Manchester United released a public statement after their co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said that the United Kingdom had been “colonized by immigrants.” 

“Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club,” Manchester United officials said.

Ratcliffe himself has also walked back on his comments somewhat. 

“I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the U.K. and Europe and caused concern,” Ratcliffe said, “But it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.”

Ratcliffe also defended his comments by saying that governments must manage migration with investments in industry, skill and jobs. Ratcliffe made these comments during an interview with Sky News.  

The Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club, a fan group that unites Manchester United fans who are practicing Muslims, was unhappy with Ratcliffe’s defense.  

“We have noted Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s apology for his ‘choice of language’,” the group said, “However, we do not believe this sufficiently addresses the seriousness of what was said.”

The Football Association (FA) could choose to punish Ratcliffe. The rulebook provides some precedent for punishing representatives of teams (employees, players, owners,etc) for private comments.

Rule E3.1 says, “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”

Rule E3.2 says that a violation of Rule E3.1 would be considered an “aggravated breach” if the comments included references to ethnic origin, color, race, nationality, religious beliefs, gender (including gender reassignment), sexual orientation or disability. 

There is no news of any formal investigations into Ratcliffe’s comments at this time.

French phenom Kylian Mbappé, 25, had a night to remember in the Champions League last Tuesday, scoring two goals against Real Sociedad to help Paris-Saint-Germain advance to the quarterfinals of Europe’s most glorified competition in soccer.

One of those goals broke the net.

Mbappé broke down the left wing with pace on a counterattack which left only one defender to try to stop him. After some quick feet, Mbappé was able to create an opening for a shot, which he lashed across the goalkeeper and found the bottom corner in the 15th minute of the match.

Such was the power of his strike that it actually broke the netting. There have been flukey situations in soccer where the netting on a goal has been ripped before, but the amount of raw power it takes to rip a net with a ball from that distance is something rarely observed in modern European soccer. The referees were forced to pause the game while the net was repaired.

His second goal came from another break down the left side where he caught up to an over-the-top through ball and sneakily whipped the ball to the near post after opening up his body to appear as if he would curl it toward the far post. He wrong-footed goalkeeper Alejandro Remiro and effectively ended the tie 11 minutes into the second half.

After a 2-0 victory in the first leg and a 2-0 lead in the second, Mikel Merino’s goal for Sociedad late in the second half was a mere consolation as PSG advanced 4-1 on aggregate.

“We’re really happy,” Mbappé noted in a post-match press conference. “That was the objective, we wanted to qualify, but we also wanted to win. We had a game plan that was clear, and we managed to score early. We didn’t come under too much pressure, just a little at the end.”

“[Scoring goals] is what I do,” he added. “It’s what I like to do, what I can do. My job is to help the team score goals, to help offensively, defensively, and today, I did a nice job.”

Mbappé, who is reportedly leaving the club to join Real Madrid in Spain at the end of the season, now sits at the top of the charts for goals scored in the Champions League this season with six, tied with Harry Kane who also bagged a brace last Tuesday for Bayern Munich.

“He’ll score 50 goals and get 25 assists with whatever coach in whichever team. Unfortunately, in the immediate future, he won’t be here, and we have to start trying out other teammates,” PSG manager Luis Enrique noted after the game.

Erling Haaland, the leading goal scorer for Manchester City, sits a goal behind at five but will have more opportunities to catch up in the quarterfinal round. According to former Manchester United and England defender gone game analyst Rio Ferdinand though, there’s no one he’d rather build a team around in the game today than Mbappé.

“I’d pay every day to watch him train let alone play in a match because he creates things on his own. I can give him the ball at left-back and he might score. I can give him the ball anywhere on the pitch and he could create something,” Ferdinand said.

“But Mbappé’s just got that something different that would make me sit up at night and go: ‘Thank you, God.’”

Zlatan Ibrahimović announced his immediate retirement from football, as the 41-year-old ends his playing career with Italian club AC Milan.

