Human Interest

Mike Dean Asks For Weekend Off After Receiving Death Threats

Referee Mike Dean has decided not to officiate at any Premier League games this weekend after he and his family received death threats following recent controversial red card decisions, British media reported on Monday.

Dean was criticized after he sent off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek during their 9-0 defeat at Manchester United last Tuesday and West Ham United midfielder Tomáš Souček during Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Fulham.

Burger King Trolls Eden Hazard, Injured Again With Real Madrid

Eden Hazard has been the target of several criticisms for his poor performance since his arrival at Real Madrid, in theory, to replace Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. However, his quality hasn’t been the same as the one that took him to the top with Chelsea.

In addition to the above, injuries and his physical shape have increased the negative comments against him and even mockery, such as the one made by Burger King, the famous burger chain.

Burger King quoted a tweet asking why the forward hadn't trained with his teammates, saying "2x1 at Burger King."

18 In Police Custody After Ultras Storm Marseille’s Training Ground

French police in Marseille were holding 18 people in custody on Sunday after hundreds of fans stormed the training ground of soccer club Olympique de Marseille a day earlier, the local prosecutor said.

The hardcore Ultras were demonstrating against the club's leadership and a poor run of results. The supporters forced their way into the Commanderie training ground, hurling flares and firecrackers.

Manchester United Players Targeted By Mindless, Racist Idiots After Sheffield United Defeat

Manchester United on Thursday condemned the racial abuse of some of their players following Wednesday's shock 2-1 Premier League home defeat by Sheffield United.

Sky Sports reported that former England under-21 defender Axel Tuanzebe and France forward Anthony Martial were targeted on Instagram, with several users posting racist comments and symbols on their pictures. Tuanzebe also suffered abuse on Twitter, the report added.

Third-Tier Alcoyano Proved That Spirit Is No Myth By Knocking Out Real Madrid

By slaying Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Alcoyano lived up to a past reputation which saw their name enter Spanish folklore as a byword for fighting spirit and the capacity to overcome the odds.

The third division, semi-professional side have rarely had much to shout about but their renowned capacity to endure suffering and humiliation led to the coining of the phrase "You have more spirit than Alcoyano" which is still heard in everyday conversations, even when football is not being discussed.

UEFA Thinking About Using Only One Host Country For Euro 2020 Tournament

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin is weighing up whether to stage the European Championship in one country this year rather than across the continent as planned due to COVID-19 concerns.

However, UEFA responded by saying it was continuing to work on existing plans for 12 countries to host the tournament. The 24-nation event, a major revenue generator for European football's governing body and the national federations, was postponed by 12 months due to the pandemic.

Dwayne De Rosario Put Canadian Soccer On The Map, But His Journey Isn’t Complete

Back on Dec. 9, Major League Soccer unveiled its list of the 25 best players in the league’s 25-year history. One no-brainer was the inclusion of attacking midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who spent 14 hugely decorated seasons in the league. 

De Rosario was a four-time MLS Cup winner, six-time MLS Best XI selection and the 2011 MVP. His 104 career goals puts him ninth all time, and two of those strikes famously won MLS Goal of the Year Awards (2004 and 2005).  

Father Tears Up Seeing His Son Who Was Diagnosed With Rare Disease As A Child Make Pro Debut

In its most basic form, soccer is a simple game of kicking a sphere into a designated rectangle. Despite the simplicity, this elementary sport possesses the capability to capture an infinite range of emotions and moments. This magic of the game is why we love it so much.

One of these heartwarming moments took place during Saturday’s FA Cup tie between Sheffield Wednesday and Exeter City.

The Volatile And Complex History Of The ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ Flag

Flown by many protesters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the Gadsden flag has a design that is simple and graphic: a coiled rattlesnake on a yellow field with the text “Don’t Tread On Me.” But that simple design hides some important complexities, both historically and today, as it appears in rallies demanding President Donald Trump be allowed to remain in office.

Premier League Says It's Confident Season Will Continue Despite Record High 40 Covid Cases

The Premier League is reassuring fans that the season will continue after its latest round of COVID-19 testing produced 40 positive cases among players and staff in the past week. This is the highest amount of Premier League COVID cases reported since the start of the pandemic, breaking the previous week’s record of 18 positive cases.

Despite 58 positive cases since Dec. 21, the EPL said in a statement that the season will go ahead as scheduled.

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