, ” Sinclair, “ You’ll, Julie Ertz, Martin Bernetti, ” Organizations: CNN, Canadian, Globe, Olympic Games, Canadian national, women’s, Getty, ”, Brazil, Portland Thorns Locations: Vancouver, Canada, US, AFP, ” Canada, – Portland

Search resuls for: "Men’s National"

25 mentions found