Off the Pitch

World soccer governing body FIFA's appeal committee confirmed on Friday its three-year ban on Luis Rubiales after dismissing an appeal by the former head of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Rubiales was banned for three years from all football-related activities on Oct. 30 after kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips, allegedly without consent, following Spain's Women's World Cup final win over England in August.

Every major downtown area in the United States needs a good soccer stadium as a gathering place for footy fans in our opinion. A new $60 million Omaha soccer stadium will now provide Nebraska with one of its own.

USL 1 club Union Omaha only came into existence five years ago and began playing in 2020. In a few short years the Owls have achieved major landmarks and have revealed plans for a state-of-the-art 7,000-seater stadium.

Omaha soccer stadium

A Gio Reyna Nottingham Forest loan move could be on the table as the United States men’s national team attacking midfielder seeks playing time.

Reyna has seen miniscule action with Borussia Dortmund this season as manager Edin Terzic has opted to use basically anyone not named Reyna. The 21-year-old American has only started one Bundesliga game for Dortmund in the 2023-24 campaign and is only used as a late substitute.

Reyna’s next destination could be a completely new kind of challenge as he’s in talks with a loan move to Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest.

Palestine and Syria qualified for the knockout stages of the Asian Cup for the first time on Tuesday with victories in their last group matches.

Syria beat India 1-0 after Omar Khribin -- the 2017 Asian Footballer of the Year -- netted in the 76th minute to give the Middle Eastern side their first goal of the tournament.

Syria finished with four points and the AFC later clarified that they are also through to the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams across all groups "regardless of final results from other groups".

Legendary United States women’s national team midfielder Sam Mewis has announced her retirement from professional soccer at 31 years old.

Mewis, who won the World Cup with the USWNT in 2019, said that her prolonged knee injury is the reason for hanging up her boots.

The initial knee injury took place in 2017 and was a serious issue with her knee cartilage. She battled through the injury and competed in the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympics, but needed another surgery in January 2023.

Former Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has taken on the role of player development coach at Los Angeles FC, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club said on Tuesday.

Chiellini LAFC coach role

Giorgio Chiellini start his new career as he will remain with LAFC as a Player Development Coach, club has confirmed. pic.twitter.com/0ohKJ5xW7d

AS Roma named their former player Daniele De Rossi as their new manager until the end of the season, hours after parting ways with manager José Mourinho on Tuesday.

Mourinho was sacked earlier in the day with Roma ninth in the league after Sunday's 3-1 loss to AC Milan, and have struggled to overcome the loss of key players due to injury, including striker Paulo Dybala.

They are 22 points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

Mourinho crying in car after Roma sacking

United States women’s national team right back Emily Fox is the latest American player to make the switch from NWSL to Europe. Fox left the North Carolina Courage to join Women’s Super League side Arsenal.

Welcome to The Arsenal, Emily Fox ✍️

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) January 11, 2024