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PRO has confirmed that the policy will be looked at following the surfacing of social media photos of Ford and his family attending LAFC matches

PRO to re-evaluate members' connections to clubsReferee had previous social posts at LAFC matches surfaceMLS overturned Whitecaps' red card from him on SaturdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Professional Referee Organization (PRO) reportedly informed ESPN that it will be re-evaluating the process of how it constitutes a referee's connection with a club. PRO, which handles training and assigning of referees in MLS and USL, made the statement in the wake of social media posts surfacing of referee Tim Ford and his family attending an LAFC match.

Ford will not be sanctioned.

The debacle came to light this weekend after the Vancouver Whitecaps were defeated by the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in MLS action, highlighted by a flurry of controversial officiating decisions. In the match, Ford handed Whitecaps' defender Edier Ocampo two separate yellow cards for what he deemed to be offenses, sending him off. Ford also called a penalty on Vancouver defender Tristan Blackmon, which was recommended by the VAR official to be looked at on the monitor for a potential change, but Ford stuck with his initial decision, opting not to side with a potential change from video review.

"Everybody who watched the game saw a man slip and one man saw a penalty," Vancouver manager Jesper Sorensen told reporters after the match. "That's how it is. Luckily, we play with VAR, so they saw it differently, and then it was still a penalty."

After the contest, photos, some of which were from 2018, surfaced of Ford and his family attending an LAFC match. The photos came from Ford's wife's Instagram, and the account has since been made private.

On Monday, MLS rescinded the second yellow and ensuing fine from Ocampo, making him eligible for selection immediately for Vancouver. 

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Ford and the Whitecaps have an ongoing history, but Saturday marked his first time officiating a match of theirs since the 2023 MLS postseason, where he was once again at the center of controversy with the Canadian side. 

In the 2023 MLS Playoffs, Vancouver and LAFC were participating in a Best-of-3 series, and in match two, Ford awarded LAFC a controversial penalty that was converted by Denis Bouanga in a 1-0 victory to clinch the series. He also sent off former Whitecaps manager Vanni Sartini in the match.

In Sartini's postgame press conference, he threatened Ford and was suspended and fined by MLS for his comments. “If they found [Ford] in False Creek then I’m going to be a suspect. I’m not saying that I would do it, I’m saying I’m the first suspect – it’s different,” Sartini said. He was suspended for six matches and fined $20,000. 

One Instagram post that surfaced from his wife's account showed that his children got to meet LAFC's players after game one of that series. 

PRO informed ESPN that Ford will not be sanctioned, as he was not wearing LAFC merchandise in the photos. In a text message sent, PRO informed ESPN that they will be adjusting their policy for evaluation, though.

"We are re-evaluating our processes about what constitutes a connection with a club," a spokesperson said. 

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Vancouver sports a record of 3-3-3 in matches officiated by Ford. LAFC, meanwhile, are 3-2-2.

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Major League SoccerWHAT NEXT?

Ford has been assigned to be the fourth official in Saturday's MLS match between the Colorado Rapids and Atlanta United.

Manchester City’s teenage star Claudio Echeverri has completed a season-long loan move to Bayer Leverkusen. The 19-year-old Argentine talent, who joined City from River Plate in 2024, will spend the campaign in Germany under new coach Erik ten Hag. The deal is a straight loan with no option to buy as City look to give the playmaker valuable first-team experience.

Echeverri joins Leverkusen on loanMove has no buy option as City keep long-term control19-year-old expected to replace Florian Wirtz in midfieldFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Leverkusen have confirmed Echeverri has joined Die Werkself on loan for the 2025-26 season from City. The Bundesliga side beat interest from Borussia Dortmund, Lazio and Girona to secure his signature. The move contains no buy option, ensuring the Citizens retain long-term control of the Argentine’s future.

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Echeverri arrives at Leverkusen at a key moment, with the club undergoing change after Xabi Alonso’s exit and Wirtz’s record move to Liverpool. The Argentine playmaker is expected to slot in as a creative replacement for the German in midfield. Leverkusen see the deal as a chance to rebuild their squad while giving the teenager regular game time.

