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☆ NBA and NHL broadcasts are coming soon to immersive ‘shared reality’ domes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article WBD Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTCosm's shared reality dome concept for viewing live sports broadcasts. Discovery and Cosm, a privately held company that specializes in immersive technology, are about to make "shared reality" a reality for sports fans. The Cosm venues will feature domes with 360 degree, 87 foot diameter 8K LED screens that are similar in concept to James Dolan's Las Vegas Sphere, which debuted in September. Ours is more of a smaller format and really focused on live sports and live programing — like you're absolutely there." Terry's first priority is to use the TNT Sports deal as a template to get more live sports rights into the venues for fans.

Persons: Cosm, James Dolan's, they've, Jeb Terry, Tayfun, Steve Winn, RealPage, Thoma, Terry, He's, Evans & Sutherland, There's, Raphael Poplock, Poplock, it's Organizations: Warner Bros ., Dallas —, TNT, NBA, CNBC, Anadolu Agency, Getty, National Basketball Association, National Hockey, Women's National Soccer Team, Mirasol, Thoma Bravo, National Football League, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fox Sports, Evans &, Warner Bros, NHL, HBO, Max, TNT Sports, Turner, Entertainment Locations: Los Angeles, Dallas, Las Vegas

☆ Newcastle's Tonali banned for 10 months for betting offences
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned from soccer for 10 months over breaches of rules on betting on matches in Italy, the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Thursday. It will rule Tonali out for the remainder of the club season and next summer's Euro 2024 tournament should Italy qualify. Tonali, 23, is the highest profile player caught up in a betting scandal that is shaking Italian soccer. Legal and sporting authorities have been investigating the use of illegal betting platforms by soccer players in Italy. Aston Villa's Italy midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo is also assisting authorities in their investigation into alleged illegal betting activity, the Premier League club said last week.

Persons: Sandro Tonali, Tonali, Gabriele Gravina, Nicolo Fagioli, FIGC's Gravina, Nicolo Zaniolo, Elvira Pollina, Keith Weir, Alvise Armellini Organizations: Newcastle United, Italian Football Federation, Newcastle, Milan, AC Milan, Champions League, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Aston, Premier League, Thomson Locations: Italy, Italian, Newcastle, Turin

☆ 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

☆ Putin accuses IOC of using Olympics for politics and racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 19 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Thursday lashed out at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for effectively suspending Russia from the Olympic movement, accusing it of using the Games as a tool of politics and racism. Last week the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee for recognising regional bodies from four territories that Moscow claims to have annexed from Ukraine. "And that the Games themselves can be used as an instrument of political pressure against people who have nothing to do with politics. The IOC did not say last week whether they would be admitted to Paris 2024. Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of the Russian Olympic Committee, said in Perm that the key thing now was to prepare athletes for the 2028 Games.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Russia's, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, Maxim Rodionov, Kevin Liffey, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: International Olympic Committee, IOC, Russian Olympic Committee, Sporting Power, Olympic, Games, Olympics, Zvezda, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Perm, Sochi, Paris, Kazan

☆ The 16 most valuable global AI companies in sports, plus other takeaways from new data on VC investment in the sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Margaret Fleming | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

While generative AI startups are attracting more investment overall, 2023 could be a notably slow year for venture capital investment in sports AI following several years of activity, according to new data from PitchBook. The year could mark the lowest level of investment in the sector since 2018 when PitchBook tracked just under $200 million in VC activity. Both those years had 114 VC investments, compared to just 54 in 2023 through mid-October, PitchBook data shows. These are the top 16 highest-valued sports AI companies globally in 2023, according to PitchBook:1) SigmaStar — $4.55 billion. The Beijing-based computer vision technology company offers solutions in sports and health, evaluating movement in real-time, according to its website.

