Off the Pitch

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned from soccer for 10 months over breaches of rules on betting on matches in Italy, the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Thursday.

Tonali was sanctioned with an 18-month ban, eight of which will be commuted to alternative treatment, after an agreement was reached with the Federal Prosecutor's Office, the FIGC confirmed.

It will rule Tonali out for the remainder of the club season and next summer's Euro 2024 tournament should Italy qualify.

Serie B club Como 1907 took a new spin on releasing their squad’s group picture with what is being called the most beautiful team photo ever.

Rather than the typical sports team photo of the entire squad sitting on a bench, Como 1907 have gone full Renaissance to separate themselves from the rest of the world and share Lake Como’s culture with the world.

The name and logo for San Diego’s new Major League Soccer team were leaked and it’s the worst we’ve ever seen. 

San Diego’s ownership group paid a staggering record expansion fee of $500 million to become the 30th team in the league. Imagine dropping half a billion dollars for a crest and logo that looks — and pardon my French — this dogshit.

United States men’s national team captain and Bournemouth defensive midfielder Tyler Adams is expected to be out until February 2024 with a hamstring issue.

Adams already missed six months of action this year after suffering a hamstring injury that required surgery in March.

The 24-year-old made one appearance for his new club Bournemouth in September before reaggravating his hamstring issue.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah on Wednesday called for an end to what he described as "massacres" in Gaza, saying humanitarian aid must immediately be allowed into the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Salah released a video message on his social media accounts, making his first comments on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict after coming in for some fierce criticism in his native Egypt for staying silent on the issue for over a week.

Forbes’ latest report of the highest paid soccer players 2023 reveals that Cristiano Ronaldo has skyrocketed to reclaim No. 1 on the list. Forbes accounts for players’ salaries and off-field income.

Alex Morgan and San Diego Wave FC finished top of the NWSL table on Sunday in the club’s second-ever season. Morgan and the team were awarded the NWSL Shield trophy and to say the silverware was underwhelming is an understatement.

NWSL Shield trophy disappoints

After 22 games San Diego Wave triumphed after a hotly contested season with just six points separating first and seventh.

Finishing top of the table is a remarkable reward and deserves a trophy that reflects that. The NWSL Shield is reflective alright, but that’s because it’s a pie platter… not a shield.

Former United States women’s national team players Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris are getting a divorce after marrying in 2019. “Krashlyn” is no more after many years together. Harris filed for a divorce from Krieger last month with fans discovering the news this week.