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Echeverri joined City from River Plate in January 2024 but initially stayed in Argentina on loan. He has since made three appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, including his debut in the FA Cup final and a goal in the Club World Cup. Now, he heads to Germany hoping to establish himself in one of Europe’s top leagues.

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The 19-year-old could be in line to make his Bundesliga debut this weekend against Hoffenheim. He will aim to quickly adapt to Ten Hag’s system and prove himself so he can be involved in Guardiola's squad next season.

Barcelona finally got the approval to wear their new home kit in La Liga, ending an unusual start that saw them stuck in last season’s shirts.

Barca forced to wear old jerseys earlierLa Liga approves fresh design nowNew home kit debut finally securedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from Barca have finally received clearance to wear their brand-new 2025-26 home Blaugrana kit in La Liga after being denied the chance in their first two matches. Against Mallorca and Levante, the Blaugrana were forced to line up in last season’s green away shirt because La Liga’s Kit Selector system rejected all three of their new designs, and even the orange third kit failed the colour-matching test.

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The kit delay has carried weight beyond aesthetics, for Nike, Barcelona’s global kit supplier, the lack of an official league debut meant missing out on valuable marketing momentum at the start of the season. For supporters, the frustration was more emotional as after months of hype around the launch, fans were left watching their heroes in the same uniform. It was a bizarre look for a club of Barca’s stature, where branding, identity and presentation are almost as scrutinised as the football itself. The new home kit, with its blurred, dynamic stripes, is expected to symbolise a fresh chapter in the season.

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The unusual setback came down to La Liga’s protocol, in which the clubs do not decide their matchday attire themselves, instead, the final say lies with the league’s match director, who reviews the uniform combinations submitted through the Kit Selector app. Against Mallorca and Levante, all three of Barca’s kits failed due to chromatic similarities with the opposition, leaving officials no option but to dig out last season’s green shirt. With Rayo Vallecano’s white-and-red strip posing no conflict, the Blaugrana’s traditional colours are finally back in play.

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With the kit saga resolved, attention turns back to the football as the Catalans will step onto the pitch against Rayo Vallecano not only in their new home kit but with the chance to make a statement in style. As for the players and fans, it finally feels like the real start of the 2025-26 campaign, with all eyes on the Sunday clash at the Estadio de Vallecas.

Ajax are making a late push to sign striker Kasper Dolberg from Belgian side Anderlecht, but face competition from Scottish champions Celtic.

Ajax are targeting a deadline-day move for DolbergThe move comes as a replacement for BrobbeyAnderlecht open to sale due to financial blowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After Celtic opened talks to bring the striker to the Premiership, claimed that Ajax are open to a possible reunion six years after he left to join Nice. This comes as a last-minute replacement for Brian Brobbey, who is set to join Sunderland, according to reports in Netherlands. The Danish international is reportedly keen on a return to the club, and talks are underway to complete the transfer before Tuesday's deadline.

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The move is driven by Ajax's urgent need for a new striker, with Brobbey's departure leaving a significant void in their attack. Anderlecht are understood to be open to a sale as the Belgian club needs to raise funds after being eliminated from the Conference League. However, Ajax face competition for Dolberg's signature from Scottish champions Celtic, who have reportedly already submitted a €9 million bid.

Dolberg spent four years with Ajax after joining from Silkeborg in 2015. He won an Eredivisie title with the club and was part of the team that reached the Europa League final in 2017, losing 2-0 to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United. They see the 27-year-old, who scored 45 goals in 119 matches for the club, as the preferred option to replace Brobbey.

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Celtic are looking to strengthen Brendan Rodgers' forward line, but the reports the Scottish club had two offers turned down by Anderlecht. What makes him an interesting player is that Dolberg has had a good season at Anderlecht with 24 goals in 45 games and is also back in form again this season with five goals in nine games.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR DOLBERG?