Ibrahimović’s contract with AC Milan will not be renewed, as it is due to expire at the end of the month. The former Swedish striker has an illustrious 24-year career filled with accolades and awards, as it started with Malmö Sweden in 1999. The star footballer won 32 trophies, including league titles in the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Italy with both Inter and AC for Milan.

Ibrahimović also scored 511 career goals, hailed as one of the best strikers and one of the most decorated footballers to ever play. Internationally, he was “capped” or “appeared with their senior national team” 122 times by Sweden as their all-time leading scorer with 62 goals.

Ibrahimović spoke for his retirement speech at San Siro Stadium in Italy, as he said his farewell to Milan on Sunday: ‘So many memories and emotions inside this stadium.’

In 2017, Ibrahimović helped the Manchester United club win the EFL Cup and the Europa League but past that, his time playing in England was cut short due to a severe cruciate ligament injury.

Ibrahimović defied the odds and was eventually healthy enough to play again, joining the LA Galaxy for the next 21 months before coming back home to Italy for a second time with AC Milan. He then helped his club claim their first Serie A title in 11 years last season. Ibrahimović tributes to Milan in his retirement speech:

‘The first time I arrived you gave me happiness, the second time, you gave me love. I want to thank my family and those close to me for their patience. I want to thank my second family. The players, the coach, and his staff for the responsibility they gave me. I want to thank the directors for the opportunity they gave me.

“Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you, fans. You welcomed me with open arms and I will be a Milanista my entire life.”

‘It’s time to say goodbye to football, but not to you. It’s too difficult, there are too many emotions. I’ll see you around if you are lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.’

International soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed on Dec. 30 that he was signing with Al-Nassr FC, a Saudi Pro League team, for $200 million per year through 2025. The Portuguese forward signed with the team after an underwhelming showing in the World Cup and a months-long feud with Manchester United.

Ronaldo is the latest prominent athlete to join the growing world of Saudi Arabian sports. Most organizations in the country are directly or indirectly controlled by the Saudi government, which has begun offering athletes massive sums of money in an attempt to gain more international recognition. Many Western commentators have given this practice a name: “Saudi-washing.”

From a geopolitical standpoint, critics of Saudi Arabia’s recent athletic ventures argue that the nation is attempting to overcome its history of human rights violations and other totalitarian transgressions by tying its reputation to beloved sports figures and brands. For athletes who receive an offer, however, the debate is more personal. The unprecedented contracts come with obvious strings attached.

Before Ronaldo left his European career behind and accepted the Saudis’ eye-watering proposition, there’s one person who could have given him some direction.

When the Kingdom came to this person, he declined. He’s grappled with the triumphs and trials of greatness. He’s made mistakes. He’s had ego problems. He’s old now. But when it came to his sport, he understood what his name meant and knew what he wanted to stand for.

No one is saying that Tiger Woods is a moral authority. His controversies over the years are exhaustively well-documented. But there’s a distinct overlap between the legendary golfer and Ronaldo.

Both are undeniable stars, athletes so recognizable that they’ve transcended their sports. People don’t have to watch the Premier League or the Masters to know Ronaldo or Woods. They’re the sort of individuals that Saudi Arabia is looking for — and they were more than willing to pay.

In June, reports emerged that Woods declined a deal worth $700-800 million to compete in LIV Golf, the new Saudi Arabian rival of the PGA Tour. He wasn’t the only one to turn them down, but no one else received his offer either. Phil Mickelson signed for $200 million. For Woods, the decision came down to loyalty and an understanding of his self-worth.

By the time LIV came to Woods, he was at a point in his career where he no longer had a need or desire to play golf full-time. As one of the few billionaires in sports, money wasn’t enough of a motivating factor. His values were more important.

By denying the Saudi organization, Woods wasn’t attempting to make a political statement or moral stand against tyranny, though those motivations could have played a minor part. His primary objective was to establish that he was more interested in competition than money, and that the best players competed in PGA Tour events. It was an act of loyalty to an organization he has spent his entire career in.

Some of Woods’ reasonings may have swayed Ronaldo and others probably would not have. Woods plays in an individual sport while Ronaldo was in the midst of a dispute with his Premier League club. He had more reasons to leave the team from a competitive standpoint.