Persons: PitchBook, Hudl, STATSports, Creatz, Ligatech, Simplebet, Zepp Organizations: Yi Technology, WSC Sports, Cleveland Cavaliers, Kakao, Arsenal FC, US, National Soccer Team, Duke University, Kansas City Chiefs, Ligatech, Tempus, Francisco's Tempus, Chelsea FC, NFL, Sports, NBA, MLS, Premier League, AI Research Locations: deepfakes, Beijing, Israel, New York, Korean, Europe, Mexico, Lincoln , Nebraska, Northern Ireland, Shanghai, PitchBook, Los Angeles, China, Vancouver

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia's presidential election Wednesday appeared headed for a run-off, with the top candidates neck and neck and the votes nearly fully counted. Once the votes from this round are finalized, the run-off will take place within 15 days. The Oct. 10 election is the tightest in the nearly two decades since the end of the country's civil war that killed some 250,000 people. Weah won that election amid high hopes brought about by his promise to fight poverty and generate infrastructure development in Africa’s oldest republic. But Weah has been accused of not living up to key campaign promises that he would fight corruption and ensure justice for victims of the country’s civil wars.

Persons: —, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Weah, Boakai, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s, Ibrahim Al, bakri Nyei, “, Sam Mednick Organizations: National Elections Commission, “, Ducor Institute for Social, Economic Research, Associated Press Locations: MONROVIA, Liberia, Nimba county, West, Africa’s, Dakar, Senegal

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA is set to approve the reintegration of Russian youth teams into under-17 competitions and ease a total international ban on the country amid the war in Ukraine. FIFA and UEFA moved within days of Russia invading Ukraine in February 2022 to ban the country's national and club teams from international soccer competitions. Future opponents of Russian national teams, including Poland, Sweden and Switzerland, had already refused to play those games. With the war showing no signs of ending, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has signaled wanting to restore Russian teams into youth competitions. Russian teams can only access the FIFA-run Under-17 World Cups by advancing through the UEFA-run qualifying format.

Persons: Gianni Infantino, Aleksander Ceferin, —, ___ Organizations: GENEVA, FIFA, FIFA Council, Associated Press, UEFA, Russian, Sport, Russian U17, International Olympic Committee Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland

☆ Bust of slain commander forces cancellation of soccer match between Iranian and Saudi teams
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Quds Force is an elite unit that handles Iran’s overseas operations – and one designated as a terrorist organization by the US and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh severed ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in the capital following the execution of a Shiite Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia. The recent détente however brought hopes of long-lasting peace as Saudi Arabia redirects its resources toward economic development. Iranian and Saudi teams competed last month for the first time in seven years in Iran, where billboards in the streets welcomed the Saudi teams in English, Arabic and Farsi. Iranian soccer fans have also been seen wearing Saudi team jerseys after the kingdom’s clubs made high-profile purchases of international soccer stars.

Persons: Qasem Soleimani, Soleimani, Donald Trump, Ittihad, Tasnim, Morteza Salehi, Mohammad Reza Saket, –, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ” Organizations: UAE CNN —, Asian Champions League, Saudi, Sepahan FC, Jahan, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Force, Quds Force, US, Al, Sepahan, Asian Football Confederation, AFC, Saudi Press Agency, AFP, Getty, CNN, Soccer, Saudi Arabia’s Crown, MBS Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saudi, Iran, United States, Al, Ittihad, Naghsh, Isfahan, Saudi Arabia, China, Tehran, Riyadh, AFP, Iranian

☆ 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

☆ Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes speak out on ‘systemic discrimination’ in Spanish soccer ahead of first match since Women’s World Cup win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Jacob Lev | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Ahead of the Spanish national soccer team’s first match since winning the Women’s World Cup last month and the fallout from ex-soccer boss Luis Rubiales’ unwanted kiss on La Roja player Jennifer Hermoso, star players Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes spoke out on “systemic discrimination” within the country’s federation. Earlier this week, a dispute between the Spanish women’s soccer team and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) appeared to have reached a breakthrough after the two parties, along with the government’s High Council of Sport (CSD), came to a series of agreements. Having previously refused to represent the national team, 21 of the 23 players selected in the squad for the upcoming matches agreed to play and traveled to Sweden. Paredes celebrates with her Women's World Cup winners' medal after Spain's victory against England. Rubiales himself testified on September 15 and, according to Spanish prosecutors, denied all charges.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, La, Jennifer Hermoso, Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, d’Or, Putellas, “, ”, Paredes, Marc Atkins, Jorge Vilda, Montse Tomé, Tomé, ” Tomé, hasn’t, ” RFEF, General Andreu Camps, Rubiales, Mapi León, Patricia Guijarro, Francisco de Jorge Organizations: CNN, Spanish, soccer team’s, Reuters, soccer, Royal Spanish Football Federation, government’s, of Sport, England, UEFA Women’s Nations League, RFEF, men’s, Spanish National Football Team, Barcelona Locations: Sweden, Barcelona, Spain, Gothenburg