With the transfer window closing in a matter of hours, Ajax are in a race against time to agree a deal with Anderlecht. Should they fail to secure Dolberg, the Amsterdam club will be forced to quickly pivot to other targets on their shortlist to ensure they are not left without a replacement for the outgoing Brobbey.

Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller dreams of playing in MLS at the end of his career and reveals his plans for the 2025-26 season.

Stiller wants to play in the USAMidfielder explains why he didn't move to a bigger clubGerman linked with Madrid, Liverpool and Man UtdFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Stuttgart's midfield metronome Stiller will remain at the MHP Arena for at least another season, with Europe's top clubs monitoring him throughout the summer. With no idea where his future lies next summer and beyond, the Germany international is certain about one thing — he wants to move to the USA and play in the MLS in the twilight of his career.

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Speaking to , Stiller said: "At the end of my career, I absolutely want to play in the USA, in the MLS. This plan, this goal, is 100 per cent solid."

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Stiller was absolutely sensational for Stuttgart throughout the 2024-25 season. Indeed, the central midfielder was pivotal in Die Schwaben's DFB-Pokal triumph at the end of the season, breaking the club's 18-year trophyless streak. His displays caught the eye of Liverpool, who were keen on signing Stiller to bolster their midfield. Real Madrid were also heavily linked with the 24-year-old, while there were also reports that claimed Manchester United were also interested. However, he stayed put in Bundesliga for another season. It is expected that he will move to a top club next summer, should he continue his impressive form.

Stiller explained why he didn't consider leaving Stuttgart. "I'm a regular and leading player here. The most important thing for my development is that I get my minutes – especially in a World Cup year. I definitely didn't want to jeopardise the World Cup," the Munich-born midfielder added.

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Stiller has been called up by Julian Nagelsmann for Germany's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia and Northern Ireland. He will return to action for Stuttgart on September 13, when they visit Freiburg.

You truly never know what you're going to see at any night at the ballpark. But on Thursday night at Dunkin' Park in Hartford, Conn., fans in attendance were treated to seeing the same exact wacky play—twice.

In the top of the fourth inning during a matchup between the Portland Sea Dogs and Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Eastern League, Sea Dogs second baseman Ahbram Liendo swung at an 83-mph pitch and hit a ground ball to third base with one out and an 0-1 count. The ball glanced off the third baseman and into the glove of the shortstop, who lasered it across the diamond for the second out.

A pretty cool play, but nothing too extraordinary. So, what gives?

Well, the exact same play happened at the exact same moment the next time Hartford was at bat. With one out in the bottom of the fourth and an 0-1 count, Yard Goats second baseman Dyan Jorge hacked at an 83-mph pitch and skipped one to third base. Third baseman Blaze Jordan had it glance off his body right into the glove of shortstop Mikey Romero, who tossed Jorge out at first base.

Same inning. Same count. Same number of outs. Same position of the batter. Same pitch speed. Same exact result. What?!?

That is wild. Just wild.

Hartford ended up winning the game 6-3, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good. But the real winners were the fans in attendance who witnessed quite the odd scene that belongs more in the movie than on a minor league baseball field.

For someone who has identified his role as being partly to “irritate the opposition”, the South African opener had been unusually subdued in the first two Tests. On day one at Newlands, he was back to his immovable, in-yer-face best

