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Canada women's soccer coach suspended over drone scandal, which may be part of 'systemic' issues
Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press | Updated July 26 - 1:36 p.m. | Save Story
Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestman has been suspended and removed from the team for the Paris Olympics in the wake of a drone-spying scandal. And the head of Canada Soccer says he is investigating a potential "systemic ethical shortcoming." Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary Kevin Blue says players on the Canadian women's team were not involved in any unethical behavior at the Paris Games. Blue says Priestman's future with the team is "pending the outcome of our review of this matter entirely."
Head of Canada Soccer says Olympics drone-spying scandal may be part of 'systemic ethical shortcoming'
The Associated Press | Posted July 26 - 6:32 a.m. | Save Story
Head of Canada Soccer says Olympics drone-spying scandal may be part of 'systemic ethical shortcoming.'
Dominant US basketball, soccer teams driving high betting interest on Olympics
Wayne Parry, Associated Press | Posted July 26 - 4:00 a.m. | Save Story
Sports books say they expect strong betting interest in this year's summer Olympics, driven by dominant U.S. basketball and soccer teams. But that very dominance is making it hard to make some bets on those teams without risking far more than you might win on them. BetMGM Sportsbook expects this to be the most bet-on Olympics ever due to 38 states offering legal sports betting on star-studded U.S. teams. But bets can also be made on obscure events like rock wall climbing and break-dancing. The U.S. is favored to win the most gold medals, with China second.
Swanson's 2 goals lead US over Zambia at the Olympics, Canada tops New Zealand after drone scandal
Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press | Updated July 25 - 6:37 p.m. | Save Story
Mallory Swanson scored a pair of goals moments apart in the first half and the United States opened the Olympics with a 3-0 victory over Zambia, giving new coach Emma Hayes a win in her first major tournament with the team. Earlier, Evelyne Viens scored in the 79th minute to give reigning Olympic champion Canada a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in a match that was overshadowed by allegations of drone surveillance at the Ferns' practice and later resulted in the Canada coach being removed from her position for the duration of the Games. Elsewhere, world champion Spain came from behind to beat Japan 2-1.
San Diego FC signs Northern Ireland international Patrick McNair to a 3-year contract
The Associated Press | Posted July 25 - 5:26 p.m. | Save Story
The MLS expansion San Diego FC have signed Northern Ireland international Patrick "Paddy" McNair to a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year. The defender joins San Diego FC as a free agent after the completion of his contract with Middlesbrough in June. SDFC reached an agreement with West Bromwich Albion F.C. of the English Championship to loan McNair for the remainder of 2024. McNair will occupy an international roster spot and join SDFC in January pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa. San Diego FC will begin play in February.
Argentine President Milei travels to France to meet Macron after outcry over racist soccer chants
Isabel Debre, Associated Press | Updated July 25 - 1:07 p.m. | Save Story
Argentine President Javier Milei has arrived in Paris, where he is expected to meet French President Emmanuel Macron after tensions escalated between their countries over the Argentine soccer team's derogatory post-match chants about French players. A short clip captured during Argentina's Copa America victory celebrations this month shows Argentine players chanting a song considered racist toward French players of African heritage. Censure from the soccer world snowballed into a political scandal when Vice President Victoria Villarruel defended Fernandez and the team, saying that Argentina would not tolerate criticism from a "colonialist" country. Mieli kicked off his trip to France Thursday, where he is expected to meet officials, businessmen and attend the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony.
Argentina coach slams chaotic 'scandal' at Olympic soccer match vs Morocco
James Robson, Associated Press | Updated July 25 - 11:49 a.m. | Save Story
The head of Argentina's soccer federation says the chaotic ending to its Olympic soccer match against Morocco "makes no sense," and Argentina's coach called the scene "a scandal." The opening match of the men's soccer tournament was suspended for nearly two hours during added time after Morocco fans invaded the field and threw bottles in protest of a late goal by Argentina. The goal was later overturned by the video assistant referee, and Argentina lost 2-1. Paris organizers said they were trying to "understand the causes and identify appropriate actions" after the match in Saint-Etienne. Argentina's soccer federation said it issued a formal protest to world governing body FIFA and would do "what is necessary" to guarantee the safety of players.
