Soccer

10/9/2024 |  Valencia monitoring situation of fans reportedly detained in Singapore after criticizing club owner (Associated Press (AP)) VALENCIA, Spain (AP) — Spanish soccer club Valencia said Tuesday it was in contact with the Spanish embassy in Singapore to monitor the situation of two of its fans reportedly detained there for criticizing the club’s Singaporean owner.

10/9/2024 |  Judge declines bid by New Hampshire parents to protest transgender players at school soccer games (Associated Press (AP))

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday declined to grant an immediate order sought by some New Hampshire parents to allow them to wear pink wristbands with “XX” on them at girls high school soccer games to protest transgender girls playing.

10/9/2024 |  Saudi Arabia pays for naming rights to Atlético Madrid’s stadium for 9 years (Associated Press (AP)) MADRID (AP) — Saudi Arabia has consolidated its branding push with Atlético Madrid by paying for naming rights to the Spanish club’s stadium for the next nine years.
Atlético, which has been sponsored by Saudi state-owned Riyadh Air since last season, said Wednesday that its Metropolitano stadium will be known as the Riyadh Air Metropolitano henceforth until 2033.

10/9/2024 |  Mbappé among stars missing from Nations League while European teams eye World Cup qualifying (Associated Press (AP)) GENEVA (AP) — In a congested soccer season where elite players have aired the idea of going on strike, the Nations League returns this week looking less than a top priority.
France captain Kylian Mbappé opted to stay away, his probable deputy Antoine Griezmann retired from the national team, and Romelu Lukaku asked to work on his fitness at new club Napoli rather than join the Belgium camp.

10/9/2024 |  Major League Soccer sets all-time attendance record in Lionel Messi’s first full season (CNN Sports)              More than 11 million fans have attended Major League Soccer matches this year, breaking the regular season attendance record.
With 16 games still remaining before the start of the MLS Cup playoffs, the total has already surpassed the previous record of 10,900,804 set in 2023. The average attendance across the league is 23,240, and it is the third year in a row that MLS crowds have totaled more than 10 million during the regular season.