But in terms of money, Ronaldo is in a nearly identical position to Woods, and has made enough as a professional and international player to last several lifetimes. More importantly, however, Ronaldo is as indistinguishable from modern European soccer as Woods is to the PGA Tour.

Even if he wanted to leave Manchester United, remaining in one of the European leagues could have firmly established Ronaldo’s belief in the competitive spirit of soccer within the continent. Instead, he left in what could easily be construed as an attempt to validate his own self-worth.

At the tail end of his full-time career, Woods overcame injuries from a car accident and a tattered reputation to win the 2019 Masters at astronomical odds. He beat the very best players to do it. At the back end of his own career, Ronaldo is making the decision to become the highest-paid soccer player on the planet. His old foes will be a world away.

Representing Portugal at the World Cup, Ronaldo sat on the bench and later at home while Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe ran the table and faced off in the final. After the tournament, Messi turned down a record-breaking offer to play in MLS in the United States, instead agreeing to enter extension negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain. At age 35, he’s proven that he can still compete at the highest level, and he wants more time in Ligue 1. What does that tell you?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s release from Manchester United was inevitable, a matter of time after months of divisive conduct between the two sides on and off the field and the star’s bombshell interview with Piers Morgan last week. But the certainty of this falling out is not as important as the timing, as the Premier League spat is certain to affect Portugal in the World Cup.

While every team in the World Cup has its stars, it’s arguable that no single player has had a greater effect on their country’s soccer program in the 21st century than Ronaldo. Since his senior debut at Euro 2004, Portugal has become a mainstay in international tournaments, qualifying for five straight World Cups since.

Though the team has bolstered its roster for this year’s World Cup, much of the program’s offense has run exclusively through Ronaldo for the better part of two decades, and he remains a focal point on the field despite his advanced age.

Off the field, he has surpassed national heroism and now assumes a godly status in his home country, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. This is the problem — Portugal’s god is distracted.

In his personal life, Ronaldo has had to endure genuine hardship this year following the death of his newborn son in April. In his interview with Morgan, he said that the loss was the worst moment of his life and that he still has his son’s ashes. It is unclear how this event has impacted Ronaldo in other areas, but it has undoubtedly compounded with other stresses.

On the pitch, Ronaldo has engaged in a year full of drama with Manchester United. The disputes with the same team that kickstarted his career in the late 2000s have intensified over time from premature exits from games and poorly explained benchings to a bombshell interview in which Ronaldo heavily criticized the organization and manager Erik ten Hag. The club announced Tuesday that it was releasing him and that both sides were in mutual agreement.

Some of Ronaldo’s recent struggles appear to be at least partially self-inflicted while others are completely out of his control, but it is an undeniable fact that it is impacting his mindset entering the World Cup. Any negative impact to Ronaldo’s mindset could hurt Portugal immensely.

In an effort to avoid discussing Manchester United, he skipped a World Cup press conference Wednesday. This is a move that could be viewed in a variety of ways, as avoiding the press could be seen as an attempt by Ronaldo to keep the Premier League drama away from the World Cup or a way to inadvertently highlight it by omission. The ambiguity of the situation only further confirms that the player’s conduct this year is an inescapable distraction for a team trying to win a World Cup.

It’s impossible to know if Ronaldo’s issues away from international play will have a tangible impact on Portugal’s World Cup chances. The team is favored against all three of its opponents in the group stage but has only moved beyond the Round of 16 once since 2006, even with Ronaldo at the helm. Recent developments for the captain only serve as another obstacle for now.

While he competes for Portugal at the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo’s status at Manchester United will remain in tumultuous stasis following an explosive interview earlier this week. Speaking with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo criticized manager Erik ten Hag and the club and justified his refusal to cooperate several times earlier this year.

“I don’t know what’s going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero,” Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo described his club’s lack of progress in recent years as a “betrayal” and heavily criticized his senior officials and manager ten Hag, especially.

“The coach didn’t have respect for me. So this is why the relationship, it’s in that way,” Ronaldo said.

