Shocking

BUCHAREST - Romanian assistant referee Octavian Sovre's decision to ask Borussia Dormund striker Erling Haaland to autograph his yellow and red cards raised some eyebrows but the charity that is set to benefit from a cash boost is not complaining.

"The red and yellow-signed cards which my kindergarten classmate Octavian donated to our SOS Autism Bihor center will be used for a noble cause," Simona Zlibut, who oversees a therapy center set up by parents, told Reuters.

Zlibut's own 21-year-old daughter is autistic and she says the center depends on donations.

Cádiz and Valencia’s LaLiga match at the Estadio Ramón de Carranza was briefly halted on Sunday after Los Che defender Mouctar Diakhaby was racially abused by Cádiz’s Juan Cala. 

The event took place off the ball, but video shows Diakhaby confronting Cala before being restrained by teammate Kevin Gameiro and Cádiz’s Fali. Diakhaby was booked for his actions; Cala — who was already on a yellow — wasn't punished.

NEWCASTLE - Tottenham Hotspur manager José Mourinho said they were the architects of their own downfall after failing to hold on to the lead in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Newcastle United on Sunday.

Spurs led 2-1 at the break thanks to a quick-fire double from Harry Kane but an 85th-minute equalizer from Joe Willock prevented Mourinho's side from provisionally moving up to fourth in the table.

Christian Pulisic’s latest injury setback is frustrating. It’s frustrating for Chelsea fans who want to see him recapture the form he showcased throughout “Project Restart.” It’s frustrating for USMNT fans who simply want to see him play week in, week out. And it’s supremely frustrating for Pulisic, a 22-year-old with clear leadership qualities who’s sacrificed everything in the singular pursuit of playing for one of the world's biggest clubs.

Waking up and looking at Tuesday’s schedule of international football, I couldn’t help but notice the final score of one match that had already finished out in Chiba, Japan. The Japan national team had put up two touchdowns — a fortnight of scoring — on Mongolia in World Cup qualifying. 

The 14-0 win isn’t the biggest in Japan’s history (15-0 over the Philippines in 1967), nor was it the biggest defeat in 190th-ranked Mongolia’s (15-0 to Uzbekistan in 1998).