Off the Pitch

PSA: Please respect youth soccer referees this season, they don’t get paid enough for your nonsense

Fall is rapidly approaching, and youth soccer is already underway this season. The18 unfortunately reports on far too many instances of enraged parents going after youth soccer referees. We’re looking to change the narrative on those poor officials in yellow and give them some more respect.

Barcelona to Brighton — Gulls land phenom Ansu Fati on season-long loan

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed forward Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona, the Premier League club announced on Friday.

Ansu Fati Brighton loan

Spanish soccer boss' mother taken to hospital after hunger strike

MOTRIL, Spain – The mother of the Spanish Soccer Federation's beleaguered chief Luis Rubiales who started a hunger strike in support of her son on Monday, was taken to a local hospital on Wednesday after feeling tired and stressed out, the local priest said.

Angeles Bejar had locked herself in a church in her hometown of Motril in southern Spain to protest the treatment of her son in a furore over kissing World Cup player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth, which led to his suspension by FIFA on Saturday.

Milan’s commentator sounds like a proud American every time Pulisic scores and it’s hilarious

MilanTV commentator Mauro Suma is loving the arrival of Christian Pulisic to AC Milan more than anyone else. The Italian commentator has seen two Pulisic goals in two games and his reactions are the best.

Suma’s call of Pulisic’s goal vs. Torino from Saturday is about as good as it gets. The USMNT star opened the scoring in the 33rd minute to give Milan a 1-0 lead and this was Suma’s response on air.

Spanish regional soccer chiefs come together to demand Luis Rubiales’ resignation

MADRID — Spanish regional soccer chiefs demanded federation boss Luis Rubiales resign for grabbing and kissing World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, as the country's caretaker government promised on Tuesday to ensure women play a bigger role in running sports.

How Nike lost Messi to Adidas over a dumb oversight and a few hundred dollars worth of tracksuits

Nike lost Messi in 2006 in an effort to save themselves a couple hundred bucks. Along with him, they ended up losing billions in potential revenue. This is the story of how one of the most iconic partnerships in sports between Lionel Messi and Adidas came to be – and how close we were to seeing both Messi and Ronaldo as ambassadors for Nike.

USWNT drop to their lowest FIFA ranking in history following World Cup disappointment

The latest edition of the FIFA women’s world rankings was released on Friday and the big news is that the USWNT have dropped two places. For this first time in history the U.S. sit third in the world, their lowest ever ranking.

USWNT FIFA rankings

Women’s soccer world unites after Spanish federation boss refuses to step down

MADRID — Spanish soccer boss Luis Rubiales refused to quit on Friday for kissing star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's Women's World Cup victory, fuelling anger among players and government ministers who decried his actions as unacceptable macho behavior.

The government cannot sack Rubiales, who is head of the independent Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). But it will seek to suspend him using a legal procedure before a sports tribunal, the head of the state-run sports council, Victor Francos, told reporters.

Folarin Balogun set to become second most expensive American transfer with move to Monaco

Folarin Balogun is nearing a big move from Arsenal to French club AS Monaco as it was reported by journalist Fabrice Hawkins on Thursday that the two clubs reached an agreement. The Balogun Monaco transfer would be permanent for €45 million ($48.6 million).

Balogun Monaco transfer

Landon Donovan’s USL team San Diego Loyal will be forced to fold at end of 2023 season

The San Diego Loyal, a United Soccer League club owned in part by soccer legend Landon Donovan, will cease operations after the 2023 season, the league announced Thursday.

The franchise rights will be transferred "in the coming months," per a league news release.

The action is being taken because a "viable near- and long-term stadium solution in the market did not materialize" in the San Diego area, the league said.

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