BERLIN (AP) — Germany hired Julian Nagelsmann to lead the men’s national soccer team on Friday, entrusting the former Bayern Munich coach with doing a better job than the last Bayern Munich coach who tried. Political Cartoons View All 1173 ImagesNagelsmann previously took over from Flick when he became Bayern coach in 2021 with Flick leaving to coach the national team. Germany national team sporting director Rudi Völler took over as interim coach and oversaw a morale-boosting 2-1 win over France in its next game. Völler, who was Germany coach from 2000-04, had made clear he only ever wanted to take over again on a temporary basis. Before coaching Bayern, Nagelsmann enjoyed success in charge of Leipzig and Hoffenheim, where he became the youngest coach in the Bundesliga in 2016.

Persons: —, Julian Nagelsmann, Nagelsmann, Otto Nerz, Hansi Flick, Flick, wasn’t, Joachim “ Jogi, Löw, Rudi Völler, Lothar Matthäus, Stefan Effenberg, Michael Ballack, Louis van Gaal, ___ Organizations: BERLIN, Bayern Munich, ”, Bayern, Bayern —, Germany, France, Hoffenheim, Bundesliga Locations: — Germany, German, Germany, Japan, Bavarian, United States, East Hartford , Connecticut, Mexico, Philadelphia, Austria, Vienna, Leipzig

☆ Spain Women’s Soccer Team Agrees to Play After Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Nearly a month after Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s national soccer team was thrown into turmoil over a forcible kiss, the players have agreed to come back and play their scheduled high-profile matches in the coming days. The players’ participation had been in doubt after many of them demanded an overhaul of Spain’s soccer federation to guarantee a “safe place where women are respected.” In addition to the furor over the kiss, by Spain’s top soccer official, Luis Rubiales, after the team’s World Cup victory in Australia on Aug. 20, the players had voiced longstanding complaints of sexism and of unequal treatment compared with their male counterparts. Mr. Rubiales has since stepped down over the episode, and the team’s coach, Jorge Vilda, was fired amid complaints of outdated training methods and controlling behavior. But the players continue to push for more changes within the federation as well as demands like equal pay and better-quality sports facilities. On Wednesday morning, after a meeting of players, government officials and soccer federation bosses that went on through the night, the president of the state-run National Sports Council said that 21 of the 23 players on the roster for U.E.F.A.’s Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland over the coming week had agreed to play.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jorge Vilda Organizations: soccer, Spain’s, Sports Council, U.E.F.A, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Australia, Switzerland

MADRID (AP) — Most of Spain's World Cup-winning players ended their boycott of the women's national team early Wednesday after the government intervened to help shape an agreement that was expected to lead to immediate structural changes at the country's soccer federation. Specific details of the changes agreed upon were not revealed following the hours-long meetings involving the government’s top sports official, players, Tomé and federation officials. Francos said that the names of the two players who decided to leave would be later revealed by the federation. On Monday, Tomé picked nearly half of the 39 players who said they would not play for the national team until their demands were met, including 15 World Cup-winning players. Not responding to a call-up by a national team can expose a player to fines or even being banned from playing for their clubs.

