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☆ MLS partners with OneFootball in push to expand global audience
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Major League Soccer is teaming up with German digital media platform OneFootball to provide highlights, stats and other content to a global audience. As part of the deal OneFootball will have access to highlights of hundreds of MLS matches each season. Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has fueled MLS' attendance and audience, and there has been an increase in sponsorship revenue, according to data from the league. Global social media engagement has also increased substantially for MLS, particularly on YouTube and TikTok, according to data from the league. For OneFootball, adding MLS made sense as the U.S. has become one of the fastest-growing markets for soccer, said OneFootball CEO Patrick Fischer.

Persons: Lionel Messi, we're, Seth Bacon, Messi, That's, Patrick Fischer, Fischer Organizations: Inter Miami, St, Louis City, Chase, Major League Soccer, MLS, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, American, Global, YouTube, Yahoo Sports, U.S, OneFootball, FIFA Locations: Louis, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, OneFootball, European, U.S

CNN —Sardinia, Italy (CNN) – Uruguay at the 1950 World Cup. Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup. Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C match against Saudi Arabia at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 26, 2022. “I think we are playing good football [and] we know that we are not the favourites in the group stage. “They were fighting [a] similar situation before the World Cup and they were so close and now they did it,” he said.

Persons: Robert Lewandowski, CNN’s Sport’s Amanda Davies, Valeriy Bondar, Adam Nurkiewicz, Fernando Santos, –, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Alex Caparros, who’ll, “, ”, Austria –, Lewandowski, Andrej Isakovic, Boris Streubel, Gerd Müller’s, He’ll, Kylian, wasn’t, ’, he’ll, Andriy Shevchenko, Joosep Martinson, you’ve Organizations: CNN, –, Cameroon, Globe Soccer, Stadion Narodowy, La Liga, FC Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Estadi, Wales, France, eventual, Portugal, Saudi, Education City, Getty, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Bayern, League, Austria, Kylian Mbappé’s, Champions League, Ukrainian, PGE, Russia, Qatar, Sergiy, Iceland, Romania Locations: Sardinia, Italy, – Uruguay, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Warsaw, Europe, Michał, Moldova, Albania, Barcelona, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Al, Doha, AFP, Dortmund, Berlin, German, Poland’s, Kylian Mbappé’s France, Russia, Slovakia, Belgium

☆ Google DeepMind wants to make AI a part of soccer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Google DeepMind launched a prototype AI soccer tactics tool last month. DeepMind developed the tool with Liverpool FC, known for its data-driven approach to soccer. AdvertisementGoogle DeepMind is bidding to bring artificial intelligence (AI) into soccer by launching a new tool to help coaches make better tactical decisions. DeepMind researchers published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Google DeepMindHaving that knowledge on hand helped the collaboration between DeepMind and Liverpool to run smoothly, according to Veličković.

Persons: Google DeepMind, DeepMind, —, Zhe Wang, Didier Drogba, Divock, Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Ian MacNicol, Petar Veličković, Billy Beane, Ian Graham, they've, Liverpool —, Monterrey's Sergio Canales, Yuri Cortez, We're, Wang, it'll Organizations: Google, Liverpool FC, Service, English Premier League soccer, Nature Communications, Soccer, Former Ivory Coast, Chelsea, Liverpool, FC Barcelona, UEFA, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool FC's, Ph.D.s, Harvard, Inter Miami, Getty Locations: London, Cambridge, Anfield, DeepMind, Liverpool, AFP

☆ 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

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami closed out their tumultuous Major League Soccer preseason with a 1-1 draw against Messi's boyhood club, Newell's Old Boys on Thursday night. Messi checked out of the game Thursday with Inter Miami's Luis Suárez in the 60th minute. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesShanyder Borgelin put Inter Miami ahead 1-0 with a header in the 64th minute, and Newell's Franco Díaz tied it in the 83rd minute. Inter Miami set off on a global tour of exhibition games aimed at promotion and marketing, featuring Messi and the Uruguayan star Suárez. Inter Miami was outscored 12-7 in its first five games before a win in Hong Kong.

