Former Senegal midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, who scored the first goal of the 2002 World Cup against France, has died at the age of 42, world governing body FIFA said on Sunday.
"FIFA is saddened to learn of the passing of Senegal legend Papa Bouba Diop. Once a World Cup hero, always a World Cup hero," the world governing body said in a statement on Twitter.
Since the untimely death of Diego Maradona earlier this week, we’ve seen tributes to the iconic figure all across the footballing world, from the Champions League to MLS. But Maradona’s influence was not limited to the sport he singlehandedly redefined, as Saturday’s All Blacks Maradona tribute illustrated.
The shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his famous "Hand Of God" goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico could be available for $2 million following the Argentine's death on Wednesday, says an American sports memorabilia expert.
The shirt is owned by former England player Steve Hodge, who got it from Maradona after the match in which his attempted back pass led to the controversial goal that helped dump England out of the tournament which Argentina went on to win in Mexico.
Rose Lavelle and Kristie Mewis scored when the U.S. women's national team played for the first time since March in a 2-0 win against the Netherlands 2-0 at Rat Verlegh Stadium in Breda, Netherlands, on Friday.
Lavelle made it 1-0 in the 41st minute and Mewis, who replaced Lavelle in the 61st minute, extended the lead in the 70th.
We wear Black Lives Matter to affirm human decency. This is not political, it’s a statement on human rights. pic.twitter.com/QHDAx4iv7k
In this video, we take a look at a few of the fastest goals ever scored in professional soccer games. Alex Morgan tallied her fastest goal around 10 seconds after the U.S. began playing Costa Rica. Not to be outdone, Saudi Arabian Nawaf Al-Abed scored just 2 seconds into his match.
The head of African football, Ahmad Ahmad, has been banned from football for five years by FIFA following an ethics investigation by world soccer's governing body.
Ahmad, who is president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), had intended to stand in an election in March in which he would have faced a number of challengers. FIFA said in a statement the independent Ethics Committee has found Ahmad guilty of offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, and misappropriation of funds.
Brazil's six-times world player of the year Marta has tested positive for COVID-19, the country's soccer governing body (CBF) said on Saturday.
Marta, 34, has been withdrawn from the national team that is set to face Ecuador in two friendly matches at home on Nov. 27 and Dec. 1.
FIFA has banned Haiti's football federation president Yves Jean-Bart for life after finding him guilty of sexually harassing and abusing multiple female players, including minors, global soccer's governing body said on Friday.
FIFA provisionally suspended Jean-Bart in May while it investigated multiple allegations against him by victims, their friends and family members detailing how he coerced girls into sex by threatening they would lose their places in national team programm. Jean-Bart has denied the allegations.
France's Mélody Donchet and Norway's Erlend Fagerli are the Red Bull Freestyle world champions.
FIFA is to introduce new regulations to protect the rights of women players, including mandatory maternity leave, world soccer's governing body said on Thursday.
The reforms have been put forward by FIFA's Football Stakeholders Committee (FSC) and will go to FIFA's Council next month for approval.
While many players in Europe are already protected by employment law in their given countries, FIFA says its aim is to create "new global minimum standards" for female players all over the world, given the rapid emergence of new clubs and leagues globally.