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Deadspin | Report: U.S. Soccer sporting director leaves for role with Saudi Arabia  Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images   Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported.  The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim.  Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino.  The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.   “I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.”  Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported.  “If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #Arabia

Deadspin | Report: U.S. Soccer sporting director leaves for role with Saudi Arabia
Deadspin | Report: U.S. Soccer sporting director leaves for role with Saudi Arabia  Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images   Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported.  The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim.  Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino.  The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.   “I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.”  Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported.  “If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #ArabiaDec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported.

The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim.

Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino.


The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.

“I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.”

Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported.

“If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #Arabia

Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported.

The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim.

Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.

“I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.”

Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported.

“If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.”

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #Arabia

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Bundesliga 2025-26: Bayern manager Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’ <div id="content-body-70862338" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as interim coach of Union Berlin — ​the first woman to coach a top-flight team ‌in Germany — is a special moment that ​will open doors for young girls ⁠in the sport, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said on Tuesday.</p><p>On Saturday Eta became the first female coach ‌to lead a Bundesliga team when she was appointed as interim coach at ‌Union.</p><p>“I am actually really happy (with Eta’s ‌appointment),” ⁠Kompany told a press conference ahead of ⁠its Champions League return leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday.</p><p>“I think these are key moments. It is easy to ​minimise them and ‌say ‘she is just a coach like everybody else and that is how we have to treat her as colleagues’.</p><p>“But in the end ‌it is something special,” the Belgian added. “It ​opens a lot of opportunities to little girls who now play football and ⁠think ‘I can coach anywhere, make a real career and be successful’. These stories are really important.</p><p>“I ‌wish her all the best and the only part I wish she is not treated like a man, is being patient with her, because the coaching job lacks patience on the leadership level.”</p><p><b>ALSO READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/champions-league/bayern-munich-vs-real-madrid-uefa-champions-league-2025-26-second-leg-manuel-neuer-comments-press-conference/article70862164.ece" target="_self">UCL 2025-26 — Bayern in driving seat but wounded Real Madrid could be dangerous, says Manuel Neuer</a></b></p><p>The 34-year-old Eta had been ‌coaching Union’s Under-19 team and will take charge of the ​club’s women’s team from next season. She became the first female assistant coach ⁠in the German top flight with Union in ⁠2023.</p><p>Union Berlin on Monday condemned sexist online abuse directed at Eta following her appointment, ‌saying it was disappointing that the club had to respond to such criticism in ​2026, calling the discourse “insane” and “embarrassing”.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 14, 2026</p></div> #Bundesliga #Bayern #manager #Kompany #hails #MarieLouise #Etas #appointment #special

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Sony Pictures’ Tom Rothman Urges Exhibitors To “Get Off The Ad Crack” Concerning Overload Of Pre-Show Ads & Trailers [CinemaCon]

India has been elevated to a list of nations including Russia where there is an “extremely high” risk of doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU’s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.

Category A means India’s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.

The world’s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.

“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU chair David Howman said.

“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.

“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.”

The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.

India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka was in New Delhi last week and said India is the biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs.

However, he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.

Published on Apr 20, 2026

#India #extremely #high #doping #risk #Athletics #Integrity #Unit">India ‘extremely high’ doping risk: Athletics Integrity Unit  India has been elevated to a list of nations including Russia where there is an “extremely high” risk of doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU’s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.Category A means India’s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.The world’s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU chair David Howman said.“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.”The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka was in New Delhi last week and said India is the biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs.However, he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.Published on Apr 20, 2026  #India #extremely #high #doping #risk #Athletics #Integrity #Unit

Deadspin | Hannah Green heats up late, wins in playoff for third LA title  Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN;  Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images   Australia’s Hannah Green stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the back nine and won a three-way playoff with a birdie putt to capture her third title in four years at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in Tarzana, Calif.  Green defeated South Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim when the trio replayed the par-4 18th hole at El Caballero Country Club.  Before that, Green made a late charge with four straight birdies and five in a six-hole span, and she needed help in the form of a bogey by then-leader Kim at the par-3 17th hole to create a tie at 17 under par. Green signed for 68, Kim settled for a 70 and Im had a 67 in the fourth round before they returned to the tee box for the playoff.  While Im missed the fairway and the green, Green and Kim were in the fairway and Green stuck her approach reasonably closer than Kim. After Kim missed a long birdie try and cleaned up for par, Green’s putt in the 12-foot range curled right to left and dropped.  Green, 29, has won three of the four editions of the LA Championship and three of her eight LPGA victories have come at the event. She claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions that were played at Wilshire Country Club, the former coming in a three-way playoff as well.  “I’m definitely nervous,” Green said about experiencing nerves in a playoff. “I felt like that wedge (second shot) probably flew a little bit further because of the nerves from within. No, I don’t think I would be doing this or be in contention if I wasn’t nervous. Those are the feelings that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to just do it over and over again.”  Green was 12 under for the tournament while starting the 11th hole. Kim eagled that hole to push the lead to 18 under, but Green made birdie before getting on a white-hot run with birdies at Nos. 13-16.   “Felt like I was doing what I kind of said I wanted to do yesterday: Hit more greens,” Green said. “Felt like it was quite difficult to get it close to the green. I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.  “I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still. I was just like, ‘Oh well, just go for as many pins as possible,’ and got on a nice stretch there. … I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.”  Green, Im and Kim all will benefit from Saturday’s surprise announcement that the CEO of JM Eagle, Walter Wang, was raising the purse by  million to a total of .75 million. Across women’s golf, only the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship are more lucrative.  South Korea’s Ina Yoon (69) finished one shot out of the playoff at 16 under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (70) tied for fifth at 14 under with Haeran Ryu of South Korea (66).  With her second win of the season, Green rose into third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points standings, behind only Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Hannah #Green #heats #late #wins #playoff #titleAug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Australia’s Hannah Green stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the back nine and won a three-way playoff with a birdie putt to capture her third title in four years at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in Tarzana, Calif.

