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The ex-Virginia Tech soccer player who was penalized over her refusal to kneel during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest will reportedly be awarded a $100,000 settlement. What's the background? Kiersten Hening claimed that she had lost her starting position on Virginia Tech's Hokies women's soccer team after she elected not to take part in a so-called pre-game unity ceremony on Sept. 12, 2020, in support of the scandal-plagued BLM movement. She indicated that her refusal was met by a "campaign of abuse and retaliation" launched by Hokies coach Charles "Chugger" Adair. Hening had been a midfielder/defender for the team...

Italy football great Gianluca Vialli has died aged 58 after what he described as his "journey" with an "unwelcome travel companion" -- pancreatic cancer. Vialli announced in December that he was stepping away from his role with the Italian national federation for health reasons after consultation with his oncologists. Vialli had publicly struggled with cancer for years. He first announced that he'd been treated in 2018 but said he was 'very well' in an interview with an Italian newspaper. Another bout with the disease swiftly followed in 2019, before his former team Chelsea announced he'd been 'given the all-clear' in...

Claudio Reyna, former American and international club soccer star and father of current USMNT player Gio Reyna, and his wife Daneille were the ones who threatened to reveal a troubling incident involving current head coach Gregg Berhalter from when he was 18 years old to U.S. soccer executives, according to a report by ESPN. The call took place on Dec. 11, per ESPN. Danielle confirmed in a statement to FOX Sports that she reported the incident to USSF sporting director Earnie Stewart not long after the ESPN report went live. The incident in question was a decades-old act of domestic...

Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United in controversial fashion, the club announced Friday. Ronaldo signed a contract through the summer of 2025 and, according to reports, will receive $75 million per year to make him the highest paid player in history. Sources did not dispute that figure to ESPN. "I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country," Ronaldo said in Al-Nassr's statement announcing the deal. "The vision of what Al Nassr are doing and developing in Saudi Arabia both in terms of men's and women's football is very inspiring....

Orchestrated hostility toward Israel: Morocco is not in Palestine You just have to like World Cup outsiders Morocco – don't you? Adding an anti-Semitic touch to the joy makes things difficult. Palestine plays along: Morocco's team after reaching the quarter-finals How could we not be happy that Morocco has one of the eight best football teams in the world ! Finally a team that doesn't come from Europe or South America! In addition - and now follows an interpretation that is surprisingly seldom read at present - a North African team that has gradually chased one colonial power after the...

Pelé, the Brazilian soccer icon who brought the World Cup trophy to his home country three times, becoming an international superstar and the highest-paid team athlete in the world at the time, has died. He was 82. Pelé's health had been deteriorating as he aged. Doctors at Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo said in late December that he was receiving "elevated care" related to "kidney and cardiac dysfunctions" stemming from the cancer he had been fighting for more than a year. He also had a respiratory infection, and his family said he would be staying in the hospital over...

Argentina's euphoric World Cup celebrations descended into chaos yesterday as violence broke out on the streets of Buenos Aires between fans and riot police after their star players were forced to evacuate to safety by helicopter. Officers armed with shields and batons were pelted with missiles at the Obelisco monument in the country's capital hours after fans tried to jump into the bus during the victory parade to meet Lionel Messi and his teammates. The World Cup heroes were met with a heaving crowd of an estimated five million fans who blocked their path to the Obelisco, then had to...

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in soccer as Argentina beat France 4-2 in a penalty shootout Sunday to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Gonzalo Montiel scored the clinching penalty kick as Argentina won after a 3-3 draw.

The Washington Post was forced to issue a correction to an op-ed piece that lamented the absence of black players on Argentina’s national soccer team — even though the black population of the South American country is less than 1%.

PARIS — According to reports, watching soccer is finally interesting as France descends into fiery chaos after a Morocco semi-final loss. "Wow, now THIS is entertaining," said one viewer while watching a Morocco supporter beating up a French guy with a stale baguette while several others lit the Louvre on fire. "Look at all the fighting and explosions! Why can't soccer always be like this?" Early reports indicate World Cup viewership is now at an all-time high as people around the world tune in to see massive, fiery street brawls. "Who knew watching soccer could be such an engaging experience?"...

An Iranian soccer player will be hanged as a punishment of protesting against the death of Mahsa Amini. Amir Nasr-Azadani, 26, was arrested in November in connection to the murders of a police colonel and two volunteer militia members, according to Iran Wire. Nasr-Azadani has also been accused of “waging war against God.” Amini died suddenly in mid-September while in custody after being arrested for allegedly improperly wearing a hijab. Witnesses have said Amini was beaten by Guidance Patrol, but the Iranian government has said she suffered a heart attack. The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) said they were...

