Football

Open Extended Reactions The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has postponed the introduction of a new blue card as part of trials of sin bins in professional football, sources have told ESPN. Football’s lawmakers announced in November measures to improve player behaviour and increase respect for match officials, which included temporary dismissals for dissent and

Open Extended Reactions The International Football Association Board (IFAB) will announce the introduction of a new blue card on Friday as part of trials of sin bins in professional football, sources have confirmed to ESPN. News of the blue cards was first reported by The Telegraph. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Football’s

Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 8, 2024, 09:02 AM ET Close Covers the Pac-12. Joined ESPN in 2014. Attended Washington State University. Open Extended Reactions The Year of Messi is upon us. After last year’s sneak peek into a Major League Soccer season with the greatest player of all time, a full offseason of anticipation

Feb 8, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions So, the January transfer window was a bust. Premier League clubs only spent just over £100 million on new players — a mere 1/8th of 2023’s eye-popping £800m+ outlay. With profit and sustainability rules (PSR) looming large and both Everton and Nottingham Forest charged with breaches,

ESPN News Services Feb 7, 2024, 09:37 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The Hong Kong government demanded answers from Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi on Wednesday after the Argentine played in a friendly in Japan just three days after missing a similar exhibition match in its country. Hong Kong’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau

Nick Judd, Transfer writerFeb 7, 2024, 05:37 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Chelsea continued to find solace in the domestic cups after turning in a commanding performance in which goals from Connor Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernández secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday, booking an FA Cup fifth-round tie with

Open Extended Reactions Man United has been lucrative for the Glazers, but their off-field profitability has been overshadowed by on-field futility. Illustration by ESPN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — “My money is in this pot and I’m not here to make more — I just want to win.” As a statement of intent, Sir Jim Ratcliffe had turned

Graham Hunter, Spain writerFeb 6, 2024, 09:03 AM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Open Extended Reactions Following their 1-1 draw in the Madrid derbi, Atlético Madrid should have absolutely no chance of winning LaLiga. By the same token, though,

Sid Lowe, Spain writerFeb 6, 2024, 09:07 AM ET Iñaki Williams of Athletic Club celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Copa del Rey quarterfinal match against Barcelona on Jan. 24. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) The butterfly effect. A goalkeeper flaps his hands in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and there is an earthquake in

Open Extended Reactions José Mourinho’s name was sung at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. No, this isn’t a rewind to 2004 or 2014, during his two previous spells as Chelsea manager, but a snapshot of the here-and-now at a club in crisis. The reality is that, should Mauricio Pochettino pay the price for the team’s disastrous

Gabriele Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCFeb 5, 2024, 12:53 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Another big weekend in Europe’s top leagues didn’t disappoint when it came to major moments, significant results and plenty to review. In England‘s top-of-the-table clash between Liverpool and Arsenal, it was the Gunners who rose to the occasion and wrapped up

Open Extended Reactions Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct? After each weekend we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process both in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. – How VAR

Nick Judd, Transfer writerFeb 4, 2024, 06:38 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The winter transfer window is now closed in Europe’s top leagues, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around as we look ahead to the summer. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings

Open Extended Reactions LONDON — And then there were three. An afternoon that began with Arsenal facing the prospect of the Premier League leaders disappearing from view ended with a powerful statement of intent suggesting Mikel Arteta’s side can challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the title. They have now beaten both at Emirates Stadium

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentFeb 4, 2024, 12:29 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MANCHESTER, England — Whatever happens to Manchester United between now and the end of the season, manager Erik ten Hag can at least point to the emergence of Rasmus Højlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo as positives from an otherwise forgettable campaign. It was

After failing to win any of their first four preseason games, Inter Miami finally registered a victory as they beat a Hong Kong XI 4-1 on Sunday, but star attraction Lionel Messi played no part in the friendly match. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is reportedly struggling with a hamstring injury, was not included

Julien Laurens, CorrespondentFeb 3, 2024, 03:56 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Kylian Mbappé has decided to join Real Madrid once his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer, sources confirmed to ESPN. The news was first reported by Le Parisien. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Last month, ESPN reported that Mbappé had

Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Feb 3, 2024, 04:33 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández pleaded with LaLiga referees to “let us compete” and claimed the Catalan club are “paying for the Negreira case” after Vitor Roque‘s red card in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Alavés. Roque was sent off just 13 minutes after