Football

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed he will depart the club when the current season ends. The 33-year-old Belgian star, who joined City from Wolfsburg in 2015, has amassed an impressive collection of 14 major trophies during his time at the club, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. "Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first," De Bruyne announced in a social media statement on Friday. "Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people … gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And […]

Real Madrid players Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger have received fines from UEFA but avoided suspensions for the Champions League quarterfinals following "indecent" celebrations after their previous match. UEFA announced Friday that both players were issued one-game bans for "violating the basic rules of decent conduct," with each subject to a one-year probationary period. The disciplinary action means Madrid's stars remain eligible for Tuesday's upcoming quarterfinal match at Arsenal. The charges stemmed from Madrid players' celebrations following their penalty shootout victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 on March 12. Social media video clips showed Mbappe grabbing his crotch on the field during the celebrations. In its ruling, UEFA fined Rudiger 40,000 euros ($44,000) and Mbappe 30,000 euros ($33,000). A third Madrid player, Dani Ceballos, received a 20,000 euro ($22,000) fine without a suspended ban. UEFA […]

A Spanish court has overturned former Barcelona player Dani Alves's sexual assault conviction, ruling there was "insufficient evidence" to confirm his guilt. Alves was originally found guilty in February 2024 of raping a woman in a nightclub in December 2022, with an initial sentence of four years and six months in prison. The 41-year-old defender consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the three-day trial. The Barcelona-based appeals court's four judges unanimously reversed the conviction, citing significant discrepancies between the plaintiff's testimony and video footage taken before Alves and the woman entered the toilet where the alleged assault occurred. This case represents a significant moment in Spain's recently overhauled sexual consent laws, known popularly as the "only yes means yes" legislation. Implemented in 2022, these laws define consent as an explicit expression of will, emphasizing that silence or passivity do not constitute […]

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will stand trial next week on charges of allegedly failing to declare income to Spain's tax office. Prosecutors are seeking a four-year, nine-month jail term, accusing the 65-year-old Italian of costing Spain's treasury over $1.1m in undeclared earnings from image rights during 2014 and 2015. The two-day trial begins Wednesday, with Ancelotti required to be present for the hearings. Prosecutors allege he only declared his personal remuneration from Real Madrid, despite being a Spanish tax resident with a home in Madrid. They claim Ancelotti created a "complex" system of shell companies to conceal additional earnings from image rights and real estate. According to prosecutors, he earned $1.33m in 2014 and $3.19m in 2015 from image rights sales. A Spanish court previously ordered Ancelotti to stand trial in 2023 without setting a specific date. The coach […]

An Australian radio presenter has departed from Triple M following controversial comments about the national women's football team that sparked widespread criticism. Marty Sheargold made remarks on air comparing the Matildas players to "year 10 girls" and suggesting their matches were boring. Despite issuing an apology Wednesday, Sheargold did not return to his usual time slot. Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), Triple M's parent company, announced that Sheargold and the station had "mutually part ways." In his apology, Sheargold acknowledged the severity of his comments, offering a "sincere apology to the Matildas and the broader organisation." SCA's chief content officer Dave Cameron stated the company "takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously" and that its programming "should align with the standards and expectations of its audience." The controversy began during Sheargold's Monday afternoon show when he interrupted a sports […]

Spain's High Court has ruled that former football federation president Luis Rubiales is guilty of kissing player Jenni Hermoso without consent during the 2023 Women's World Cup victory celebration. He has been ordered to pay a fine exceeding €10,000 (£8,275) but was acquitted of coercion charges. The incident occurred as Spain's team received their medals after defeating England in Sydney. Rubiales grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips, an action that was broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide and sparked widespread protests demanding his resignation. During court proceedings, Rubiales maintained that he was "absolutely sure" of receiving Hermoso's consent, describing the kiss as an "act of affection" that was "completely spontaneous." However, Hermoso testified that she never gave permission for the kiss, stating that it had "stained one of the happiest days of my life." Prosecutors […]