Drew Gilpin Faust Office of the President Harvard University Massachusetts Hall Cambridge, MA 02138 USA Dear Dr. Faust: This letter is being sent to you on behalf of the Qatar Awareness Campaign Coalition. The purpose is to inform you and the public of the activities of Qatar. Harvard University is assisting the Qatar Foundation to establish a law school in Doha, in order to “revitalize legal education in the Middle East, and represent Islamic and Arabic legal traditions in the global dialogue on legal and governance issues.” These traditions include Sharia law. Harvard University is arguably the greatest institution of...

'European democracy is under attack': Roberta Metsola addresses EU Parliament corruption scandal By Euronews • Updated: 13/12/2022 - 11:31 Roberta Metsola address the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, France. Roberta Metsola address the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, France. - Copyright Philippe BUISSIN/ European Union 2022 - Source : EP Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, warned on Monday that there would be "no impunity" for those found guilty of corruption as she addressed what is perhaps the gravest graft scandal to hit the hemicycle in recent years. "Make no mistake, the European Parliament, dear colleague, is under...

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has achieved the unity of the Arab people, and proved that it is their meeting place," Qatar Press Center president Saad Mohamed al-Rumaihi said. He was speaking on the sidelines of a panel discussion on the 'Western campaigns against Qatar and the Arab countries, organised by Qatar Press Center (QPC) in co-operation with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Sunday. "Today, the entire Arab world, east and west, north and south, stands behind the Moroccan national team. They all support the Lions of the Atlantic and hope that the Moroccan national team will reach the...

Second journalist suddenly dies covering FIFA World Cup 'He told me he received death threats!' | 01:05 Staff Writers from News.com.au December 12th, 2022 1:25 pm A second journalist has died while covering the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Gulf Times reports Qatari photojournalist Khalid al-Misslam passed away “suddenly” on the weekend. The Qatar news outlet wrote: “Al- Misslam, a Qatari, died suddenly while covering the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. We believe in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for him, and send our deepest condolences to his family.” Al-Misslam worked for the Qatari news channel Al Kass TV and...

There's been an epic upset at the World Cup in Qatar. Croatia beat tournament favorite and #1 world ranked Brazil 1-1 (4-2) in a gut-wrenching penalty kick shootout. Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, who blocked three shots in an earlier shootout with Japan, blocked the first kick, by Brazilian forward Rodrygo. From there, Croatia was successful on four straight shots. When veteran defender Marquinhos stepped up for Brazil's fourth attempt, he needed to convert or the match was over. His shot hit the left post, and the Croatian team erupted in joy. Meanwhile, Brazilian fans clad in the team's iconic yellow...

Soccer player objectively played fewer minutes after refusing to kneel for coach’s woke agenda A Virginia Tech female soccer player who alleged that she lost playing time after refusing to go along with the woke agenda of her coach can continue her First Amendment lawsuit, a judge ruled recently. Former soccer player Kierstien Hening’s suit against coach Charles “Chugger” Aidair can proceed, federal Judge Thomas Cullen announced on December 2. Aidair moved to dismiss the lawsuit, but Cullen ruled Hening’s suit could continue. The issue arose during the fall 2020 season, after the Black Lives Matter riots over the summer...

The football player, Cristiano Ronaldo, has agreed to join a top Saudi team in a contract worth over $200 million per year, according to a media report. Following Portugal's match against Ghana last week during the ongoing World Cup games, in which Ronaldo made history by becoming the first player to score in five World Cups, CBS Sports reported that Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr Club was ready to present the famed player with a three-year deal. No confirmation was publicly made at the time. The 37-year-old Portugal captain and former Manchester United player has now reportedly agreed to a $207...

U.S. — After the men's national team was dealt a crushing 1-3 loss by the Netherlands, the United States expressed deep relief to no longer have to go on pretending to like soccer. "Hoo-boy, I didn't think I could keep that up another day," said local man Aaron Bronson. "Thank God for the Dutch!" After twelve grueling days of trying to get excited about a ball mostly being passed backward, celebrations broke out across America as its World Cup run came to a close. "I know we only have to fake being soccer fans every four years, but it's been...

FULL TIME: The United States national team’s 2022 World Cup, a campaign begun with high hopes, marred by a scary injury to its star and then undone by three simple goals on a cool night outside of Qatar’s capital, is over after a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.