Persons: — Lionel Messi, Ballon d’Or, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Messi, Martino, Inter Miami's Luis Suárez, Borgelin, Newell's Franco Díaz, Messi's, Suárez, Leo, Luis Suarez, ” Martino, Luis, fizzling, ___ Organizations: Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, Messi's, Newell's, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami's, Messi, MLS, Uruguayan, ” Inter Miami, Salt Lake Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Rosario, Argentina, Hong Kong, Salt

☆ 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

☆ Lionel Messi: Paper napkin ‘contract’ to seal move to FC Barcelona heads to auction with a $380,000 starting bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The paper napkin containing the agreement which saw Lionel Messi join FC Barcelona will go to auction with a starting price of $380,000 (£300,000). Together with Rexach, Minguella helped organize Messi’s initial audition with the Blaugrana in September 2000. On December 14, Rexach, Minguella and Gaggioli met for lunch at the Pompeia tennis club to sign the napkin. “Yes, it’s a paper napkin, but it’s the famous napkin that was at the inception of Lionel Messi’s career. It changed the life of Messi, the future of FC Barcelona, and was instrumental in giving some of the most glorious moments of football to billions of fans around the globe.”

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, Carles Rexach, Minguella, Horacio, ” Rexach, Horacio Gaggioli, Josep Minguella, Rexach, Gaggioli, Joan Gaspart –, – Messi, ” Ian Ehling, “, Lionel Messi’s Organizations: CNN, FC Barcelona, Messi, Barcelona, Camp, La Liga, Bonhams Locations: Barcelona, Argentine, York

☆ Prices for a set of Messi’s World Cup jerseys could exceed a record $10 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A set of six jerseys that he wore during last year’s World Cup, which his home country of Argentina won, are being put up for auction by Sotheby’s next week. That shirt currently holds the world record title of being the “most valuable item of sports memorabilia ever sold at auction,” according to the auction house. Bids were initially expected to range from $5 million to $7 million, perhaps signaling that Messi’s jersey prices could go higher. The online auction for Messi’s jerseys runs from November 30 to December 14 and will be displayed during that time in a free exhibition at Sotheby’s gallery in New York. His appearances sent MLS ticket prices skyrocketing and fans had trouble getting their hands on replica jerseys for several months.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Sotheby’s, Michael Jordan, Diego Maradona, ”, Brahm Wachter, Messi, Messi’s, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Germain Organizations: New, New York CNN — Soccer, France, FC Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real, NFL, NBA, MLS, Inter Miami, Paris Saint, FIFA, Adidas Locations: New York, Argentina, Argentine, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Qatar

☆ Dani Alves: Soccer star to go to trial for alleged sexual assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A Spanish court says that Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves will face trial over an alleged sexual assault at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022, according to Reuters. Reuters reports that Alves has been imprisoned in Barcelona since his arrest in January. CNN also reached out to Mexico’s UNAM – the club Alves was playing for at the time of the alleged sexual assault – for comment but did not immediately hear back. Alves is one of the most decorated soccer players of his generation, having won domestic titles in Spain, Italy and France. He also won three Champions League titles with Barça and won the Copa América with Brazil in 2007 and 2019.

Persons: Dani Alves, Alves, Alves ’, Barça Organizations: CNN, Reuters, FC Barcelona, UNAM –, Copa, Cameroon Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Italy, France, Brazil, Qatar