Back in March, it was revealed that Ronaldo did not have an injury before the Manchester Derby and simply refused to play in the event. His appearances have been increasingly sparse in the months since, and over the summer, he and the club agree that options were explored to move him, though the two sides disagree on who initiated those discussions.

Before stints at Juventus and Real Madrid, Ronaldo kickstarted his career for Manchester United in the Premier League, quickly becoming one of the best soccer players in the world. His return to the team in 2021 was supposed to be a triumphant reunion but has instead soured the relationship, despite his 18 goals in the 2021-22 season.

While Ronaldo’s release from the team has been rumored, such a shocking development for the international icon seems somewhat less likely than a transfer to another team. Over the summer, however, very few teams stepped forward to demonstrate interest in taking on the superstar’s massive contract.

For now, Ronaldo will represent his home nation in Qatar in the World Cup, leaving behind a wake of drama at his usual place of work. It is unclear how recent developments will influence his return to the team after the break. Manchester United is currently fifth in the Premier League with an 8-4-2 record. Ronaldo has started four times.

The prosecution and defense delivered their opening arguments in the case against former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs. Prosecutors told the jury that Giggs had an “uglier and more sinister” side to him than his play on the pitch would suggest. Giggs is facing charges of “causing actual bodily harm” to ex-girlfriend Kate Greville at his home in an incident on Nov. 1, 2020.

At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, prosecutor Peter Wright described Giggs’ play as a thing of beauty, but went on to say that his illustrious career with Manchester United concealed his true nature.

“In the privacy of his own personal life at home or behind closed doors, there was, we say the facts reveal, a much uglier and more sinister side to his character,’’ Wright told the jury. “This was a private life that involved a litany of abuse, both physical and psychological, of a woman he professed to love.”

In addition to accusations that he assaulted Greville, Giggs is also facing assault charges for beating her younger sister, Emma, in the same incident, as well as using controlling and coercive behavior. The prosecution claims that this behavior persisted between Aug. 2017 and Nov. 2020.

On the night of the incident, Greville was allegedly breaking up with Giggs and was returning to his home to retrieve her things. She asked her sister to meet her at the house for support. The prosecution claims that an altercation ensued when Giggs came home early and confronted them. Greville attempted to withhold his phone from him, and in his attempt to recover the device, Giggs elbowed Greville’s sister.

“At that stage, we say, the defendant entirely lost self-control and he deliberately head-butted Kate, thereby causing swelling to her lips and bruising,” Wright said.

Giggs has denied all charges against him, and his defense claims that prosecutors have warped events surrounding the 2020 incident. Because of the trial, Giggs had to step down as the manager of the Wales national team in June after nearly eight months on administrative leave.

Defense lawyer Chris Daw QC called the headbutt accusation “not only a nasty lie, but a ridiculous one.” Though Daw admitted that Riggs’ behavior wasn’t perfect, he said that his client was not guilty of assault.

“No matter how rude, unpleasant and even mean some of these arguments became, on both sides, the defense’s case is that there is a line Mr. Giggs would not cross,” Daw said.

Since his arrest in November, Giggs has been released on conditional bail. The trial is expected to last 10 days.

If it’s not one thing with athletes and a fan’s cell phone camera, it’s another. This time it involves a young soccer fan, a phone, and Cristiano Ronaldo after Manchester United’s 1-0 Premier League loss Saturday at Everton.

Police have opened an investigation and the Portuguese soccer uber star has apologized, as a video posted online shows the 37-year-old forward limping off the pitch before appearing to bend down and strike a phone out of a young fan’s hands.

“As players were leaving the pitch at 2:30 p.m. it was reported that a boy was assaulted by one of the away team as they left the pitch,” a Merseyside Police statement read.

“Inquiries are underway and officers are currently working with Everton Football Club to review CCTV footage and are carrying out extensive witness enquiries to establish if an offense has taken place.”

The defeat was a significant blow to United’s Champions League qualifying hopes—it’s now seventh in the Premier League and six points off Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

“It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing,” Ronaldo said on Instagram. “Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game.

