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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Billy Haisley

Paul Pogba of Juventus in a match against Torino on December 1, 2012.

Soccer : Serie A – Juventus v Torino

Soccer

The Failure Of Paul Pogba

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Patrick Redford

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Alex Morgan #7 of United States reacts after a goal by Mexico in the second half during Group A - 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup match at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 26, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

United States v Mexico: Group A – 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup

Mexico Finally Killed Off The Old USWNT For Good

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Liverpool players including Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after winning the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024 in London, England.

Chelsea v Liverpool – Carabao Cup Final

These Pool Boys Became Pool Men

Aaron Gordon is a reporter covering transportation, infrastructure, and the environment. Most recently, he was a senior staff writer at Motherboard, VICE News’s tech and science website.

Aaron Gordon

A general overall aerial view of Arrowhead Stadium on December 25, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Arrowhead Stadium

The Good, The Bad, And The Unreachable: A World Cup Transit Report Ranking

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Albert Burneko

NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Robert Lewandowski (2nd L) of FC Barcelona, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Napoli and FC Barcelona at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, on February 21, 2024.

Napoli v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League

More Like Barcelimbo

Marko Arnautovic of FC Internazionale scores the goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between FC Internazionale and Atletico Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 20, 2024 in Milan, Italy.

FC Internazionale v Atletico Madrid: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Atlético Madrid Reverts To Type

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

Andy Polo of Universitario celebrates his goal during Liga 1 Profesional Peru match between Alianza Lima and Universitario at Estadio Nacional de Lima on February 10, 2024 in Lima, Peru.

Andy Polo

Peruvian International Andy Polo Found Liable For Domestic Violence

MONZA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 18: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan scores his team's second goal during the Serie A TIM match between AC Monza and AC Milan - Serie A TIM at U-Power Stadium on February 18, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

AC Monza v AC Milan – Serie A TIM

How Thrilling It Is To Have Christian Pulisic Back In Top Form

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Sociedad: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Maybe Kylian Mbappé Really Is Leaving This Time?

Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munchen is expelled by the referee François Letexier during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SS Lazio and FC Bayern München at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

SS Lazio v FC Bayern München: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Bayern Munich Is Face-To-Face With Its Own Mortality

Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid CF at Red Bull Arena on February 13, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

RB Leipzig v Real Madrid CF: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Everybody’s A Star At Real Madrid

Handball referees Marcus Helbig (l) and Lars Geipel show the new blue cards in Leipzig, Germany, 1 August 2016. The two will be refereeing at the Olympic games for the second time. PHOTO: JAN WOITAS/DPA | usage worldwide (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Handball referees Geipel and Helbig go to Olympics for 2nd time

Soccer’s Rulemakers Are Rolling Out Blue Cards

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Manchester City at Brentford Community Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Brentford, England.

Brentford FC v Manchester City – Premier League

Manchester City Is Ready To Pounce

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Barry Petchesky

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David Roth

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Kathryn Xu

Metlife Stadium across the Hackensack River in Secaucus, New Jersey, on June 15, 2023. Activist Bill Sheehan has turned mountains to clean up the river, polluted by industry, ten kilometers (6.2 miles) from Manhattan, even if much remains to be done. "It didn't take me long to realize that the river needed a full-time advocate," he says of the hemmed in by an ultra-dense urban grid. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

US-ENVIRONMENT-WATER-POLLUTION-RIVERS

Let Us Discuss What The World Cup Final Means For “New York New Jersey”

Emile is a freelance writer, originally from the U.S., now living in Barcelona. He writes about Spanish soccer, namely FC Barcelona and Barça Femeni, on Substack, at <a href="https://barcafemeni.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://barcafemeni.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw14bYDiXeApFrdtb0hLPnFE">La Barça Soc Supporter</a> and appears regularly on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3pyv2PojdPBZ1Gkv3_aN-S">The Barcelona Podcast</a>. His work has previously featured at outlets including The Blizzard, <a href="https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0I4zygG7AmIDTzwXlPE2u_">Urban Pitch</a>, The Squall, Barça Blaugranes, and <a href="https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3g0kv0jxafpvL520xVCsVU">Sports Collectors Daily</a>.
Emile also writes about the NBA, at his new outpost League Pass in L’Eixample. His previous work can be found at Forum Blue and Gold and his own site, a living relic of the basketblog era, <a href="https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753085000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2U949Uf-KXcPwkDPCbW129">Hardwood Hype</a>.

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Emile Avanessian

Jonatan Giraldez, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, gestures during the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Estadi Johan Cruyff on January 25, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Eintracht Frankfurt: Group A – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24

Jonatan Giráldez Is Trading A Golden Past For An Uncertain Future

Head Coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on January 27, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Villarreal CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Xavi Writes Himself An Ending

Jurgen Klopp announces he will leave Liverpool in a 25-minute interview

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Jürgen Klopp To Leave Liverpool At The End Of This Season

Jordan Henderson of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and RKC Waalwijk at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on January 21, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Dutch EredivisieAjax Amsterdam v RKC Waalwijk

Saudi Arabia’s Expensive Soccer Experiment Is Already Showing Cracks

Real Madrid players celebrates after Daniel Carvajal goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v UD Almeria – LaLiga EA Sports

Real Madrid Is The Good Guy

Real Madrid players celebrates after scoring a goal during Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid - Super Copa de España Semi-Final on January 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid – Super Copa de Espa√±a Semi-Final

The Saudi Supercopa Is Great In Spite Of Itself

Joao Pedro of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Stoke City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Bet365 Stadium on January 6, 2024 in Stoke on Trent, England.

Stoke City v Brighton and Hove Albion – Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Brighton Runs On João Pedro Power

Antoine Mille takes a penalty in a Coupe de France match between Chateauroux and Les Herbiers.

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When Keeping It Highlight Reel Goes Wrong: Panenka Edition

Nathaniel Clyne of Crystal Palace is challenged by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison of Everton, leading to a red card for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on January 04, 2024 in London, England.

Crystal Palace v Everton – Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Game’s Gone

Ivan Martin (Girona FC) celebrates with his teammates after scoring during La Liga football match between Girona FC and Atletico de Madrid, at Montilivi Stadium on January 3, 2024 in Girona, Spain. Foto: Siu Wu

Girona FC vs Atletico de Madrid

Girona Is Wide Awake

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the fourth Liverpool goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England.