Europe

A Club Marked For Death: Derby County's Battle For Survival Being Fought On And Off The Pitch

After a chaotic final day of the 2020-21 EFL Championship campaign — during which Derby County was relegated, safe, relegated, then finally safe again, all within the space of 90 minutes — the Rams had secured their status as a Championship side.

At least that's what the final table said. The club still awaited judgment from the EFL regarding serious breaches of financial fair play regulations. In the end, the Rams were spared a points deduction and stayed in the second tier.

Juventus, Bayern Munich And Brazil Star Douglas Costa Joins LA Galaxy As Designated Player

Brazil international Douglas Costa has signed for Los Angeles Galaxy, the Major League Soccer club said on Thursday, as the winger completed an initial loan move from Brazil's Grêmio that will become a permanent deal to the end of the 2023 season.

Michael Antonio Questions Swift Response To Zouma Cat Video When Nothing's Ever Done About Racism

West Ham United's Michail Antonio questioned the logic of people asking for teammate Kurt Zouma to be "sacked" after a video emerged of Zouma abusing his cats, with the striker asking if what the Frenchman did was worse than those guilty of racism.

Cat Missing For Seven Months Reunited With Owner After Feline Invaded League One Game

Meet Topsey. 

A wild pitch invader pauses a League One game.

Topsey is a funny little feline who escaped from her owners in June 2021 and has since been roaming the streets of Sheffield. Seven months after disappearing, Topsey came out of hiding on Tuesday in the form of invading a League One game between Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan.

Chicago Fire Sign Alpine Messi, Immediately Rename Him Lake Michigan Messi

The Chicago Fire have signed Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri from Olympique Lyonnais on a contract until 2024, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club announced on Wednesday, bringing a swift end to his time with the French side.

Shaqiri only joined Lyon from Liverpool in August to strengthen the Ligue 1 side's attacking options but scored just twice in 16 appearances in all competitions.

Lionel Messi's New Adidas Signature Cleats Are Straight Out Of El Dorado

There aren't many symbols in the footballing world that indicate "it's business time" quite like Marta's red lipstick or Cristiano Ronaldo's noodle hair, but Lionel Messi taking out the gold cleats is quickly getting there.

Kurt Zouma’s Cats Taken From Him For Animal Abuse; West Ham Player Fined ‘Maximum Amount’

LONDON — West Ham United player Kurt Zouma's cats are being cared for by animal charity the RSPCA after a video emerged showing the Frenchman kicking one pet across the floor, and Vitality said it was suspending its sponsorship of the Premier League club over its handling of the incident.

Over-Performing Underdogs: The "Burnleys" of European Football

Every league has that one team that isn't really all that good but just seems to hang around for far longer than they should. They don't spend much, they don't play entertaining football, and they never really win any big games. Yet when the season ends, they are always mid-table.

In the 2010s, that team in England was Wigan Athletic, as Roberto Martínez's brand of "Guerilla Soccer" kept an underfunded Latics side in the Premier League for eight years.

Police Choose Not To Investigate Disturbing Video Of Kurt Zouma Slapping And Kicking His Cat

Update: After initially choosing not to look into the incident, police are now launching enquiries about the Zouma incident.

A truly horrifying Kurt Zouma cat video was leaked onto the internet Monday that showed the West Ham defender abusing his cat while people laughed. In the video he's seen slapping, kicking and throwing shoes at one of his two felines.

Viewer discretion is advised as the videos are disturbing.

Minnows Making Moves: A Brief History Of Non-League Clubs To Reach The FA Cup Fifth Round

After six rounds of qualifying and three rounds of the competition proper, just two non-league sides remained among the 32 clubs still alive in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

After Kidderminster Harriers carried a lead into second-half injury time but couldn't earn the result against West Ham, Boreham Wood was left as the only remaining non-league side in the competition.

With a difficult trip to Bournemouth in store, it appeared to be the demise for fans of the underdog. Then, the inexplicable happened.

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