Human Interest

A good boy doing a bad deed had a good ending after a bad day. 

A pooch who pooped on the pitch during a Chilean Primera B match was recently reunited with his owner, who saw the viral moment and recognized his beagle who had recently gone missing. 

Saturday’s match between Universidad de Concepción and Fernández Vial was interrupted in the 20th minute by a misplaced mutt who found his way onto the field at Ester Roa Rebolledo Stadium. The dog, later identified as Toby, ran all around the pitch, showing off his breakaway speed as none of the players could corral him. 

A federal judge in California has preliminarily approved a $24 million settlement between the U.S. women's national soccer team (USWNT) and governing body U.S. Soccer in a years-long dispute over equal pay for female athletes.

U.S. Central District of California Judge Gary Klausner granted a motion to approve the landmark settlement filed by the players on Thursday and scheduled a hearing on Dec. 5 when he is expected to give final approval to the settlement.

Last week, Gotham FC captain McCall Zerboni was nominated for the NWSLPA’s Ally Award, which recognizes leadership and character in unsung players. A week later, she was being called out on social media for using racist language. Then Angel City’s Madison Hammond gave a master class in how to respond to those who perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Jaelene Daniels refused to play for the N.C. Courage on Friday night. 

Hours before the Courage were to host the Washington Spirit on their Pride Night featuring LGTBQ+ pride jerseys, the North Carolina club announced Daniels would not feature because she refused to wear a jersey that promotes equality and fights discrimination.

Dynamo Kyiv defeated Turkish side Fenerbahçe 2-1 on Wednesday to advance to the third round of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. What should have been a joyous moment for the Ukraine club was marred by Fenerbahçe fans chanting “Vladimir Putin” at the Dynamo Kyiv players.

Wednesday’s game was an intense contest that saw a Fenerbahçe player sent off in the 53rd minute and then a game-winning goal for Dynamo Kyiv in the 114th minute. The Putin chants came in the 57th minute after Ukrainian midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskyi scored the game’s opening goal.

Former United States goalkeeper Hope Solo pleaded guilty to driving while impaired on Monday and said that she is "slowly coming back" after receiving care at an in-patient alcohol treatment program following her arrest in late March.

Solo was found passed out behind the wheel of her car in a parking lot in North Carolina on March 31 and charged with impaired driving, resisting arrest and misdemeanor child abuse. Her two children were in the car at the time of the arrest.

Processions across the Midwest came to a rest at Wisconsin’s most hallowed ground on Saturday night. Fans of Germany’s Bayern Munich and England’s Manchester City packed into Lambeau Field to watch the first-ever soccer match played at the home of the Green Bay Packers.

As thousands of spectators arrived, streams of fans in sky blue and bright red paraded through the small town with the behemoth that is Lambeau Field lying in their sights. For many who see soccer as their religion, this was about to be their evening service. 

As many states ban abortion across the United States, soccer fans could find more than their reproductive freedoms disappearing. They might also lose their ability to watch top-flight soccer.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said this week full access to healthcare — including birth control, in-vitro fertilization and abortion — is one of the league’s values. As the NWSL seeks to increase by two teams up to 14 by 2024, states that deny women and those who may become pregnant full healthcare rights could find themselves left out of the growing women’s soccer party.