Persons: Montse Tomé, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Víctor, ”, Pedro Rocha, Rubiales ’, Francos, “, ” Francos, Tomé, Jorge Vilda, Hermoso, ” Tomé, Rubiales, Vilda, ___ Organizations: MADRID, women's, Players, Sports, Higher Council for Sports, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Spanish, Australia, Spain, Switzerland

Legendary golfer Gary Player thinks government and sports shouldn't mix, as the golf world goes through a major merger that has triggered antitrust concerns. He was an ambassador for Golf Saudi, an organization pushing to make the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a more prominent force in the sport. Player also said he supports the proposed merger between Saudi-backed LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, which has drawn criticism and scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers, not to mention golfers. (Previously, Player has spoken out against players leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, saying it's for "guys that can't win one the regular tour any more.") Last week, a U.S. Senate subcommittee held its second hearing on the proposed merger.

Persons: Gary Player, We've, LIV Golf, Connecticut Sen, Richard Blumenthal Organizations: CNBC, Golf Saudi, Aramco, PGA Tour, U.S, Connecticut, Democratic, Saudi Public Investment Fund, soccer team Locations: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Spain’s Women’s Team Demands Full Reorganization of National Federation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Shortly before the roster was due to be announced for the Spanish women’s first international soccer match since their World Cup victory, the Royal Spanish Football Association postponed the event until further notice. It became clear why five minutes later, when Spain’s star players made public a list of demands for a top-to-bottom reorganization of the federation, Spain’s soccer governing body. The events came the same day as a restraining order was granted against Luis Rubiales, the former head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the country’s governing body. Mr. Rubiales, who appeared in court Friday on charges of sexual assault against a star forward, Jennifer Hermoso, whom he forcibly kissed after the team won the World Cup in August, must stay 200 meters, or more than 650 feet, away from the player while the investigation continues. “We believe that it is time to fight to show that there is no place for these situations and practices in our football or our society, and that the structure needs to be changed,” the players’ statement said.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso Organizations: Spanish women’s, Royal Spanish Football Association, Royal Spanish Football Federation

☆ England hope to avoid repeat of soccer team's Nice disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Mitch Phillips | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NICE, France, Sept 15 (Reuters) - England face Japan in the Rugby World Cup in Nice on Sunday hoping to avoid any sort of repeat of one of the country's lowest sporting moments when the national soccer team were humbled in the city by Iceland at the 2016 Euros. The footballing disaster was the final act for manager Roy Hodgson, paving the way for Gareth Southgate to start the rebuilding job that took England to a World Cup semi-final and a penalty shoot-out final defeat in the last Euros. England's rugby team had gone through a similar process eight months earlier as their pool-stage exit from their own World Cup in 2015 after Twickenham defeats to Wales and Australia spelled the end for Stuart Lancaster. It was a brilliant performance and, coming on the back of a Six Nations title earlier in the year, there was huge confidence surging through the England set-up. They have struggled though to reproduce anything like that form since though and the chances of another shock look slim - even in Nice.

Persons: Roy Hodgson, Gareth Southgate, Stuart Lancaster, Wayne Rooney's, Eddie Jones's, Jones, Mitch Phillips, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Rugby, soccer, Stade de Nice, England, rugby, Twickenham, England's rugby, Nations, New Zealand, South, Argentina, Australia, Springboks, Ireland, Thomson Locations: France, England, Japan, Nice, Iceland, Stade, Wales, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Scotland

☆ Bellingham shines as England cruise to victory in Scotland
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Foden, Bellingham and Kane score for EnglandMaguire scores own goal after coming off the benchGLASGOW, Sept 12 (Reuters) - England brought Scotland crashing back down to earth with a comfortable 3-1 victory in a friendly at Hampden Park with Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane on target on Tuesday. The depth in England's squad was apparent though as they controlled the contest to give Scotland a reality check. "The first half we didn't really get started and England dominated the ball," Scotland boss Steve Clarke told Channel 4. SELF-DESTRUCTEDScotland self-destructed soon after when they failed to clear their lines and Robertson played the ball straight to Bellingham who rifled a shot past Angus Gunn. Bellingham then rounded off a great display with a slide-rule pass to Kane who finished with his trademark precision.