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town22-Mar-2018In all the niggle of first two Tests, something was missing. Or rather someone.While David Warner and Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada and Steven Smith and even Mitchell Marsh had plenty to say, Dean Elgar had been quiet. For someone who has identified his role as being partly to “irritate the opposition”, Elgar was doing anything but, especially with the bat. He had made single-digit scores in three out of four innings, and the 57 he scored in Port Elizabeth was subdued, albeit an important exercise in absorbing pressure.But two days after assuring the media he had actually been “giving it out in all the right measurements”, Elgar saved his best dosage of the last six months for today. But it was not as much as South Africa needed.On one of the flatter pitches of the summer, a surface even Elgar was able to find fluency on, South Africa’s middle and lower order crumbled against the old ball to all but undo Elgar’s efforts. And the “even” is not meant to be an insult.Elgar, like Graeme Smith, like Steven Smith, is not an easy player to watch a lot of the time. His innings are about struggle and survival. They are very seldom about what Elgar called “smoothness”, and though this seemed one of the smoother innings he has played, Elgar insisted it was not as free-flowing as it looked.”Smoothness in my batting is never going to be something that I am going to try to achieve. It’s always going to look a little… there is a word I want to use but I won’t because this goes on TV…” Elgar said. “My fluency was maybe there, I was maybe a little more positive. I was trying to score, which is something that I have done in the past but I haven’t done leading up to this series. I was trying to be a bit more positive.”Most notably, even though Elgar took the fight to the Australian attack, he did it with a measure of deference, especially against the new ball. Only 15 runs came from his first 53 balls, before he had the gumption drive Josh Hazlewood through mid-on. Elgar showed restraint and resolve in equal measure and was careful not to make the mistakes of the previous two Tests.When Elgar spoke before the match, he was harsh in his self-assessment and called his dismissals “silly” and “stupid”, and his handling of Nathan Lyon, who had him caught and bowled twice, “crap”. Today, he faced 68 balls from Lyon and scored 24 runs, including his most impressive shot, a shimmy down the track for a six over long-on. “I was very mindful of his threat. He is a quality spinner and I needed to find a way to be better than him. It’s a tough challenge when you are facing a good bowler,” Elgar said. “It was nice to have one up on him.”The victory Elgar believes he has earned over Lyon is not limited to the fact that Elgar survived more than 11 overs of Lyon’s bowling but also a catch. Elgar was on 53 when he should have been caught by Lyon at backward point.Perhaps he had a point about the imperfection of the innings, then. He also offered a chance when he edged beyond the reach of Steven Smith at second slip to enter the nineties, where he spent the tea-break.Getty ImagesWhat followed after the interval was a beautifully-timed drive through the covers off Mitchell Starc and then a mow through midwicket to bring up his century. As a contrast, those shots showed the artistic and the agricultural side of Elgar and his celebration was as raw as the stroke that took him to three figures.Elgar found himself almost at square leg as he ran, arms outstretched, open-mouthed, and then almost helmet-butted AB de Villiers. This century meant a lot, because it came after an impressive 2017, in which Elgar finished as the third-highest run-scorer for the year, but a stop-start 2018, with an unbeaten 86 against India and the half-century from a Test ago the only shadows of his previous feats.”I didn’t think I had accomplished what I wanted to as a player for the side so it was important for me to try and do it in the first two Tests against Australia. Slowly but surely, I started finding myself again with regards to preparation and becoming the player that I know I am,” Elgar said.The batsmen who came in after de Villiers might want to start thinking about the players they know they are, and want to be, too. Elgar’s initial assessment that a first-innings score of “380-400” at tea is now out of the question, because his team-mates did exactly what Elgar knew they could not risk doing. “We can’t afford to play loose cricket,” he said.Though batting was not easy for the incoming batsmen, some of the shot selection, like Quinton de Kock’s pull and Keshav Maharaj’s gift to extra-cover, was questionable.But at the end of the day, Elgar was never going to be one to slag off his own team-mates and empathised with their undoing. “I know the players in our side are trying their backsides off to contribute,” he said. “I am aware of the difficulties of this format. Certain moments in Test cricket can set you up for a few very good days.” And on the first day of the third Test, Australia had more of those moments.

His team broke the record for their highest total in ODIs for the second time in two games

