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The NWSL is closing in on Denver as its latest expansion franchise, having entered into exclusive negotiations with an investment group led by IMA Financial Group CEO Rob Cohen, a source told ESPN.

The source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the negotiations, added that the expansion fee will likely be between $105 million and $120 million, which would be a record for the league.

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But the source stressed that the deal hasn’t been finalized, adding that the league hopes to have the deal completed sometime in early January. The previous record expansion fee was the $53 million paid by Bay FC in 2023 and Boston earlier this year. An NWSL spokesperson declined to comment.

Sportico was the first to report the news.

Last month, prior to the NWSL Championship final, league commissioner Jessica Berman identified Denver, Cincinnati and Cleveland as the three finalists, but barring a late snag in the deal, Denver is poised to become the league’s 16th team. Boston is set to begin play in 2025.

The investment group includes include an entity called For Denver FC, which is comprised in part of Ben Hubbard, the CEO of insurance company Parsyl, and Tom Dunmore, a former soccer executive with USL side Indy Eleven and until recently the vice president of marketing for Major League Cricket. Phos CEO Nicole Glaros and former NWSL player and soccer broadcaster Jordan Angeli is also involved.

But Cohen is expected to provide the bulk of the financing, and he will serve as controlling owner. Cohen has long been involved in sports endeavors in the Denver area, including as a board member of the Denver Sports Advisory Committee and as a board member of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, which is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43028273/denver-group-exclusive-talks-next-nwsl-franchise

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The Brazilian soccer club Corinthians is actively pursuing the signing of French midfielder Paul Pogba, employing a unique and unconventional strategy to finance the potentially expensive transfer. This ambitious move involves a partnership with Fatal Model, an adult entertainment platform, that adds an unexpected dimension to the already intriguing saga.

According to reports from prominent Brazilian journalist Leo Dias, Fatal Model has offered a substantial financial contribution towards securing Pogba’s transfer. The proposed contribution is a significant monthly sum, reportedly ranging from 3 to 4 million Brazilian Reals (approximately $650,000 USD), to cover a considerable portion of Pogba’s potential salary.

This unusual sponsorship deal represents a bold attempt by Fatal Model to increase its brand visibility within Brazilian soccer and enhance its connection with a major club.

Fatal Model, which already sponsors Vitória in Brazil’s Serie A, clearly sees the potential of linking its brand with a high-profile player like Pogba and a prestigious club like Corinthians. In a statement, Nina Sag, director of Fatal Model, confirmed the company’s interest in supporting the transfer, stating, “We’d like to express our interest in actively contributing to making this transfer possible, a truly unique opportunity for everyone involved. Fatal Model has always supported sports, and we see this as a chance to strengthen our ties with a club that was already on our radar.”

Pogba’s interest and fan excitement

The prospect of Pogba joining Corinthians has been fueled by the player’s own enthusiastic comments. In a recent interview with popular Brazilian influencer Luva de Pedreiro, Pogba expressed significant interest in playing alongside Corinthians’ star striker Memphis Depay, even jokingly suggesting he would play for free to share the pitch with the Dutch forward.

This playful comment, however, ignited a firestorm of excitement among Corinthians fans, who are desperate to see the French midfielder in their team’s colors. This enthusiasm is further underscored by the open interest shown by Corinthians’ President Augusto Melo, who, according to journalist André Hernan, is actively pursuing the deal.

The Corinthians’ pursuit of Pogba fits within a larger strategy to strengthen their team and regain their prestige in the transfer market. The earlier acquisition of Depay signaled a clear intent to attract international stars, and Pogba’s signing would represent an even more significant achievement.

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Source: https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/soccer-world-impacted-escort-agency-to-fund-paul-pogbas-move-to-corinthians/

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Marta won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer — named after the Brazil great herself.

The 38-year-old was given the Marta Award at The Best FIFA Football Awards on Tuesday for her goal for Brazil in an international friendly against Jamaica in June.

Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho — and create the new Marta Award for the women’s game.

“To compete against so many great players — we had some fantastic goals,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful season, too. But I’m even happier to receive an award that bears my name; this is undoubtedly the greatest honor.”

Marta is widely regarded as the greatest female soccer player of all time and had won the award for the women’s player of the year on a record six occasions.

She scored a record 119 goals for Brazil in 185 appearances for her country, spanning six World Cups and six Olympics, before retiring from international soccer after the Paris Games — where Brazil lost to the United States in the final.

Marta won the first NWSL title of her career last month when Orlando Pride beat Washington Spirit 1-0 in the final. She had scored another wondergoal in the semifinal, that could have also been a candidate for best of the year.