“I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair-play and sportsmanship.”

An Everton spokesperson said the team is attempting to contact the boy’s mother to invite the pair to the match against Leicester City on April 20.

Football legend Tom Brady has announced that he will return for his 23rd season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The move comes a month after the quarterback, who will turn 45 in August, announced his retirement from the NFL.

“These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now,” Brady wrote on social media.

“I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa,” Brady, a man who has won seven Super Bowls, said before adding that he has “unfinished business.”

The latest news comes on the heels of Brady attending a Manchester United-Tottenham Hotspur F.C. soccer match over the weekend. The Glazers own the Premier League team—as well as the Bucs.

“Thanks to @ManUtd and the Glazer family for hosting me and my boys yesterday. So lucky to be able to share experiences like this with them,” Brady tweeted.

“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady said in his “retirement” statement. “I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”

Romeo Beckham, son of England legend David Beckham, made his highly anticipated professional soccer debut on Sunday with Fort Lauderdale CF, the reserve team of Inter Miami, which is co-owned by his father. Beckham played 79 minutes in the 2-2 tie against South Georgia Tormenta FC.

Romeo played right wing, which is the same position that his father played over the years with Manchester United, Real Madrid, the LA Galaxy, and, of course, with the England national team.

The Fort Lauderdale squad also features Harvey Neville, son of Inter Miami’s head coach Phil Neville.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUB2fgRg9N7/

Manchester United confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will reclaim his famous number 7 shirt in his return to the club 12 years after his departure. He will be inheriting the number from Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, who will switch to number 21.

Ronaldo praised Cavani for his decision to give up the number. “I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the number seven shirt again,” he said. “So I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi (Cavani) for this incredible gesture.”

The number 7 has long been integrated in Ronaldo’s iconic CR7 brand. The Portuguese football legend wore the iconic number between 2003 and 2009, a period during which he won three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.

Other Manchester United stars that previously rocked the number include George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.

Last week, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo rewrote history after surpassing Iranian striker Ali Daei on the all-time international goal leaderboard. The previous record was set by the Iranian ace in 2006, after scoring his 109th international goal versus Costa Rica. However, this record now belongs to Ronaldo — a constant centerpiece in the “G.O.A.T debate” alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi. The feat was set in stone after Ronaldo slotted home two headers to claim Portugal a late, come-from-behind, 2-1 victory in their World Cup qualifying match against Ireland. The international goal-scoring record now stands at 111 goals. 

How did it happen? It was a turbulent start for the Portuguese side as Ireland’s John Egan set the pace by lobbing a header past Portugal’s keeper Rui Patricio right before half-time. The second-half saw a determined Irish defense stand their ground until the 89th minute when Ronaldo brilliantly placed a header in the back of the net — record achieved. Then, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Ronaldo stormed Ireland’s box with another, nearly identical, powerfully placed header to win the game and bring the international record to 111 goals.   

It seems to be yet another historic year in the making for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as he recently completed his return to Manchester United and set a new goal-scoring record, all at the age of 36. This feat will undoubtedly fuel the Ronaldo-Messi debate further, but for this week, Ronaldo deserves credit where credit is due.  

Police in England launched an investigation into the racist abuse directed towards three black players on the England national team that missed penalty kicks in England’s loss to Italy in the European Championship Final. 

Both the Metropolitan Police and English Football Association expressed condemnation of the incidents and social media posts. “We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible,” the English Football Association added. “We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.”

Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are young players on the England squad who have been outspoken about inequality. Rashford has notably led campaigns targeting child poverty and swayed the British government to implement certain policies for the cause. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.” That said, Johnson has faced criticism himself for enabling the booing and harsh response towards the England team for kneeling before matches as a form of protest. 

Former Manchester United player and current SKY News commentator Gary Neville said: “The prime minister said it was OK for the population of this country to boo those players who are trying to promote equality and defend against racism. It starts at the very top and so for me I wasn’t surprised in the slightest that I woke up this morning to those headlines.”

