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MELBOURNE — Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo became the first active A-League player to come out as gay on Wednesday, saying he was done with feeling ashamed about his sexuality and the exhaustion of trying to live a "double-life."

"I'm a footballer and I'm gay," the 21-year-old said on a video posted on Adelaide's social media, drawing support from fellow professionals across the world.

"All I want to do is play football and be treated equally."

Twice World Cup winner Carli Lloyd will put on the United States jersey one last time on Tuesday but was adamant she would not be leaving the sport of soccer entirely.

With two Olympic golds and the fourth-highest total of international goals to her name, the 39-year-old forward will leave a big pair of boots to fill after playing her final game for the U.S. against South Korea in Minnesota.

MILAN — Europe's top soccer leagues want to revisit the changes to the Champions League format, agreed by UEFA in April under the threat of a breakaway Super League.

Jacco Swart, Managing Director of the European Leagues organisation, told a news conference on Friday that there would be a second phase of negotiations with UEFA and they would look to secure several changes.

Newcastle United have urged fans to refrain from wearing traditional Arabic attire or Middle East-inspired head coverings at games, the Premier League club said in a statement on Wednesday.

Newcastle were acquired by a Saudi Arabia-led consortium earlier this month.

A number of supporters turned up in robes and head coverings for the home clash against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, the first game since the takeover.

The National Women's Soccer League named 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup chief executive Marla Messing as its interim CEO on Monday, after allegations of sexual misconduct engulfed the league.

England have been ordered to play their next two home games in UEFA competition without supporters present after disturbances during their Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley in July, European soccer's governing body said in a statement on Monday.

The ban on fans attending the second game has been suspended for a probationary period of two years, while the English FA has been fined 100,000 euros ($116,000), UEFA added.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings looking into the clashes at Wembley Stadium between police and Hungarian supporters at Tuesday's game against England, saying it has "zero tolerance against such abhorrent behaviour."

World soccer's governing body added on Wednesday that it has also started investigating incidents during the game between Albania and Poland in Tirana, where bottles were thrown on the pitch after Poland scored.

SKOPJE — Germany became the first European team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup by crushing North Macedonia 4-0 away on Monday to secure top spot in Group J with two games to spare.

A second-half double by Timo Werner and one goal each from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala secured Germany's fifth win in their fifth game under new coach Hansi Flick and lifted them to 21 points, with Romania in second place on 13.

North Carolina Courage owner Steve Malik said the team only became aware of sexual harassment and coercion allegations against former coach Paul Riley when they were reported last week.

SAO PAULO — A Brazilian soccer player has been charged with attempted murder after he brutally kicked a referee in the head during a lower league game in the south of the country.

The player, William Ribeiro of Sport Club Sao Paulo, attacked the referee after he awarded a foul against him during a league game away to Guarani on Monday.