Argentina soccer says its Olympic training base was robbed before chaotic game vs Morocco
James Robson, Associated Press | Posted July 25 - 8:10 a.m. | Save Story
Argentina men's soccer coach Javier Mascherano said the team's Olympic training base was robbed before its chaotic tournament-opening loss to Morocco on Wednesday. The Argentina delegation filed a police complaint in Lyon, the prosecutor's office of nearby Saint-Etienne said Thursday. Mascherano said a watch was among the items taken. It has been a troubled start to the Olympics for Argentina, which took gold in 2004 and 2008. It's game in Saint-Etienne was suspended for nearly two hours after Morocco fans rushed the field and threw bottles to protest what appeared to be an equalizing goal from Cristian Medina in the 16th minute of added time.
Flick impressed by Yamal, Ansu and Barcelona's youth as German coach settles in at new club
Joseph Wilson, Associated Press | Posted July 25 - 7:05 a.m. | Save Story
Hansi Flick says he will be counting on Lamine Yamal and Barcelona's batch of talented youngsters to help the German coach make a positive start at his new club. Flick has been presented to the media for the first time since he joined Barcelona two months ago. He has so far been impressed by the talent of the youngsters produced by its famed La Masia academy. Those include Yamal after the teenager helped Spain win the European Championship earlier this month. Flick also said he liked what he saw from the oft-injured Ansu Fati in training before he suffered a foot problem.
Ugochukwu scores in 82nd, Chelsea salvages 2-2 tie with Wrexham in friendly at Levi's Stadium.
The Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 11:26 p.m. | Save Story
Lesley Ugochukwu scored in the 82nd minute to help Chelsea salvage a 2-2 tie with Wrexham in a friendly match Wednesday night at Levi's Stadium. Ugochukwu rolled a shot from the middle of the box through traffic into the right corner. Wrexham took a 2-1 lead when Jack Marriot scored on a counterattack in the 72nd minute. Luke Bolton also scored for Wrexham, the Welsh team co-owned by actor Ryan Reynolds that was promoted this year to the third tier of English soccer. Christopher Nkunku scored first for Chelsea in the perennial Premier League power's first preseason match and its first under manager, Enzo Maresca, the former Leicester City manager.
Juan Brunetta has a goal and an assist to lead Liga MX All-Stars over MLS All-Stars 4-1
Craig Merz, Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 9:51 p.m. | Save Story
Juan Brunetta and Maximiliano Meza scored a minute apart in the second half, and Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars beat the Major League Soccer All-Stars 4-1 in the MLS All-Star Game. Brunetta scored in transition in the 68th minute to make it 3-1 and set up Meza soon after in front of a record crowd of 20,931 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. It was the first MLS All-Star Game victory for Liga MX in three tries. Lionel Messi, the biggest star in MLS, didn't play because of ligament damage to his right ankle. Messi was injured while playing for Argentina in its victory over Colombia in the Copa America final.
Olympic soccer gets off to violent and chaotic start as Morocco fans rush the field vs Argentina
The Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 5:54 p.m. | Save Story
Morocco fans crashed the pitch to protest a late goal by Argentina at the opening match of the Paris Olympics men's soccer tournament. It was an angry and bizarre scene that left the game suspended for nearly two hours with only minutes remaining. Moments before play resumed, the goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, and Morocco held on for a 2-1 victory. But not before a furious reaction from Morocco fans who thought they'd been denied a critical win.
France beats US 3-0 and Morocco gets a win against Argentina in a wild start to Olympic soccer
James Robson, Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 5:18 p.m. | Save Story
but not before furious fans invaded the pitch to protest what appeared to be an equalizer by Cristian Medina in the 16th-minute of stoppage time. Objects were thrown onto the field and security had to restrain fans, causing the game in Saint-Etienne to be suspended for nearly two hours.