Persons: Kane, England Maguire, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Foden, Kyle Walker's, Madrid's Bellingham, Andy Robertson, Harry Maguire, Steve Clarke's, Scotland's, Gareth Southgate, Lewis Dunk, Steve Clarke, Bellingham, Walker, Marcus Rashford, destructed, Robertson, Angus Gunn, Maguire, John McGinn glanced, Gunn, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: Hampden, Tartan Army, England, decibel, Georgia, Channel, Real Madrid, Bellingham, Manchester United, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Bellingham, GLASGOW, England, Scotland, Norway, Ukraine, England's

☆ Italy attempt to make headlines at home during World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Trevor Stynes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Sept 12 (Reuters) - The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicked off in France on Friday, and while the competition is already a roaring success, it's not always front page news even within countries involved. Italy began their Rugby World Cup campaign with a win over Namibia on Saturday, but picking up the country's most popular sports newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, the day after, there was no mention on the front page. The newspaper's main rugby journalist, Andrea Buongiovanni, explained the reasons behind this. "It's a question of tradition, and in my opinion, considering the small following rugby has in Italy, we give the Rugby World Cup ample coverage." It will take more than a win in their next game with Uruguay to push the Rugby World Cup onto the front pages.

Persons: it's, Andrea Cimbrico, Andrea Buongiovanni, Trevor Stynes, Christian Radnedge Organizations: national rugby team, Six Nations, Nations, Communications, Media Relations, Italian Rugby Federation, Reuters, Rugby World, Namibia, Gazzetta dello Sport, Rugby, Corriere dello Sport, team's, North, Gazzetta dello, Blacks, Thomson Locations: France, Italy, North Macedonia, Namibia, Uruguay, New Zealand

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Germany removed Hansi Flick as coach of the men's national soccer team on Sunday, one day after a 4-1 loss to Japan deepened the gloom around the squad ahead of hosting next year's European Championship. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesFlick won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020 and swapped the club for the German national team the following year. Germany captain Ilkay Gündogan backed Flick to remain after the Japan game but said the team sorely lacked cohesion and self-belief. The men's national team, four times a World Cup winner, has not made it to the quarterfinals in any of its last three major tournaments. The women's national team, a two-time World Cup winner, was eliminated in the World Cup group stage last month in one of the tournament's biggest-ever shocks.

Persons: Hansi Flick, Rudi Völler —, Germany hasn't, Bernd Neuendorf, Flick, Ilkay Gündogan, ” Gündogan, beIN, ”, Sandro Wagner, Hannes Wolf, Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel Organizations: —, team, DFB, France, “, European, Champions League, Bayern Munich, German national, Bayern Locations: DUESSELDORF, Germany, — Germany, Japan, German, Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Qatar, Argentina, France, United States, Mexico

A five-time MLS Cup winner and former U.S. national coach, Arena succeeded Brad Friedel as coach and general manager Michael Burns. The Revolution have never won an MLS Cup, but have been to the finals five times. The last was in 2014 when they lost to the LA Galaxy team coached by Arena. He has coached 14 seasons in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United and LA. He has had two stints as U.S. national coach and won five NCAA Division I championships over 18 seasons at Virginia.

Persons: — Bruce Arena, ”, “, ” Richie Williams, Curt Onalfo, Brad Friedel, Michael Burns Organizations: New, Major League Soccer, U.S . National Soccer Hall of Fame, MLS, Arena, New England, U.S, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, D.C, United, LA, Galaxy, NCAA Division Locations: Virginia

Female soccer players in Spain are going on strike as the club season begins, a union representative said on Thursday, as a dispute over conduct by the head of the country’s soccer federation widened into a fight with their clubs over pay. Early this month, the women’s players’ union announced that if working conditions did not improve considerably before the start of the season on Friday, the women would not play the matches set to begin this weekend. The dispute is playing out amid broader upheaval in Spanish soccer, with the firing on Tuesday of the women’s national soccer coach, Jorge Vilda, whom players had criticized for his domineering management style, and the filing of a criminal complaint against Luis Rubiales, the head of the country’s soccer federation, by Jennifer Hermoso, a player on the national women’s team whom he forcibly kissed during a public celebration of the team’s World Cup final victory in Australia last month.

