Philadelphia's Kai Wagner reinstated for first Union game of the season

Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner's suspension for violating Major League Soccer's on-field discrimination policy has been lifted for the team's opening game of the season. Wagner received a three-game suspension during last season's playoffs after allegations he used a racial slur against a New England Revolution player. The suspension was supposed to extend one game into this season. But MLS announced Monday that Wagner had completed the league's new restorative practices program. The Union open the regular season at home on Saturday against the Chicago.

Girona loses to Athletic Bilbao, misses chance to cut into Real Madrid's lead

Girona has missed a chance to cut into Real Madrid's lead of the Spanish league after losing to Athletic Bilbao 3-2. Alex Berenguer scored twice and Iñaki Williams got a third as Athletic moved to within two points of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid in La Liga. Viktor Tsygankov and Eric Garcia scored for Girona but the second loss in a row means the Catalan club remains six points behind Real Madrid.

D.C. United fan groups plan protest of the MLS club's preseason trip to Saudi Arabia

Five D.C. United fan groups say they'll remain quiet for the first four matches this season to protest the Major League Soccer team's partnership with Saudi Arabia. D.C. United went to the Middle Eastern country for four preseason games. The groups say they will refrain from banging drums or bringing flags and banners as a sign of protest. In a joint statement they took issue with the club's values not including a deliberate respect for human rights. D.C. United's biggest fan group was not among those signed to the statement.

New coach watches Crystal Palace denied win by late Everton equalizer

New Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner was watching from the stands as his team was denied a victory at Everton by a late equalizer in the English Premier League. They drew 1-1. Jordan Ayew's sizzling strike from just outside the box 20 minutes into the second half put Palace ahead but Amadou Onana equalized with six minutes remaining. Glasner was appointed just hours before kickoff to replace Roy Hodgson, who stepped aside due to health issues. The point lifts Everton out of the relgation zone on goal difference above Luton.

LAFC's Bouanga, Seattle's Morris and Dallas' Ferreira highlight MLS Western Conference clubs

LAFC finished third in the Western Conference last season and advanced all the way to the MLS Cup final before falling to champion Columbus. LAFC should be strong again this year, with Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga showing no signs of slowing down. St. Louis, the team that LAFC beat in the first round, finished atop the the West, a stunning achievement for an expansion team. The West's last-place team, the Colorado Rapids, was busy in the offseason with a complete overhaul.

Morata and Paulista added to Atletico Madrid squad for Champions League game at Inter Milan

Striker Álvaro Morata and defender Gabriel Paulista have been included in Atletico Madrid's squad for the Champions League game against Inter Milan after recovering from injuries. The players were named a day before the match on Tuesday in Italy in the first leg of the round of 16. Morata had been nursing a knee injury that kept him from playing on Saturday in the 5-0 rout of Las Palmas in the Spanish league. Paulista was dealing with abdominal problems and also didn't play in the match at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Major League Soccer kicks off with all eyes on Lionel Messi & Co. at Inter Miami

Messi Mania returns to Major League Soccer as Lionel Messi embarks on his first full season with Inter Miami. The team also signed Luis Suarez in the offseason, reuniting the two close friends. The pair, along with former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, have made Miami the team to watch heading into the Major League Soccer's 29th season. The Columbus Crew are the league's defending champions, following a 2-1 victory over LAFC in the final. High-profile additions to the league include Bundesliga veteran Emil Forsberg of the New York Red Bulls and French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with LAFC.

Messi and Miami are grabbing the attention in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference

The Columbus Crew won last season's MLS Cup championship and look to repeat in 2024. But they'll have strong competition in the league's Eastern Conference. Inter Miami has created what some are calling a "super team" with Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and new addition Luis Suarez. Then there's FC Cincinnati, which won the Supporters Shield for the league's best record.

After fallout in China, Messi insists politics had nothing to do with missing game in Hong Kong

Lionel Messi has made another conciliatory gesture to fans in Hong Kong and mainland China by releasing a video on social media to explain why he didn't play in an exhibition match this month, and insisted that there were no political reasons behind his decision. Messi disappointed fans in Hong Kong and the city's government after he remained on the bench during a match between Inter Miami and a local team on Feb. 4. Messi and Inter Miami said he had a groin injury, but the grievances have spread to mainland China after he played for 30 minutes in Tokyo against Vissel Kobe days later. As criticism ramped up on Chinese social media, the sports bureau in Hangzhou canceled next month's friendly between Nigeria and World Cup champion Argentina.