☆ Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmatí win men’s and women’s awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Lionel Messi won a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday, while Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d’Or Féminin – the annual soccer awards celebrating the best players in the men’s and women’s game. This [award] is also for you, I share it with you and with all of Argentina.”Barça and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony on October 30. “I’m very proud to receive the Ballon d’Or tonight. In both places, I have the best teammates next to me that make me better every day.”Aitana Bonmatí has won the Ballon d'Or Féminin for the first time. Barcelona Femení won Women’s Club of the Year for its standout year, which included three titles – Liga F, the Spanish Super Cup and the Women’s Champions League – and having a roster which included six Ballon d’Or Féminin nominees, including the winner, Bonmatí.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Ballon d’Or, Aitana Bonmatí, Féminin, Messi, Ballon, Erling Haaland, Germain, Kylian, “, I’ve, ”, David Beckham, Aitana, ” Messi, Odd Andersen, Diego Maradona, Diego, Maradona, ” Barça, Aitana Bonmati, Franck Fife, ” Bonmatí, Novak Djokovic, haven’t, ” Aitana Bonmatí, Javier Borrego, Alexia Putellas, Sam Kerr, Bonmatí’s, Salma Paralluelo, Jude Bellingham, Gerd Müller, Stefan Wermuth, Pep Guardiola’s, Barcelona Femení, d’Or Féminin, Bonmatí, Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, Argentina Ballon, Spain Gerd Müller, Striker, Emiliano Martínez, Socrates, Vinícius Jr Organizations: CNN, Argentina’s, Inter Miami star’s, Manchester City, Paris Saint, Inter Miami, Argentina –, Copa América, Getty, Argentina national, …, Copa, France Football, Barcelona, Liga, League, Wolfsburg, world’s, FC Barcelona, Europa Press, Chelsea, Roja, Bellingham, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, German, FA, Men’s Club, pipping Inter Milan, Women’s Club, Spanish, Women’s, League –, Norway Yashin, Aston Villa, Argentina Kopa, Real, Brazil Men’s Club, Year Manchester City Women’s Club Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Paris, Argentina, Qatar, Argentine, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, Barça, Spanish, Bellingham, Los, Madrid, El Clásico, Manchester, Istanbul, Bonmatí, Manchester City, Norway, Real Madrid, Brazil

☆ Vinícius Jr.: Barcelona board member writes then deletes derogatory social media post about Real Madrid star
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —FC Barcelona coach Xavi said that he hopes Saturday’s El Clásico can be played with “mutual admiration” after a board member at the club deleted a derogatory social media post about Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. Neither Real Madrid nor Vinícius have publicly commented on the tweet. Vinícius testified earlier this month in a Spanish court about a racist incident which took place in the Mestalla Stadium when Madrid played Valencia. Footage and pictures widely posted on social media show a man performing monkey gestures towards Vinícius during the match. CNN has contacted Real Madrid and Vinícius for comment.

Persons: Xavi, Saturday’s El, ”, Vinícius Jr, Miquel Camps, Vinícius, Camps, “, Real, Raphinha, Kevin Langley, We’ve, Saturday’s, Sevilla, Rafael Yuste, Movistar, Yuste, Rodrygo, Florentino Pérez Organizations: CNN — FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Madrid’s Champions League, Sporting Braga, CNN, Los Blancos, Sevilla, Madrid, Valencia, Shakhtar Donetsk, La Liga, Real, Sevilla FC, ”, Shakhtar, Braga Locations: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Spain, Spanish, Arlington , Texas

☆ Injury doubts haunt Barcelona ahead of Saturday's Clasico against Real Madrid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Xavi had to call up eight academy players for their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, as the Catalonian side grapple with injuries to eight key players, including Polish striker Robert Lewandowski. Barca secured a hard-fought 2-1 win against Shakhtar thanks to a brilliant display by 20-year-old Fermin Lopez, who is becoming a regular in the first team. It's a match in which we need to be at 100%," Xavi told a press conference on Wednesday. Real lead the LaLiga standings, level with Girona, the surprise package of the season so far, on 25 points from 10 games. Barcelona are third on 24 points, two ahead of Atletico Madrid, who have a game in hand.