England manager Gareth Southgate saw the situation as unforgivable. “We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together, in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.”

Prince William, president of the English Football Association, joined the outcry of condemnation. “It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour. It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable,” William wrote on Twitter.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also got involved on Twitter, calling for social media outlets to hold people accountable. “There is absolutely no place for racism in football or anywhere else. Those responsible for the disgusting online abuse we have seen must be held accountable – and social media companies need to act immediately to remove and prevent this hate.”

Racist abuse was seen earlier in the tournament too, as investigations were launched after racist tweets were sent following France‘s loss to Switzerland in penalty kicks in the Euro 2020 Round of 16.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford helped raise millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic to help feed children in England. He will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2021 ESPYS on July 10. 

Rashford has spoken about his reliance on free school meals and the “kind actions” of neighbors and coaches throughout his childhood. Rashford was recently named to Time’s Top 100 List for his advocacy work on homelessness and child hunger. 

“An athlete is the least we can be,” Rashford said. “Sport can be the biggest driver of positive change, with its ability to truly unite. If I have achieved anything over the last year, I would hope that it would be to demonstrate to my peers what is possible when we are driven by a passion and determination for better. Better not for ourselves, but for those whose voices are very rarely heard.”

“We have a platform to speak on behalf of millions. When we wake up in the morning, we decide what we want to do with that platform. The reward of helping just one will always outweigh the risk of any negativity or criticism thrown my way. I’m honored to be this year’s recipient of the Pat Tillman Award. A huge thank you to all involved.”

Rashford is currently on the England squad competing at the EURO 2020 and made headlines when he pushed the British government to take on child hunger at the beginning of the pandemic. 

The pandemic caused many families to see their income decrease as a result of reduced hours or being laid off. Families especially struggled when school was not in session to allow kids to eat for free.

The government initially refused to help, but Rashford wrote an open letter calling for support. The letter drew mass-media coverage and led to government action. 

Rashford also saw success as he rallied donors to continue supporting children and petitioned against the government after they rejected a motion to extend the free school meals provision. Rashford secured a grant worth 400 million pounds in this instance and affected the lives of 1.7 million children in the UK. 

The Marcus Rashford Book Club was launched in April 2021 and a partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books was established to donate 390,000 books to underserved children in the UK and Scotland. 

Marie Tillman, board chair and co-founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation, commented on Rashford’s charitable action. “Marcus raised millions and brought together a coalition of restaurants and groceries to ensure that vulnerable children and families had enough to eat as the pandemic closed off resources to them in Great Britain,” she said. “But he didn’t stop there – he twice took on the U.K. government to extend food benefits to families and he won. He saw a wrong and used his platform to guide those around him to making it right. Marcus’ passion for ending child poverty, inspired by his own experiences with food insecurity, mirror Pat’s passion for leading by example and identifying where he could unite others to make an impact.”

The Pat Tillman Award for Service was established in 2014 to commemorate the former NFL player and US Army Ranger’s legacy. The award honors an individual with a strong connection to sports who has served others in a way similar to Tillman’s legacy. Tillman left the NFL to serve in the military in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In 2004, he was killed while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. 

Manchester United fans have not forgotten what the team owners Joel and Avram Glazer tried to do with the failed European Super League.

For fans, it’s been repeated built-up frustration with the team and how it’s run that fueled distrust with the Glazer family’s ownership. The club used to be debt-free until the Glazers took ownership of the team in 2005. The Glazers were able to complete a takeover using borrowed money, but once they got ownership of the team, the borrowed money became debt for the team. The team went from being debt-free to £540 million in debt.

That was one of the long-standing frustrations fans had with the team, but it subsided when Manchester United captured multiple league titles after the takeover. The success ended once manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Manchester United has not had success since 2013, which was another reason for fan frustration.

The biggest offense that broke the straw on the camel’s back was the failed European Super League. Fans were shocked by the sudden news that Manchester United was one of the 13 teams that agreed to form the European Super League. The European Super League was an attempt by top teams across Europe to break away from their respective leagues and form their own league.

