Off the Pitch

MANCHESTER — While the 2023 women's World Cup featured record prize money, many of the tournament's players still lack adequate financial compensation and one in five supplement their income with a second job, according to a FIFPRO poll released on Wednesday.

The global players union found that one in three of those World Cup players earn less than $30,000 a year from soccer from their national team and clubs combined. That figure does not include the pre-tax $30,000 minimum World Cup prize money that players were guaranteed from FIFA.

LONDON — Measures to improve player behavior and increase respect for match officials were supported at the law-making International Football Association Board (IFAB) annual meeting on Tuesday.

A proposed trial whereby only the team captain may approach the referee in certain game situations was backed and it was also agreed that temporary dismissals for dissent and specific tactical offences should be trialled at higher levels.

Sin bins (similar to hockey's penalty box) have already had a successful implementation in grassroots football.

Norway and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has offered to pay for fans of his former club Bryne FK to attend the team's playoff game on Saturday.

Second-tier Bryne, Haaland's boyhood club, have reached the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and have a chance of getting promoted to Norway's Eliteserien.

Haaland, 23, will cover the cost of the train trip for around 200 fans, around $16,000.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Argentina captain Lionel Messi accused the Brazilian police of brutality as the start of their World Cup qualifier against Brazil was delayed by half an hour after clashes between police and visiting fans at Maracanã Stadium on Tuesday.

Brazilian and Argentine fans started fighting behind one of the goals during the national anthems, prompting police to charge at the travelling contingent with night sticks drawn.

Megan Rapinoe is on her path to recovery after tearing her Achilles tendon in the NWSL Championship game. The OL Reign forward’s injury was devastating for her fans and former teammates like USWNT star Christen Press who says she cried when it happened.

On an episode of “THE RE-CAP Show” featuring Press and Tobin Heath, the Angel City forward admitted that she teared up when Rapinoe went down injured.

Everton became the first Premier League club to be deducted points for breaching profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) on Friday, when the league docked the Merseyside club 10 points over their finances in the 2020-21 season.

An independent commission imposed an immediate deduction which will see Everton drop from 14th in the standings into the relegation zone with four points, above bottom side Burnley on goal difference.

The club described the decision as unjust and said it would appeal.