Green defeated South Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim when the trio replayed the par-4 18th hole at El Caballero Country Club.

Before that, Green made a late charge with four straight birdies and five in a six-hole span, and she needed help in the form of a bogey by then-leader Kim at the par-3 17th hole to create a tie at 17 under par. Green signed for 68, Kim settled for a 70 and Im had a 67 in the fourth round before they returned to the tee box for the playoff.

While Im missed the fairway and the green, Green and Kim were in the fairway and Green stuck her approach reasonably closer than Kim. After Kim missed a long birdie try and cleaned up for par, Green’s putt in the 12-foot range curled right to left and dropped.

Green, 29, has won three of the four editions of the LA Championship and three of her eight LPGA victories have come at the event. She claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions that were played at Wilshire Country Club, the former coming in a three-way playoff as well.

“I’m definitely nervous,” Green said about experiencing nerves in a playoff. “I felt like that wedge (second shot) probably flew a little bit further because of the nerves from within. No, I don’t think I would be doing this or be in contention if I wasn’t nervous. Those are the feelings that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to just do it over and over again.”


Green was 12 under for the tournament while starting the 11th hole. Kim eagled that hole to push the lead to 18 under, but Green made birdie before getting on a white-hot run with birdies at Nos. 13-16.

“Felt like I was doing what I kind of said I wanted to do yesterday: Hit more greens,” Green said. “Felt like it was quite difficult to get it close to the green. I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.

“I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still. I was just like, ‘Oh well, just go for as many pins as possible,’ and got on a nice stretch there. … I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.”

Green, Im and Kim all will benefit from Saturday’s surprise announcement that the CEO of JM Eagle, Walter Wang, was raising the purse by $1 million to a total of $4.75 million. Across women’s golf, only the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship are more lucrative.

South Korea’s Ina Yoon (69) finished one shot out of the playoff at 16 under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (70) tied for fifth at 14 under with Haeran Ryu of South Korea (66).

With her second win of the season, Green rose into third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points standings, behind only Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hannah #Green #heats #late #wins #playoff #title">Deadspin | Hannah Green heats up late, wins in playoff for third LA title  Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN;  Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images   Australia’s Hannah Green stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the back nine and won a three-way playoff with a birdie putt to capture her third title in four years at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in Tarzana, Calif.  Green defeated South Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim when the trio replayed the par-4 18th hole at El Caballero Country Club.  Before that, Green made a late charge with four straight birdies and five in a six-hole span, and she needed help in the form of a bogey by then-leader Kim at the par-3 17th hole to create a tie at 17 under par. Green signed for 68, Kim settled for a 70 and Im had a 67 in the fourth round before they returned to the tee box for the playoff.  While Im missed the fairway and the green, Green and Kim were in the fairway and Green stuck her approach reasonably closer than Kim. After Kim missed a long birdie try and cleaned up for par, Green’s putt in the 12-foot range curled right to left and dropped.  Green, 29, has won three of the four editions of the LA Championship and three of her eight LPGA victories have come at the event. She claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions that were played at Wilshire Country Club, the former coming in a three-way playoff as well.  “I’m definitely nervous,” Green said about experiencing nerves in a playoff. “I felt like that wedge (second shot) probably flew a little bit further because of the nerves from within. No, I don’t think I would be doing this or be in contention if I wasn’t nervous. Those are the feelings that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to just do it over and over again.”  Green was 12 under for the tournament while starting the 11th hole. Kim eagled that hole to push the lead to 18 under, but Green made birdie before getting on a white-hot run with birdies at Nos. 13-16.   “Felt like I was doing what I kind of said I wanted to do yesterday: Hit more greens,” Green said. “Felt like it was quite difficult to get it close to the green. I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.  “I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still. I was just like, ‘Oh well, just go for as many pins as possible,’ and got on a nice stretch there. … I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.”  Green, Im and Kim all will benefit from Saturday’s surprise announcement that the CEO of JM Eagle, Walter Wang, was raising the purse by  million to a total of .75 million. Across women’s golf, only the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship are more lucrative.  South Korea’s Ina Yoon (69) finished one shot out of the playoff at 16 under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (70) tied for fifth at 14 under with Haeran Ryu of South Korea (66).  With her second win of the season, Green rose into third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points standings, behind only Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Hannah #Green #heats #late #wins #playoff #title

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