Persons: FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, Pedro Nunes, Xavi Hernandez, Xavi, Robert Lewandowski, Barca, Fermin Lopez, Frenkie De Jong, Jules Kounde, Pedri, Sergi Roberto, Raphinha, Joao Felix, It's, Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, Arda Gueler, Englishman Jude Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti, Fernando Kallas, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Soccer Football, FC Porto, FC Barcelona, Estadio, FC Barcelona's, REUTERS, Rights, Real Madrid, El, Champions League, Shakhtar Donetsk, Shakhtar, Lewandowski, El Clasico, Barca, Borussia Dortmund, Braga, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Thomson Locations: Porto, Portugal, Rights BARCELONA, Barcelona, Catalonian, Camp Nou, Portuguese, Girona

☆ Barcelona get ready to rock with Rolling Stones logo on shirt for Clasico
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Music streaming service Spotify have sponsored Barcelona since the 2021/22 season, and the club have previously had campaigns featuring Drake and Spanish singer Rosalia, but now rock fans can finally get some satisfaction. "FC Barcelona and Spotify have done it again. "The Tongue and Lips logo of The Rolling Stones (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood) will replace the Spotify logo on the legendary FC Barcelona kit." The Rolling Stones' latest album, Hackney Diamonds, is released on Friday, and the jersey will be available to buy from Oct. 23. "We're big football fans and we're honoured that Spotify has put our Tongue & Lips logo on the FC Barcelona jersey to celebrate the release of the Stones' new album 'Hackney Diamonds'," the Rolling Stones said.

Persons: Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Drake, Rosalia, Barca's, we're, Trevor Stynes, Toby Davis Organizations: FC Barcelona, Clasico, Real Madrid, Spotify, Barca, El Clasico, Hackney Diamonds, Sevilla, Thomson Locations: Catalan, Barcelona, Spanish

☆ Joan Laporta: FC Barcelona president under investigation for bribery and other crimes, according to court document
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matias Grez | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta is officially being investigated as a “suspect” in the ongoing alleged improper payment scandal, according to court documents obtained by CNN – the latest twist in a scandal overshadowing the club and Spanish soccer. The investigation relates to alleged improper payments made by Barça to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former leading refereeing official in Spain. CNN has reached out to FC Barcelona for comment from Laporta but has yet to hear back. Laporta began his second term as club president in 2021. “As such, the statute of limitations of the crimes referred to previously has not expired in respect to [Laporta], as well as those people who were members of the Board of Directors of FC Barcelona respectively during his leadership,” Wednesday’s court document read.

Persons: Joan Laporta, ”, Barça, Judge Joaquín Aguirre López, Enríquez Negreira, Javier, Aguirre López, “, –, Judge Aguirre López, Negreira, invoiced, Blaugrana, Xavi, Caso, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Laporta’s, Laporta, Pau Mosquera Organizations: CNN — FC Barcelona, CNN, Spanish, 1st, FC Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo, Caso, Prosecutors, CTA, Osasuna, Barcelona, Estadio El Locations: Spain, Barcelona, Spanish, Estadio El Sadar

☆ For U.S. investors seeking an edge in European soccer, the cheaper the better
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This comes as deep-pocketed investors — from top U.S. private equity and venture capital firms to global rivals like sovereign wealth funds — have intensified competition. Meanwhile, more than one-third of the clubs in the so-called "Big Five" leagues in Europe are backed by U.S. investors, including private equity and venture capital firms. "These recent transactions have set a precedent in terms of club valuation but also prompted many owners to consider selling to [private equity]," according to an analyst report from PitchBook. Some firms, like Sixth Street Partners, have found different outlets into taking a stake in European soccer, particularly in Spain's LaLiga. The shift is happening as soccer clubs have been looking for fresh capital following the distress stemming from the earlier days of the Covid pandemic.

