Controversial

Sweden's top leagues will not look to implement a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system after clubs voiced their opposition to the technology, Swedish Football Association (SvFF) Chairman Fredrik Reinfeldt said.

VAR has consistently been at the center of controversy in leagues where it has been introduced, with complaints ranging from its extensive analysis of close offside calls to delays that often drag on for several minutes.

Sweden VAR rejection 

LONDON — Holders Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 with a late Bernardo Silva goal on Saturday to reach the FA Cup final after an absorbing end-to-end Wembley semi-final.

Silva sidefooted the ball home in the 84th minute after Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic parried a shot from former Blues midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

BERNARDO SILVA PUTS CITY AHEAD OF CHELSEA LATE IN THE FA CUP SEMIFINAL!!! pic.twitter.com/E6vvWnt23J

Former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez provided fans with a scorching hot take and interesting debate. 

Appearing on the podcast “Phrasenmäher”, Gómez made the argument that Manuel Neuer’s legacy is just as important to the sport as Lionel Messi’s.

"I would put Manuel Neuer on the same level as Messi in terms of importance in football history," Gómez said. "I don't know if we're all aware of what we experienced with a goalkeeper who revolutionized the game! We'll only understand this 20 years from now."

Does Gómez have a point?

Tigres UANL goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman has been banned for 11 matches by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) after aiming a laser pointer at Monterrey stopper Esteban Andrada during a LIGA MX match on Sunday.

In videos of the incident posted on social media, Guzman, who was injured and sitting in the stands, could be seen directing the laser pointer at the Monterrey players including Andrada in the match, which ended 3-3.

Nahuel Guzman laser pointer incident

BARCELONA — Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez berated the referee and said his performance cost Barcelona a chance to fight for a place in the Champions League semi-finals after they lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday.

Werder Bremen have suspended midfielder Naby Keita until the end of the season and fined the Guinean after he did not travel with the team for their Bundesliga match against Bayer Leverkusen upon learning that he would not be in the starting line-up.

Bremen, who suffered a 5-0 defeat by Leverkusen on Sunday, said the 29-year-old will no longer train with the team or be in the dressing room.

Naby Keita suspended

With VAR’s introduction to the world of soccer it’s become incredibly rare when a goal that shouldn’t count stands. That was the case on Thursday with a failed offside call during Roma’s 1-0 victory vs. AC Milan in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals.

The peculiar situation happened in the first half when Roma sprung an attack through Romelu Lukaku who appeared to be in an offside position.

Lukaku offside vs Milan

United States women’s national team head coach Twila Kilgore turned heads with her starting XI for the SheBelieves Cup semifinal vs. Japan on Saturday. Korbin Albert will start the game on the bench and Mallory Swanson returns for the first time in a year.

Swanson last started a game with the USWNT on April 8, 2023, when she suffered a severe knee injury. She’s back in the starting XI for the first time since.

USWNT starting XI vs Japan

The XI to get us started in Atlanta

All eyes will be on the United States women’s national team starting XI on Saturday ahead of the SheBelieves Cup semifinal vs. Japan. The elephant in the room is obvious. Will Korbin Albert start the game?

Under normal circumstances Albert starting in the midfield for the USWNT would be a no brainer. She was terrific for the team alongside Sam Coffey during the Concacaf W Gold Cup and broke her way into the starting XI.

We're not sure how Tebas is going to come back from this one.

At the Intellectual Property Summit held in Miami, Florida — an event that examines the impact of IP awareness on innovation, creative expression, commerce and society — controverial LaLiga president Javier Tebas launched himself into a passionate critique over the normalized leniency toward piracy punishments for illegally streaming soccer matches and tournaments.

He then proceeded to make perhaps the worst comparison we’ve ever seen.