Month: February 2024

Feb 29, 2024, 06:12 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has responded to critics questioning his commitment to the Premier League club after being dropped for disciplinary issues this season by manager Erik ten Hag. The 26-year-old England international missed United’s 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round win over Newport County this month,

ESPN News Services Feb 29, 2024, 05:16 PM ET Atlético Madrid said one of their supporters was hospitalized with serious injuries amid fan trouble ahead of the team’s Copa del Rey second-leg semifinal against Athletic Club on Thursday. Atletico president Enrique Cerezo told Movistar that some of the team’s fans were allegedly attacked by Athletic

Connor O’Halloran Feb 29, 2024, 12:04 PM ET Open Extended Reactions NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said she expects the United States to see an “explosive” growth in interest in soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The United States will co-host the men’s World Cup in 2026 with Mexico and Canada and is bidding to

Adriana Garcia Feb 29, 2024, 09:57 AM ET Open Extended Reactions LaLiga president Javier Tebas wants Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood to remain in Spain once his season-long loan at Getafe ends. Greenwood, 22, joined the Madrid outfit from United in September after the former England forward left his old club following a criminal investigation

Alex Kirkland, ESPN FCFeb 29, 2024, 08:54 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Jude Bellingham‘s debut season in LaLiga couldn’t have gone much better. He’s been the standout player in Spain’s best team, a Real Madrid side who now find themselves six points clear at the top of the LaLiga table and among the favourites to

Feb 29, 2024, 09:35 AM ET Open Extended Reactions An Atlético Madrid fan has been arrested after an eight-year-old girl was threatened and racially insulted for wearing a Vinícius Júnior Real Madrid shirt before the Madrid derby last September. Spanish police said the girl suffered a “serious anxiety attack” after the incident, which took place

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentFeb 29, 2024, 08:17 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United are furious with suggestions that Bruno Fernandes feigned injury against Fulham and are disappointed with their Premier League rivals’ role in provoking a social media backlash against the midfielder, a source has told ESPN. Fernandes suffered what Erik ten Hag called a

Julien Laurens, CorrespondentFeb 29, 2024, 07:21 AM ET France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been banned for four years for a doping offence, sources have told ESPN and the Associated Press. Pogba was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping (NADO Italia) tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone — a banned substance. Italian

Adriana Garcia Feb 29, 2024, 05:27 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Dani Alves was sentenced to prison for sexual assault following a court conviction on Feb. 22. ALBERTO ESTEVEZALBERTO ESTEVEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images A statue of Dani Alves in his hometown in Brazil has been vandalised twice following the former Barcelona player’s recent conviction for sexual

Adriana Garcia Feb 29, 2024, 04:42 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Barcelona are in no hurry to find Xavi Hernandez’s successor, according to club sporting director Deco. In January, Xavi announced that he will be stepping down as Barça head coach at the end of the season after a string of disappointing results. – Stream

Feb 29, 2024, 03:34 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Wayne Rooney has said he is keen to make a swift return to management following his sacking by Birmingham City in January and outlined his ambitions to manage either Manchester United or Everton in the “next 10 years.” The former United and England forward was fired

Chris Wright, Toe Poke writerFeb 29, 2024, 12:02 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Clint Dempsey was the United States’ match winner against Italy on Feb. 29, 2012 — but which player has scored goals on that date in two different leap years? Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Much like World Cups (for now at least), Feb. 29 only

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentFeb 28, 2024, 08:12 PM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. The Portland Timbers cut ties with jersey sponsor DaBella Exteriors on Wednesday after allegations emerged that company CEO Donnie McMillan, Jr. made unwanted sexual advances and sexually harassed at least three female

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentFeb 28, 2024, 08:13 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester United Erik ten Hag has accused Nottingham Forest of “targeting” Bruno Fernandes during their FA Cup tie at the City Ground and branded criticism of the midfielder’s behaviour as “pathetic.” United won the game 1-0 thanks to Casemiro‘s 89th-minute winner but speaking afterwards,

Associated Press Feb 28, 2024, 03:45 PM ET Honduras striker Alberth Elis “is waking up” from an induced coma after suffering a head injury while playing for Bordeaux, his family said Wednesday. The 28-year-old Elis sustained the injury at the start of a second-division match against Guingamp on Saturday after he clashed heads with defender

Feb 28, 2024, 06:25 PM ET Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for one match after appearing to make an obscene gesture following Al Nassr‘s 3-2 win over Al Shabab, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF) said on Wednesday. After the final whistle on Sunday, social media videos captured Ronaldo cupping