The announcement was met with condemnation by the leagues, fans and politicians. Pressure forced multiple teams to withdraw from the European Super League. Manchester United was one of the first members to withdraw, and the league was suspended after the majority of members left.

Fans had enough and took the opportunity to storm Old Trafford, the stadium where the team plays. On Sunday, ahead of the team’s game against Liverpool, fans staged a protest against the Glazer’s ownership of the team outside of Old Trafford. A huge crowd of protestors gathered and were able to enter the stadium to continue their protest.

The protest caused the Premier League to postpone the game.

Joan Laporta president of FC Barcelona is exploring ways to retain Lionel Messi. The Barcelona president will offer the forward a three-year contract offer.

Barcelona could no longer afford to pay Messi what he is currently making, around €75 million net annually. So, the club is looking for alternate solutions to retain the beloved superstar. One of the solutions that the club is currently going to try is to offer a longer contract, which will allow them to compensate Messi over several years to make up for the salary reduction. That is the reason behind Laporta offering the forward a two-year contract with an option for another year.

The Argentinian superstar has preferred the idea of signing a year-to-year contract so he is able to make a choice to stay or leave after each year, depending on the club’s state and his own feelings. Furthermore, Messi has spoken about the idea of playing in the United States’ Major League Soccer before he retires. “I always had the dream of being able to enjoy and have the experience of living in the United States and experience what the league there is like,” Messi said.

Last year, the Argentinian made headlines when he announced his intention to leave Barcelona. Both Manchester City and Paris-Saint Germain were immediate pursuers of Messi, but a potential legal battle by Barcelona prevented the star from leaving. However, Messi had still said that he would look to leave when his contract expires in June. Manchester City and Paris-Saint Germain are currently monitoring the situation with hopes that the superstar does not stay with Barca.

However, Laporta is confident that they will re-sign the Argentinian superstar. The club president is confident that the team’s Copa del Rey final win last Saturday convinced the star to stay. The club president is exploring a way to bring either Neymar or Erling Haaland to Barcelona, so Messi will be convinced to re-sign.

However, right now, the Argentinian superstar is focused on playing and giving it his all.

Time will tell how this situation plays out. It would be massive news if Messi did end up leaving Barcelona for another elite team. Stay tuned for more updates.

The Super League is officially dead.

On April 18, the European Super League was announced with 12 founding football teams. The 12 teams were top teams from across three different football leagues in Europe. As of Wednesday, the project is no longer happening. The Super League consisted of founding members Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Atlético, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The European Super League announcement was met with intense fan backlash and legislative pressure. The UEFA held a press conference condemning the European Super League and threatened to ban players from the participating teams from playing in this year’s European Championship and next year’s World Cup.

Two days after its initial creation, six founding clubs withdrew from the proposed league. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham withdrew from the project due to pressure. It was a death blow to the proposed project.

Following the departures of the English clubs, the European Super League announced that it was suspending the project. “Given the current circumstances, we shall reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project, always giving in mind our goals of offering the fans the best experience possible while enhancing solidarity payments for the entire football community,” the statement read.

On Wednesday, four more clubs withdrew from the project. Atlético, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

Atlético released a statement announcing its official departure from the project. “Atlético de Madrid’s Board of Directors, which met on Wednesday morning, has decided to formally communicate to the Super League and the rest of the founding clubs its decision not to finally formalize its adhesion to the project,” the statement read.

Inter Milan released an official statement confirming their departure. “FC Internazionale Milano confirms that the Club is no longer part of the Super League project,” the statement said.

AC Milan then released a statement announcing its withdrawal from the project. The Italian club said, “The voice and concerns of supporters throughout the world about the Super League project have been strong and clear, and our Club must remain sensitive and attentive to the opinion of those who love this sport”.

Juventus was the next club that left. “While Juventus remains convinced of the soundness of the project’s sport, commercial and legal premises, it believes that at present there are limited chances that the project be completed in the form originally conceived,” the club said. “Juventus remains committed to pursuing the creation of long-term value for the Company and the entire football industry.”