Persons: Liverpool's Curtis Jones, Charles Baker, PitchBook, Todd Boehly, English Premier League's, Elliott Management's, Lionel Messi Organizations: Premier League, King Power, U.S, Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Newcastle, Clearlake Capital, English Premier, English Premier League's Chelsea, Redbird Capital Partners, Italy's AC Milan, Sixth Street Partners, FC Barcelona, Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool FC, Dynasty Equity, English Premier League, Sheffield United Locations: Leicester, European, U.S, Europe, PitchBook, LaLiga, Spanish, Real Madrid's

☆ Barcelona under investigation for suspected bribery in refereeing case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Police also searched the offices of the football federation RFEF in Madrid on Thursday, the Barcelona court said, as part of the ongoing inquiry into "possible systemic corruption" within the Spanish refereeing committee. Spanish football and the RFEF in particular are going through a moment of reckoning amid allegations of sexual abuse against former RFEF chief Luis Rubiales. The refereeing investigation has now been widened to include Barcelona as a suspect. Barcelona has denied any wrongdoing, saying in a statement in February it had paid an external consultant who supplied it with "technical reports related to professional refereeing", which it said was a common practice among professional football clubs. According to judge Aguirre, Negreira was responsible for ranking and evaluating the referees.

Persons: Albert Gea, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Joaquin Aguirre Lopez, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, Aguirre, Negreira, Fernando Kallas, Andrei Khalip Organizations: Football, FC Barcelona, Rights, Barcelona, Reuters, Thursday, Police, RFEF, Real Madrid, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Rights MADRID, Spanish, Madrid, Sydney, RFEF

CNN —FC Barcelona and several of the soccer club’s current and former executives are officially being investigated as suspects for “the sustained crime of active bribery,” according to a court document obtained by CNN – the latest twist in an alleged improper payment scandal overshadowing Spanish soccer. The investigation relates to alleged improper payments made by Barcelona to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former leading refereeing official in Spain. The spokesperson declined to share more details about the search but said that no arrests are expected to be made. He added that in his opinion the payments “produced the desired effects on referees,” resulting in “consequent systemic corruption in … Spanish refereeing” affecting soccer in the country. CNN has reached out to Negreira via his company for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Persons: “, –, Javier Soriano, invoiced, Negreira, ” Judge Joaquín Aguirre López, Aguirre López, ”, Barça, Caso, Xavi, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Javier Tebas, Los Blancos, CNN’s Matt Foster Organizations: CNN — FC Barcelona, CNN, Spain’s Civil Guard, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Guardia Civil, An FC Barcelona, Caso, Spanish, AFP, Getty, Prosecutors, CTA, 1st, La Liga, Barcelona, Osasuna, Civil Guard, Real, Real Madrid, UEFA Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Guardia, Spanish, Real Madrid

☆ Shakira owes $7 mln in second Spanish tax fraud case, prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shakira attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., September 12, 2023. In the new case, the prosecutor alleges that in 2018, Shakira failed to declare profits of $12.5 million from an advance payment for her El Dorado World Tour, among others. She is also accused of defrauding the state of 773,600 euros in wealth tax, resulting in a debt of 625,190 euros. Shakira's legal team said she had not received any notification of the new case in Miami, where she is now based. The singer turned down a deal with prosecutors in the 2012-14 case, saying she was confident that she had behaved correctly and transparently from the beginning.

Persons: Shakira, Andrew Kelly, Gerard Pique, Emma Pinedo, David Latona Organizations: Prudential Center, REUTERS, Rights, Colombian, Reuters, El Dorado, FC Barcelona soccer, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Newark , New Jersey, U.S, Rights MADRID, Barcelona, Spain, Miami

"It is the tip of the iceberg publicly of what we used to see privately," Veronica Boquete, who captained Spain at their first World Cup in 2015, told Reuters. In the case of football, the women's team's efforts to combat sexism and achieve parity with their male peers date back nearly a decade. Boquete led a mutiny seeking the resignation of coach Ignacio Quereda after a woeful performance at the 2015 World Cup, the only one his teams reached in nearly three decades. Quereda resigned in 2015 in a statement issued by the federation making no reference to the players' mutiny. Boronat, who interviewed Spain's leading female players for her book "Don't Call Them Girls, Call Them Footballers", said players accused Vilda of micromanaging, such as instructing senior players what to say in interviews.