Aston Villa confirms the sale of France winger Moussa Diaby to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad
The Associated Press | Posted July 24 - 4:35 p.m. | Save Story
Aston Villa has confirmed the sale of France winger Moussa Diaby to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad for a reported fee of around $65 million. The 25-year-old Diaby only moved to Villa Park last summer for a reported club-record fee and scored 10 goals in 54 appearances across all competitions, helping Unai Emery's side qualify for the Champions League. Diaby had previously spent four years at Bayer Leverkusen before linking up again with Emery, who had managed the forward at Paris Saint-Germain. His latest move will see him team up with compatriots Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante, as well as former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho. Al-Ittihad, under head coach Laurent Blanc, is aiming to improve on a fifth-place finish last season.
Israel's national anthem loudly jeered before Olympic soccer match against Mali
Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 3:18 p.m. | Save Story
Israel's national anthem was loudly jeered before its soccer team kicked off play at the Paris Olympics against Mali. The game began with a massive security presence outside the stadium amid an increasingly strained international climate that has Paris' safety efforts squarely in the spotlight. The Israel team arrived under a heavy police escort, with motorbike riders at the front and about a dozen riot police vans following behind. Armed police officers patrolled the Parc des Princes stadium, one with a rifle resting on his shoulder. A few fans held up Palestine flags in the stadium and security had to defuse tensions. The game finished 1-1.
Uzbekistan loses the match but wins over crowd as soccer competition kicks off Paris Olympics
Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 3:06 p.m. | Save Story
Uzbekistan lost the match but won over the crowd as competition at the Paris Olympics officially began with soccer matches in Paris and Saint-Etienne. Uzbekistan fans chanted and danced throughout a 2-1 loss to Spain at Parc des Princes in western Paris. But the atmosphere turned ugly in Saint-Etienne. Objects were thrown and Morocco fans were tackled by security on the field at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard after Argentina appeared to score in the 16th minute of added time. After two hours the goal was ruled offside by VAR and Morocco won 2-1. Amid a large security presence in Paris later Wednesday, the Israel national anthem was loudly jeered before the game against Mali. Elsewhere, the rugby sevens got underway.
Canada women's soccer coach will step aside for the team's opener because of drone incidents
Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 2:40 p.m. | Save Story
Canada women's soccer coach Bev Priestman says she'll step away from the team's opening game against New Zealand at the Paris Olympics in the wake of a pair of drone incidents. And the Canadian Olympic Committee says assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Canada Soccer analyst Joseph Lombardi were sent home. New Zealand complained to the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit after it said drones were flown over a pair of practice sessions earlier in the week leading up to the tournament. Priestman said she was voluntarily withdraw from coaching Thursday's match to "ensure everyone feels that the sportsmanship of this game is upheld."
Olympic soccer preview: Spain women seek gold after lifting a World Cup trophy
Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press | Updated July 24 - 1:52 p.m. | Save Story
Spain's women are making their first Olympic appearance and hope to become the first team to win a gold medal after lifting a Women's World Cup trophy. Spain has moved on from the turbulence that accompanied the team's World Cup run last summer. New coach Montse Tomé says her squad has "insatiable ambition" heading into the Olympic tournament. The United States says it has also moved on from the World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the round of 16. The Americans have a new coach in Emma Hayes.
UEFA fines 7 soccer nations for racist and discriminatory fan conduct at Euro 2024 games
The Associated Press | Posted July 24 - 12:49 p.m. | Save Story
UEFA has ordered seven national soccer federations to pay fines totaling $250,000 for racist and discriminatory abuse by fans at European Championship games. UEFA did not specify details of the incidents which mostly involved fans from teams in the Balkans at the month-long, 24-nation tournament played in Germany. Croatia must pay the biggest fine of $54,000 for incidents at each of its three games. Fans of Croatia and Albania teamed up to chant anti-Serbia slogans during a group-stage game. Albania was fined $32,500 on Wednesday. UEFA also imposed fines on Austria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
