Controversial

¡Sí era penal! Huge penalty not called on Chucky Lozano as Napoli exit the Champions League

AC Milan are in the Champions League semifinals after drawing Napoli 1-1 (for a 2-1 in aggregate) in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Rossoneri will play this stage for the first time since the 2006-07 season, but the history could have been completely different if referee Szymon Marciniak and VAR had not looked to the other side in a clear penalty not called on Mexican winger Hirving "Chucky" Lozano. 

I get that it could have been difficult to see it in real-time, but what were they doing at VAR? Watching Looney Tunes?

¡Insólito! La suerte del 13 o por qué Querétaro no puede clasificar al repechaje de la Liga MX

La Liga MX es como ninguna otra liga de fútbol en el mundo y una regla exclusiva al balompié mexicano haría posible que un equipo que quede en el lugar 13 de 18 se clasifique a la fase final del torneo. No, no es broma.

Y todo tiene que ver con Querétaro.

Google AI simply instructed to score uses self-learning to devise new techniques, tactics

On Sunday's episode of 60 Minutes, correspondent Scott Pelley visited Google's AI lab in London for a segment looking at how the company was getting robots to play soccer.

The robots weren't programmed by humans — they learned the game themselves after only being instructed to score goals. From there the AI program went about devouring motion capture technology and testing different moves for about two weeks.

Through this system of trial and error, the robots just got better and better with more practice.

Dante Vanzeir gets six-game suspension for using racial slur during MLS match

Major League Soccer handed a six-game suspension to New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir on Thursday in response to his admitted use of racist language last Saturday in a game against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The ban applies to MLS games, but during the duration of the suspension, Vanzeir is also prohibited from appearing in U.S. Open Cup games, MLS Next Pro games and exhibition games.

What's going on with James Rodríguez?

There was a time when James Rodríguez had the world at his feet. After a sublime 2014 World Cup, his name was everywhere. Then, Real Madrid decided to sign him, and his global recognition and fame levels went wild.

James was a hot item and had enough sauce to become a king.

But suddenly, he did not. Circa 2017, the Colombian entered into a weird downward spiral that currently has him looking for a new gig. 

Ivan Toney won't like this: Gambling sponsorships banned by English Premier League

The English Premier League and its clubs have announced they will not allow gambling sponsorships on the front of matchday kits following the culmination of the 2025-26 season. This decision comes as the UK aims to tighten its laws on betting and attempts to promote the use of gambling in a safer, more responsible way. 

Philadelphia Union stun Atlas to reach Champions League semifinals

Julián Carranza's second goal of the night, in the 78th minute, lifted the Philadelphia Union to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Atlas on Wednesday in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the conclusion of a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series.

The Union escaped with a 2-2 draw in Mexico after beating Atlas 1-0 in Chester, PA, on April 4 in the two-game, total-goal series. Philadelphia moves on to a semifinal series against Los Angeles FC, with the first leg scheduled for the last week of April and the second legs due to be played in the first week of May.

Alleged racial abuse and Dénis Bouanga's hot streak: 5 takeaways from MLS Matchweek 7

MLS Matchweek 7 proved severely dichotomous to the league’s image. Fans were treated to the best that MLS offers with individual brilliance, age-defying heroes, local rivalries and close games. However, it was an alleged incident that occurred between San Jose and New York that left an extremely sour taste in fans' mouths.

FIFA confirms the U.S. is still better at soccer than Germany and Mexico in latest rankings

The United States men’s national team plays soccer better than the likes of Germany and rivals Mexico. FIFA confirmed this on Thursday in the latest world rankings.

FIFA last released the men’s rankings on Dec. 22, 2022.

The USMNT didn’t see any movement as the Stars and Stripes remain the 13th best nation in the world. Germany sits 14th while Mexico fills out the top 15.

This could be a fun USWNT starting XI vs. Ireland on Saturday

By the time the USWNT and Ireland wrap-up their two-match friendly series next Tuesday at CityPark, there'll be less than 100 days before the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 

So although the U.S. holds a 13-0-0 advantage all-time against the Girls in Green (outscoring them 48 to one in the process), there'll be plenty of internal battles to focus on at Q2 Stadium in Austin on Saturday before the second game in St. Louis three days later. 

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