Hodgson, 76, leaves Crystal Palace days after falling ill. Glasner hired as replacement

Roy Hodgson has stepped down as manager of English Premier League team Crystal Palace. The 76-year-old former England coach was hospitalized last week after falling ill in training. The incident came amid reports that Palace was about to replace him as manager. Hodgson says he took the decision to step aside "so that the club can bring forward their plans for a new manager." The club hired Austrian coach Oliver Glasner as Hodgson's replacement hours later on a deal until the end of the 2025-26 season. Glasner led Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League title in 2022 before leaving last year. Palace says Hodgson has left the hospital and was "doing well."

Why children are still playing tackle football, despite brain risks

Tackle football offers children as young as 5 the chance to make friends, learn teamwork and maybe win a college scholarship. But growing research shows it can also cause injuries that damage developing brains. That leaves families to balance the risks against the opportunities. A four-month investigation found the decision to let kids play varies by race and is often driven by the hope for a better future, according to the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism and Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland.

In an Atlanta suburb, youth tackle football is a way of life

Buford, Georgia, excels at producing football talent. Last season, 23 football players from the town of 16,800 dotted the rosters of the five most prominent college conferences. That's more players than were produced by 12 states and Washington, D.C. Participation in tackle football leagues is declining nationwide. Concerns about the potential for brain disease related to repeated blows to the head have turned off some parents. But passion for the sport is undiminished in this Atlanta suburb. As the president of the local league says, "This is a 365-day-a-year football community. It never stops."

Eintracht Frankfurt forward Kalajdžić out with ACL tear for 3rd time in 5 years

Eintracht Frankfurt forward Saša Kalajdžić is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a third ACL tear in five years. Frankfurt said Monday that Kalajdžić tore the cruciate and lateral ligaments in his right knee during the team's 3-3 draw at Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday. The club said he will be "out indefinitely." The 26-year-old Kalajdžić sustained the injury in an off-the-ball incident and was taken off in the 11th minute. He was on crutches after the game. It's the Austria forward's third serious knee injury since 2019 after twice tearing the ACL in his left knee.

Sports on TV for Tuesday, Feb. 20

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Napoli fires coach Mazzarri and hires Calzona just 2 days before facing Barcelona

Defending Serie A champion Napoli has made its second coaching change of the season just two days before facing Barcelona in the Champions League. Napoli has fired Walter Mazzarri and appointed Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona. Calzona was former assistant at Napoli under Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti but has never managed at club level. Mazzarri only replaced Rudi Garcia in November and Napoli became the first Serie A team to change coaches twice in the season after winning the league. Garcia took over this offseason from title-winning coach Spalletti.

Bayern Munich's 11-year era of domestic dominance nearing its end after new stumble

It feels like the beginning of the end of an era for Bayern Munich. The Bavarian powerhouse lost again Sunday, and its chances of securing a record-extending 12th consecutive Bundesliga title look slim as league leader Bayer Leverkusen pulled eight points clear with 12 rounds remaining. It was Bayern's third defeat in eight days. Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka says "it feels like a horror film that just doesn't end." Bayern had not lost three games in a row since May 2015, when the team coached by Pep Guardiola had already clinched the Bundesliga title. Of greatest concern for Bayern is the disappearance of its aura of domestic superiority. Bayern is not the best team in Germany anymore.

Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth to leave amid links to Man United

Dan Ashworth has been a key figure working in the shadows in English soccer for more than a decade. That started with instilling a so-called "DNA" into its national teams and continued by shaping the growth and philosophy of Premier League teams Brighton and Newcastle. Now Ashworth could be handed the task of overseeing the reboot of fallen giant Manchester United. He has been placed on leave by Newcastle amid interest from Man United about taking up the role of sporting director amid an overhaul of the club's soccer operations under British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

French league club Marseille fires coach Gennaro Gattuso, AP source says

Marseille coach Gennaro Gattuso has been fired by the French league club, a person with direct knowledge of the decision has told The Associated Press. Gattuso was fired a day after Marseille lost 1-0 to Brest in the French league, a result that dented the club's hopes of qualifying for a European competition next season. Marseille and Gattuso have started a legal proceeding to part ways and the club is actively looking for a replacement, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Gattuso's departure has not been announced by the club. Marseille is ninth in the standings after 22 matches, trailing leader Paris Saint-Germain by 23 points.

Thorgan Hazard leaves fans puzzled with goal celebration dedicated to family parakeet

Thorgan Hazard left fans puzzled about his goal celebration after scoring for Anderlecht in the Belgian league on Sunday. The midfielder celebrated by mimicking a bird flapping his wings after his header put Anderlecht level at 1-1 with Sint-Truidense in the 49th minute, in a game his team went on to win 4-1 to guarantee a spot in the season's playoffs. The 30-year-old Hazard said the celebration was a request from his children after one of the family's parakeets passed away. Hazard said "my children asked me to dedicate a goal for it. They are the ones who choose my celebrations."