As of now, only FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have not officially left the league.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin had some heated words about the recent news surrounding the creation of the European Super League on the weekend.

Ceferin’s words were targeted towards Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli and Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. Both Juventus and Manchester United are two of the 12 clubs that are breaking away from their respective leagues to form the European Super League.

During a Sunday press conference, Ceferin referred to both of them as “snakes” before getting more in-depth.

If I start with Ed Woodward,” said Ceferin. “He called me last Thursday evening to say that he was very satisfied with the reforms and fully supportive. The only thing he wants to talk about was Financial Fair Play. Obviously, he had already signed something else.” 

“Andrea Agnelli is the biggest disappointment of all,” Ceferin said. “I have never seen a person that would lie so many times, so persistently as he did it is unbelievable.”

The UEFA president vowed that there would be repercussions towards the clubs and the players.

“The players who will play in the teams that might play in the closed league, will be banned from playing in the world cup and Europe” Ceferin said. “So, they will not be able to represent their national teams at any matches.”

The European Super League faced backlash shortly after the announcement of its formation on Monday. Football governing bodies and figures condemned the emerging competition.

Twelve clubs are currently members of the competition. The participating clubs are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Juventus, A.C. Milan, Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The chairman of the competition is Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez and the vice-chairmen are Liverpool director John W. Henry, Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli and Manchester United co chairman Joel Glazer. 

German and French clubs that include FC Bayern Munchen, Paris Saint Germain and Borussia Dortmund all announced that they will not participate in the The Super League. 

Manchester United legend Gary Neville condemned the competition. “The proposal will get kicked out because the fans will hate it, the governments will hate it, FIFA will hate, UEFA will hate it, the Premier League have come out already and say they hate it, you’ll hate it, I’ll hate it. And they are so disconnected from reality to think they could put this forward at any time, let alone now,” Neville said. “Honesty, I’d say I’ve got no words for them but I’ve had a lot of words.”

Neville claimed that the clubs who signed up for the Super League competition “should be deducted points” as a consequence. Neville also mentioned his former club Manchester United should be one of the clubs who should be deducted points for joining. 

UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin stated, “I cannot stress more strongly UEFA and the footballing world are united against the disgraceful, self-serving, proposals we have seen, fueled purely by greed. These are so-called big clubs, it is clear that the big clubs of today were not always big clubs. Juventus were in Serie B, Man United before Sir Alex Ferguson was I don’t know where.”

Ceferin added that the participating clubs will face sanctions and players could be banned from playing the European Championship and World Cup. 

Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung Min suffered racist abuse on social media after the Manchester United game. 

Son Heung Min scored his side’s only goal in the 3-1 defeat against Manchester United. He was also involved in a controversial moment during the game when he was perceived to be fouled by Manchester United player Scott McTominay in the build up to Edinson Cavani’s goal. The VAR then canceled Cavani’s goal. 

Son Heung Min was subjected to racist messages on Twitter and Instagram. As a result, Tottenham released a statement on the matter.

The statement read, “Another matchday and more abhorrent racial abuse suffered by one of our players”. 

Additionally, the club vowed to take action. “This has again been reported to the platforms and we shall now undertake a full review alongside the Premier League to determine the most effective action moving forward,” read Tottenham’s statement.

This is not the first time a Tottenham football player suffered racist abuse on social media. In fact, defender Davinson Sanchez recently received racist messages on social media after Tottenham’s 2-2 draw against Newcastle United. 

Liverpool trio Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander Arnold and Naby Keita all received racist messages following Liverpool’s Champions League loss against Real Madrid last week.

In the meantime, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry announced he would quit social media. Henry told CNN Sport that social media is “not a safe place”.  

Both Twitter and Facebook condemned the racist abuse on their platforms. A Facebook spokesperson claimed, “We do not want it on Instagram and we have removed a number of comments and accounts that broke our rules.” 

Facebook vowed to take action and claimed, “We share the goal of tackling online abuse and holding people who share it accountable. We do this by taking action on content and accounts that break our rules and cooperating with law enforcement when we receive a valid legal request.”