Canada football staff sent home over Olympic drone scandal

Canada football staff sent home over Olympic drone scandal

An assistant coach and an analyst with the Canadian women's football team were sent home from the Olympics Wednesday for their part in a spying scandal. The analyst, 43-year-old Joey Lombardi, was also given a suspended eight-month prison sentence for flying a drone over a New Zealand training session this week in Saint-Etienne. Lombardi pleaded guilty when he appeared in court in Saint-Etienne on Wednesday, the court told […]

July 25, 2024 7

Sport

‘Trailblazers’ spearhead Australia tilt at Olympic football gold

Australia named an 18-member women's football squad "full of trailblazers and record-breakers" on Tuesday in their pursuit of gold at the Paris Olympics next month. Arsenal defender Steph Catley will captain the side in the absence of superstar striker Sam Kerr, who had already been ruled out of the Games because of a serious knee injury. The Matildas finished fourth at the last Games in Tokyo and again […]

June 4, 2024 10

Sport

Barca women’s captain Putellas extends contract

Barcelona women's captain Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, on Tuesday extended her contract with the club by two years with an option for a third. The 30-year-old World Cup winning midfielder, the team's most successful player with 189 goals in 424 matches, has committed until June 30, 2026 with an option for a third season. "The is a very happy day for me, my family and […]

May 23, 2024 5

Sport

Chelsea march into Women’s Champions League semis, Lyon power past Benfica

Chelsea reached the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League on Wednesday despite a 1-1 draw at home to Ajax, while Lyon also progressed after brushing aside Benfica in France. Mayra Ramirez put Chelsea into a first-half lead on her European club debut before Chasity Grant equalised for Ajax in the second half. Chelsea prevailed 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win in the first leg in Amsterdam. "Ajax […]

March 28, 2024 19

Sport

USA and Spain handed tough draws in women’s Olympic tournament

Four-times winners USA, Germany and Australia were placed in the same group, while hosts France will play holders Canada after the draw for the 2024 Olympic women's football tournament was made on Wednesday. Groups B and C appear particularly challenging, while France and Canada can be hopeful of securing their places in the knock-out rounds from Group A. The United States will face Germany, Australia and the winner […]

March 21, 2024 9

Sport

Brazil ease into Gold Cup final with win over Mexico

Brazil proved too much for Mexico as they cruised into the final of the CONCACAF women's Gold Cup with a 3-0 victory in San Diego on Wednesday. In Sunday's final, the eight-times women's Copa America champions will face the winner's of Wednesday's other semi between the USA and Canada. Brazil went ahead in the 21st minute when Mexico goalkeeper Stephany Barrera made a mess of a cross from Rafaelle […]

March 7, 2024 4

Sport

Football star Kerr charged with ‘racially aggravated offence’

Chelsea and Australia women's football superstar Sam Kerr has been charged with a "racially aggravated offence" after a dispute involving a London police officer, the Metropolitan Police said Tuesday. The 30-year-old striker, one of the highest profile and best-paid players in the women's game, was charged following the incident in January 2023, police said in a statement. The alleged dispute was sparked when a police officer responded to […]

March 5, 2024 4

Sport

Morgan to play for USA in Women’s Gold Cup after Fishel injury

Veteran striker Alex Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner with the United States, was called up Tuesday for the first ever Women's Gold Cup after a serious injury to Mia Fishel. Fishel, the 22-year-old Chelsea attacker, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during training on Monday, the US team said. The injury came a day before the tournament kicked off and robs the US of […]

February 21, 2024 2

Africa

The Moroccan referee who has overcome cultural barriers and gender stereotypes to make history at AFCON 2023

By Joel Omotto, bird story agency Bouchra Karboubi is blazing a trail through the beautiful game. While there has been a laudable increase in the number of female referees at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following the appointment of six women, only one has been given the mandate to officiate as a centre referee, with the rest working as either assistant referees or Video Assistant Referees […]

February 9, 2024 16