EPL teams not to take knee before every match
LONDON, Aug 3: Premier League players will no longer take the knee ahead of every match, but will do so at “significant moments” during the upcoming season in a gesture against racism. The gesture, which started in June 2020 to show support for the Black Lives Matter campaign, will now be used more sparingly in order to “amplify the message that racism has no place in football or society.” Premier League captains agreed that teams will take the knee ahead of this weekend’s opening round of games, for dedicated “No Room for Racism” matches in October and March, on Boxing Day, the final round of the season and the FA Cup and League Cup finals. (AP)
England-US eves’ game sells 65,000 tickets in 24 hours
LONDON, Aug 3: England’s women’s football team is continuing to generate unprecedented fan interest following its European Championship victory, with 65,000 tickets sold in less than 24 hours for its planned game against the United States at Wembley Stadium in October. The game pitting the European champion against the reigning world champion was announced on Tuesday by England’s Football Association and will be played Oct. 7, subject to England having secured World Cup qualification in September. The Lionesses’ official Twitter account on Wednesday said: “YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. 65,000 tickets have already been sold for our October international against the United States!” The ticketing website briefly crashed on Tuesday amid the huge demand. (AP)
EA Sports to become La Liga title sponsor in 2023
MADRID, Aug 3: EA Sports will become the title sponsor of the Spanish league beginning in 2023-24. The league said on Tuesday the videogaming company will replace Spain-based bank Santander, which is entering its final season as the main sponsor of the second-richest European domestic league. The league and EA Sports signed a multi-year contract, though further details on the deal were not immediately released. The Spanish sports daily Marca said EA Sports will pay 30 million euros ($30.7 million) a season to the Spanish league in the rebranding agreement that includes the first and second divisions and other league-related competitions, including for youth squads and e-sports. (AP)
Int’l Latvian footballer Rubins passes away aged 43
RIGA (Latvia), Aug 3: Latvian soccer player Andrejs Rubins, who played 117 times for the national team, has died at the age of 43, the country’s football federation said Wednesday. Rubins wore the No 10 shirt when Latvia qualified for its only major tournament, the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, and started all three games, including a 0-0 draw with Germany. The football federation did not give details about his death. Rubins played for clubs in England, Sweden, Russia and Azerbaijan, including three years at Crystal Palace between 2000-03. He retired in 2012. “The thoughts of everyone associated with Crystal Palace are with Andrejs’ loved ones at this truly sad time,” the Premier League club said in a statement. (AP)
Former Peru captain Reynoso appointed coach of natl team
Lima (Peru), Aug 3: Former captain Juan Reynoso was appointed as coach of Peru’s national team, replacing Ricardo Gareca. The 52-year-old Reynoso was hired “with the clear objective of (reaching) the 2026 World Cup,” Peru’s soccer federation said. Gareca four years ago led the Peruvians to their first World Cup since 1982, but he failed to get the squad to this year’s tournament in Qatar. Reynoso, who was a defender for Peru for 15 years, will speak about his new role in a press conference scheduled for Wednesday. His latest job was at Mexico’s Cruz Azul, which he led to a first league title since 1997 last year. (AP)