Marta was asked the day before the title match if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself.

“You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh.

The Marta Award was voted for by fans and a panel of FIFA legends.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/43027962/marta-picked-first-winner-marta-award-best-goal

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With the news of Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk’s positive test, the latest chapter of soccer’s doping scandals is being written. In the meantime, we look back at some of the biggest names that have been suspended for doping across soccer’s history.

Soccer isn’t a sport categorically linked with doping scandals, yet some of the sport’s biggest stars have faced bans over the years. Mudryk’s recent positive test for meldonium, as with other players who test positive for banned substances, garner headlines and attention from across the globe.

Let’s take a look back at some of the most notable doping bans in soccer.

5. Fred

The former Manchester United midfielder tested positive for a banned substance while playing for Brazil during the 2015 Copa América in Chile.

In Dec. 2015, Conmebol suspended Fred for one year—retroactive to the date of the positive test in the summer—but he could continue to play for his then club, FC Shakhtar Donetsk. However, in Feb. 2016, FIFA extended Fred’s suspension to the club level as well, keeping him on the sidelines for the final four months of the 2015-16 season.

The Brazilian would return and have a solid season in Ukraine’s top flight, earning him a spot in Brazil’s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad and a move to Manchester United.

4. André Onana

Before reaching a UEFA Champions League final with Inter Milan and later becoming Manchester United’s replacement for David de Gea, André Onana was suspended for a full year during his time at Ajax.

Onana was caught with a banned substance in his blood, one that, according to him, he mistakenly consumed. He wanted to take paracetamol to cure a headache but accidentally took Lasimac—the banned substance—which had been prescribed to his wife after giving birth.

UEFA issued the suspension that applied to both club and country in Feb. 2021. The goalkeeper appealed the ruling and the ban was reduced to nine months. He returned in November and was able to be part of Cameroon’s journey to the African Cup of Nations semifinal in Jan. 2022, before moving to Inter the following summer.

3. Pep Guardiola

Before he became one of the greatest managers of all time, in 2001, Pep Guardiola was in the eye of the storm of a doping scandal after he tested positive for a banned substance when he was playing at then Serie A side, Brescia.

After a second positive test once again found Nandrolone in his blood, Guardiola was hit with a four month suspension and an economic fine, despite his boisterous protests pleading his innocence.

Guardiola served his suspension; however, he never stopped fighting the case. Eight years later in 2009, when he was already Barcelona’s manager, he was cleared of all charges by an Italian judge.

2. Paul Pogba

The 2018 World Cup winning, French midfielder, Paul Pogba is perhaps the latest example of a massive doping scandal in the soccer world.

Pogba was temporarily suspended in Sept. 2023, after a test revealed high levels of testosterone in his system. Following further testing, he was handed a four year suspension in Feb. 2024, one of the longest doping bans ever levied, after he tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

The former Juventus and Manchester United player appealed the decision and got his suspension reduced to 18 months. The Frenchman is now targeting a return to action in March 2025, currently in the market for a new team to resume his career as a 31-year-old.

1. Diego Maradona

Considered by many the greatest soccer player of all time, Diego Armando Maradona is also the face of doping scandals in the soccer world.

Twice in his career, Maradona received a 15 month ban for doping. The first came in 1991 during his time in Italy. He tested positive for cocaine and the suspension ensued, ending his time with Napoli, the club who later baptized their stadium with Maradona’s name.

The second came during the 1994 FIFA World Cup. After scoring in Argentina’s opening game victory against Greece, Maradona was very publicly taken to do a drug test following the victory against Nigeria in the second game. The test came back positive with five different variants of ephedrine, as Argentine media put it “Maradona tasted them all.” He was immediately kicked out of the tournament and given his second 15 month ban. It was the last time Maradona played with the Albiceleste shirt.

Maradona tested positive for a third and final time in Aug. 1997, during his final stint at Boca Juniors, before retiring from the sport in October of that year.

Source: https://www.si.com/soccer/five-notable-soccer-players-that-have-been-suspended-for-doping-scandals

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Source: https://supersport.com/football/general$/news/537970f9-c2c4-457c-add3-0d55a4a85bf5/former-uswnt-star-becky-sauerbrunn-announces-retirement

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FILE – United States’ Becky Sauerbrunn, left, and Meghan Klingenberg celebrate following their win over Japan at the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, July 5, 2015. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/us-defender-becky-sauerbrunn-retires-professional-soccer-after-116879929

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