Off the Pitch

FC Cincinnati banned a fan from attending any and all future matches because of a racist tweet directed at two players, the club announced late Tuesday night.

NEW YORK — Six FC Dallas players have tested positive for COVID-19, Major League Soccer (MLS) said on Wednesday, a week ahead of the kickoff of the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Florida.

Two of the positive tests came "immediately" after the players arrived at the host hotel in Florida on June 27, while another four players tested positive within the last two days.

"Every member of the FC Dallas traveling party had tested negative for COVID-19 through an MLS-mandated testing service prior to the club's departure on Saturday morning," the team said.

Liverpool has condemned the behavior of fans who gathered in Liverpool city center for a second night on Friday to celebrate their team's Premier League title win and urged them to stay at home due to fears of a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Local media reported fans launched fireworks at the Royal Liver Building, with a fire breaking out on the balcony of the landmark owned by Farhad Moshiri, the majority shareholder of the side's local rivals Everton.

LONDON — Former England soccer captain David Beckham is moving into the virtual world as co-owner of London-based start-up Guild Esports.

Guild said in a statement on Thursday that it will launch player academies and run teams in various esports arenas including Rocket League, FIFA and Fortnite.

Leeds United has removed a cardboard cutout of former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden from the stands at Elland Road after it was spotted in a photo posted on Twitter, British media have reported.

With no spectators allowed into stadiums as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, many English clubs are giving fans the chance to send in photos and have cutouts put on the seats instead.

Osama Bin Ladin had many crimes, but one of the much lesser ones was that he actually supported Arsenal.

Ever since Colin Kaepernick, Megan Rapinoe and many more athletes chose to kneel for the “Star-Spangled Banner,” sports leagues have struggled with how to balance respecting one’s right to protest with the feelings of fans who believe one’s freedom of speech should be suspended during the national anthem.

Electronic Arts Inc on Wednesday extended its licensing contract with LaLiga until 2030, allowing the video game maker to retain exclusive access to the Spanish top-tier soccer league for its flagship football franchise "FIFA."

The 10-year agreement is the longest renewal in the history of the company's partnership with LaLiga, EA told Reuters, but did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.