Persons: Jennifer Hermoso, Jenni, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Veronica Boquete, Boquete, Ignacio Quereda, Quereda, Roser Serra, Mar Prieto, Prieto, Jorge Vilda, Danae Boronat, Spain's, Vilda, Berta Collado, Enrique Cerezo, Carlota Planas, Planas, Boronat, Fernando Kallas, Charlie Devereux, Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Soccer Football, America, FC Barcelona, Estadio Azteca, Club America, FIFA, MADRID, Spanish, Spain, Reuters, Quereda, men's, Atletico Madrid, Unik Sports Management, Regional, Thomson Locations: Mexico City, Mexico, Spanish, Spain, Cerezo

☆ Haaland wins UEFA award, Wiegman dedicates prize to Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Wiegman dedicated her award to the Spain women's team after the kiss incident involving federation president Luis Rubiales took the spotlight when Spain secured their first Women's World Cup title. "I would like to dedicate this award to the Spanish team - the tam that played in a World Cup such great football that everyone enjoys. World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati, who helped Barcelona to Women's Champions League and Spanish league title, won the women's player of the year award. The 25-year-old registered a competition-high 13 goal contributions in the Champions League with five goals and eight assists. "We have just won the World Cup, but they are talking about other things."

Persons: Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland, Massimo Pinca, Erling Haaland, Pep Guardiola, Aitana Bonmati, Sarina Wiegman, Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi, Guardiola, Luciano Spalletti, Napoli, Simone Inzaghi, Wiegman, Luis Rubiales, there's, Sarina, Bonmati, Anita Kobylinska, Ed Osmond Organizations: Soccer Football, Monaco, FC Barcelona's Aitana, Rights, Manchester City, UEFA, City, Champions League, English Premier League, FA, Association, Serie, Inter, SPAIN England, Brazil, Wembley, Spain women's, Spanish, Women's Champions League, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Spanish, Norwegian, Monaco, Inter Milan, SPAIN, Spain, Barcelona, Gdansk

Major League Baseball was the first to open its coffers to private-investment funds in 2019; a slew of other leagues followed, including the National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer and the National Hockey League. A big participant in that is Sixth Street Partners, a $74 billion behemoth, known historically for its direct lending and growth prowess, and has been making big inroads in the sports world in recent years, with several billion dollars' worth of investments. The firm recently co-founded Bay FC, part of the National Women's Soccer League, alongside several retired players, as well as Sheryl Sandberg. Sixth Street also made investments in FC Barcelona's LaLiga TV broadcasting rights and a majority investment in Legends, a sports and entertainment experiences company. In June 2021, Sixth Street led a strategic investment with Michael Dell in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.

Persons: Carlyle, David Rubenstein, Sheryl Sandberg, Michael Dell, Alan Waxman, what's, it's, Waxman Organizations: Alpha, CNBC, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, Sixth Street Partners, Bay FC, National Women's Soccer League, Sixth, FC Barcelona's LaLiga, San Antonio Spurs basketball, Spanish soccer, Real Madrid Locations: U.S, Spanish

☆ Lionel Messi lifts MLS to new heights, but the league needs more than 'the GOAT' to grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Marco Bello | ReutersSince joining, Inter Miami rose to the highest-selling MLS team for tickets from the 13th spot on StubHub. The average ticket price for Inter Miami on StubHub is $161, nearly 64% higher than the league average. The overall average MLS ticket price is up to $98, while the average ticket price for the Leagues Cup overall was $152. Yes, what we're seeing in pricing for the MLS for Messi games is unprecedented. "Those average ticket prices were still three times what we're seeing for Messi games so far this year," Budelli said.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Logan Riely, Messi, it's, Camilo Durana, Lee Berke, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Germain, –, Leo Messi, Marco Bello, he's, Durana, Marc de Grandpré, that's, Adam Budelli, Tom Brady –, StubHub, Lebron James, Budelli, Berke, Tom Brady, Adam Glanzman Organizations: FC Dallas, Toyota, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF, MLS, NFL, NBA, Public Investment Fund, French, Paris Saint, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami, Reuters, Messi, Apple, North, Liga MX, U.S, Leagues, Saturday, Red Bulls, New York Red Bulls, NFL Sunday, Tampa Bay, Disney, ESPN, ABC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Gillette, Getty Locations: Frisco , Texas, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Argentine, Fort Lauderdale , Florida, Harrison , New Jersey, Manhattan, StubHub, Foxborough , Massachusetts