Persons: Jorge Vilda, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso Organizations: women’s Locations: Spain, Spanish, Australia

CNN —Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has praised the country’s women’s soccer team – and Spanish society itself – for taking a critical stance against Luis Rubiales for his unwanted kiss of World Cup winner Jennifer Hermoso. Speaking at an event in the city of Malaga in southern Spain on Saturday, Sanchez said he did not believe the scandal had damaged the Spanish brand abroad thanks to the Spanish women’s team. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez with the women's team during a reception at Moncloa Palace. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images‘Tip of the iceberg’Joining the debate was Vero Boquete, who captained Spain’s women’s national team at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. The soccer world has rallied behind Hermoso.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales –, –, Sanchez, “, ‘, ” Sanchez, …, Pablo Blazquez Dominguez, Vero Boquete, Spain’s, TAD, Rubiales, Sport Miquel Iceta, Hermoso, ” Hermoso, ”, Béjar Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Royal Spanish Football Federation, England, soccer team, Twitter, Moncloa, Getty, Spain’s women’s, Reuters, FIFA, of Culture, Sport, Anadolu Agency, Hermoso, Rubiales Locations: Spain, Malaga, Spain’s, Madrid

Less than six months after a federal jury convicted a former Fox employee and an Argentine sports marketing company of participating in a scheme to pay bribes in exchange for lucrative soccer broadcasting contracts, a judge in Brooklyn vacated the convictions on Friday. In a 55-page ruling, the judge, Pamela K. Chen, concluded that the federal wire fraud statute under which the defendants had been convicted did not apply to their actions. In a seven-week trial that ended in March, prosecutors alleged that Hernán López, who holds dual American and Argentine citizenship and who until 2016 worked for a unit of what was then known as 21st Century Fox, had been part of a scheme to make millions of dollars in secret annual payments to the presidents of national soccer federations in order to secure the rights to two widely viewed South American soccer tournaments. Mr. Lopez — who prosecutors also said had leveraged loyalty he garnered through bribes to help Fox beat out ESPN in its bid for the U.S. broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 men’s World Cups — was convicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of wire fraud conspiracy. He faced up to 40 years in prison.

Persons: Pamela K, Chen, Hernán López, Lopez —, — Organizations: Fox, Argentine, Century Fox, ESPN, U.S Locations: Argentine, Brooklyn, American

☆ Pressure Mounts on Spanish Soccer Chief Over Kiss at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The pressure is on for Luis Rubiales, the president of Spain’s national soccer federation, to quit. In an emergency meeting that went on late into Monday night, Spain’s regional soccer chiefs unanimously asked him to step down immediately. And in Madrid on Monday night, hundreds of people took to the streets, waving red cards and demanding Mr. Rubiales’s resignation. Mr. Rubiales, a former professional soccer player, had hoped to play a match with friends on Saturday evening at the town’s municipal stadium. Feminist groups threatened to protest outside the gates, and the town council ordered it canceled, saying it could not guarantee Mr. Rubiales’s safety.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Rubiales’s, “, ” Organizations: Prosecutors, Spain, National Sports Council Locations: Madrid, Motril

☆ Spanish labour minister denounces 'systemic chauvinism' after soccer chief kiss
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Soccer Football - Spanish Labour Minister meets representatives of the women's players' union FUTPRO - Madrid, Spain - August 28, 2023 Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz during a press conference after the meeting REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Spain's Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said on Monday male chauvinism was "systemic" in the country and had been shown in its worst form when national soccer chief Luis Rubiales grabbed and kissed World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the lips last week. Diaz, who is also deputy prime minister and head of the far-left Sumar coalition, called for social attitudes to change more generally in Spain and for victims of sexual harassment and violence to be better protected. read moreDiaz told reporters following a meeting with leaders of the FUTPRO players' union representing Hermoso: "On Friday we saw the worst of Spanish society, of the structural machismo of this country. She insisted, however, that Spanish society was predominantly "feminist" and "an example in the world". Reporting by David Latona, writing by Aislinn Laing, Editing by Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yolanda Diaz, Isabel Infantes, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Diaz, David Latona, Aislinn Laing, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Soccer Football, Spanish Labour, Labour, Rights, Spain's Labour, Sumar, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain

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