Referees are constantly stuck between a rock and a hard place. The call they make will be sure to anger at least half of the people watching the game. It’s a thankless job that takes an incredible amount of hard work to progress to the top level. Occasionally, referees make[Read More…]
Tag: soccer
Dribbling through professional success as a young athlete
At just 14 years old, McKenna (Mak) Whitman has made history as the youngest player to ever appear in a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match. She debuted for NJ/NY Gotham FC in their 2025 season opener against the Seattle Reign. A rising star in women’s soccer, Whitham has been[Read More…]
Spain’s young sensation: Dominating the pitch and defying the doubters
By the end of this past European Championship, it became impossible not to know the name “Lamine Yamal” and the story of the young star the world celebrated all summer. On June 15, 2024, Yamal made history by becoming the youngest player featured in the tournament, making his debut against[Read More…]
Where’s the Ref? Israel and the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The movement to ban Israel and its teams from all upcoming FIFA tournaments has gained significant traction since February—a period of time contained, ironically, by ceasefire on its foundational end. The “Show Israel the Red Card” campaign began on Feb. 19, when Celtic F.C. supporters in Scotland unfurled a huge[Read More…]
Defender Naomi Girma is a million-pound trailblazer
Naomi Girma just made history—and her bank account is very, very happy. The 24-year-old U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) defender became the first million-pound player in women’s soccer, sealing the record-breaking €1.07 million transfer from San Diego Wave to Chelsea Women on Jan. 26. A seven-figure move in a sport[Read More…]
English FA’s decision to scrap cup replays means less economic parity than ever
The Football Association Cup (FA Cup) is the most prestigious domestic tournament in European football. Comprised of teams throughout the tiers of the English football pyramid—from local semi-pro players who participate for fun to the biggest powerhouses of Europe—squads compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine which is the best[Read More…]
The Tribune’s sports highlights of the week
From stunning McGill Martlets home games to historic soccer rivalry matches, The Tribune Staff Writers share their sports highlights of the week McGill: Martlets Basketball secures a comfortable win at home against Concordia Stingers on Jan. 16 With the Stingers pressing high and the Martlets looking to reset, Emma-Jane Scotten,[Read More…]
Bowers and Pulisic’s “Trump Dance” celebration met with criticism
Sports and politics are interwoven in increasingly complex ways. From Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ powerful silent protest on the podium during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics to Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games, athletes have used sport to have their voices heard. In the weeks[Read More…]
Professional soccer players’ schedules are an increasingly heavy load
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)’s Nations League Matchday five of six kicked off Nov. 14, short a slew of several big-name players from the English Premier League (EPL) like Martin Ødegaard, Ollie Watkins, and Cole Palmer. This has led to questions regarding teams’ lineups, their match-ups with various[Read More…]
Professional soccer continues to prioritize commercial interests over safety and ethics
Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence, assault, and rape. The narrative that rape accusations ruin the lives of the accused is dangerous, untrue, and often not the case, especially with high-profile alleged abusers. Athletes, managers, and coaches across the sporting world have faced allegations of sexual violence and face minimal[Read More…]