☆ Leo Messi is coming to New York, and New Yorkers are paying through the nose to see him
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Seeing superstar soccer player Leo Messi’s debut in the New York area could cost you as much as a steak dinner at Peter Luger. Ticket reseller VividSeats told CNN that the average price for this weekend’s game is averaging $483. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesFor the New York Red Bulls, Messi’s appearance is “trending as the Red Bull’s hottest ticket in over a decade,” a VividSeats spokesperson told CNN. Prices for MLS games where Messi is playing have surged since the 36-year-old entered American competition. Apple said that subscriptions to its soccer streaming package have soared since Messi joined in July.

Persons: Leo Messi’s, Peter Luger, VividSeats, Messi, Kevin C, Cox, He’s, “ Messi, ”, Apple Organizations: New, New York CNN, Saturday’s Inter Miami CF, Major League Soccer, New York Red Bulls, CNN, MLS, FC Barcelona, Inter Miami, Leagues, Liga MX, Adidas Locations: New York, Harrison , New Jersey, Manhattan, York

☆ Women’s World Cup: The image that epitomizes a transformative tournament
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —As the final whistle blew and Spain was crowned Women’s World Cup champion for the first time, joyous celebrations began for the Spanish contingent at Sydney’s Stadium Australia. Ona Batlle and Lucy Bronze, stars of Spanish and English soccer respectively, are considered two of the best full-backs in women’s football and are teammates at FC Barcelona Femení. Batlle and Bronze became FC Barcelona Femení teammates in the summer. Batlle was then joined by Spanish teammate and Barcelona player Mariona Caldentey in helping to provide support to their club colleague. The Guardian wrote that the moment “signifies most global and connected Women’s World Cup.”Bronze had been at fault for Spain's winning goal.

Persons: Roja partied, Ona Batlle, Lucy Bronze, Justin Setterfield, Batlle, deservedly, Olga Carmona, Mariona Caldentey, Spain's, Julieta Ferrario, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Lionesses, Chloe Kelly, Alex Greenwood Organizations: CNN, Sydney’s, FC Barcelona Femení, England, Spain, Spanish, Barcelona, ITV, BBC, Guardian Locations: Spain, Australia

☆ Lamine Yamal becomes youngest La Liga starter in 21st century in Barcelona’s 2-0 win against Cádiz
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Lamine Yamal, the youngest player to ever feature for FC Barcelona in La Liga, has now made his full debut for the club at just 16 years and 38 days old. In making his full debut in Sunday’s game against Cádiz CF, Yamal also became the youngest player to start in La Liga in the 21st century. Yamal made his La Liga debut for Barça in April during a 4-0 over Real Betis. Bruna Casas/ReutersGetting a win was vital for Barça after the La Liga champion struggled in its opening game of the season against Getafe CF. Real Mallorca forward Luka Romero, who is now at AC Milan, is the youngest player to make his La Liga debut, according to Reuters.

Persons: Lamine Yamal, Yamal, ”, Xavi, Barça, Cádiz, Joan Valls, Pedri, Ferran Torres, ” Xavi, Bruna Casas, Raphinha, Luka Romero, Romero, Francisco Bao Rodríguez, Sansón – Organizations: CNN, FC Barcelona, La Liga, Cádiz CF, Liga, Barça, Real Betis, Movistar, ” Barcelona, Cádiz, Reuters, Getafe CF, Gavi, Real Mallorca, Luka, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Celta Vigo Locations: La

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