Mohammad Isam20-Mar-2023No result Mushfiqur Rahim smashed Bangladesh’s fastest century, off 60 balls, as his team broke the record for their highest total in ODIs yet again. Bangladesh reached 349 for 6 in 50 overs against Ireland, beating the 338 for 8 from the previous game in Sylhet. Mushfiqur completed his entertaining hundred off the last ball of the innings, racing across for a single that took him past Shakib Al Hasan and his 63-ball century against Zimbabwe in 2009.Rain ruined the rest of the game though, which had to be called off at 8.32pm local time, without a single ball bowled in the chase.Mushfiqur mixed his class with a bit of innovation and power in an innings where he also went past 7000 runs. He cracked three fours through cover, six through point and two through fine leg. His sixes, both technically brilliant, were smashed over point and wide long-off. All of this having only walked in to bat in the 34th over. No Bangladesh batter had ever walked in that late in the innings and scored a century.Early on, Bangladesh were fueled by a pair of seventies from Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das. Once again, Graham Hume was the best Ireland bowler on show, taking three wickets, but the rest couldn’t really deal with the challenge.Mushfiqur and Towhid Hridoy added 128 runs for the fourth wicket in just 78 balls, the fastest 100-plus stand in Bangladesh’s ODI history. It is also the second-fastest in Bangladesh, just behind the Inzamam-ul-Haq and Moin Khan stand which added 104 off 61 balls in the Asia Cup final in 2000.It all began in dank and cloudy conditions, with the ball seaming around appreciably as the Ireland bowlers thrived. Forty-two runs in the first Powerplay isn’t a lot, but batting through it losing just one wicket is a credit to the Bangladesh top order. But just when captain Tamim Iqbal looked he was getting into the groove of things, he got run-out for 23. He called his partner for a very tight single to short fine and Mark Adair was able to catch him well short of his ground.Bangladesh’s recovery from that early wicket was swift too. Shanto and Litton added 101 runs in just 16 overs, as the pair batted serenely, threading gaps and finding boundaries at ease.Litton however fell to a soft dismissal in the 26th over, dinking a simple catch to midwicket. He made 70 off 71 balls with three fours and three sixes, all of which came in the region between wide long-off and midwicket. Shakib fell trying to slog Hume, getting caught at point for 17. An over and two balls later, Hume picked up Shanto caught behind down the leg side.Shanto, who was dropped by Tector at point when on 6, made 73 off 77 balls, including three fours and two sixes. All his fours came through the off side while the sixes were struck down the ground.Mushfiqur and Hridoy made the best use of Bangladesh’s strong base. The pair played out 16 balls to get themselves in, before launching into the Ireland attack. They struck debutant Mark Humphreys for three fours in a 14-run over. Then Mushfiqur brought out the drive over long-off for six off Curtis Campher, before Hridoy struck Andy McBrine for a fierce six over long-on.In the next over, the 43rd, Mushfiqur latched into Adair’s pace, pasting him for two fours and a slapped six over point. He then went after Campher, hitting him for three boundaries in an 18-run over. Despite his good bowling, Hume didn’t escape Mushfiqur’s thrashing at this stage, getting hit for two fours in the 45th over.Adair removed Hridoy in the 47th over, missing out on his second consecutive fifty since debut by just one run. Mushfiqur was on 78 at the time, but he struck a boundary each in the 48th and 49th overs, and took the nine runs he still needed for the century off teh last four balls of the innings. It was an excellent effort from the veteran batter who had previously hit a century off 69 balls against Pakistan in 2015. Bangladesh made 108 runs in the last ten overs, their third-highest tally in this phase of a 50-over innings (minimum 60 balls bowled).

West Indies managed to get to the 113-run target off the last ball to take a 1-0 series lead over Ireland

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jul-2023Captain Hayley Matthews took West Indies to a last-ball win in the first of three T20Is against Ireland. She first took 3 for 22 in four overs to restrict Ireland to 112 in Gros Islet, and followed that up by scoring a sedate 42-ball 37 to script a two-wicket win for West Indies.Shemaine Campbelle’s single off the final delivery of the took West Indies home, something that looked doubtful when they slid from a comfortable 40 for 1 in the ninth over to a tricky 74 for 5 in the 15th. That collapse included top-scorer Matthews’ wicket, who was the first of two to fall off back-to-back balls by medium-pace bowler Arlene Kelly.Kelly trapped Zaida James immediately after having Matthews caught, and finished with 3 for 21, although that effort didn’t prove enough for Ireland in the end.After being asked to bat, Ireland’s batters lost their way following an opening stand of 28 off 23 balls between Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter. Ireland lost three wickets for 16 runs at that stage, with two of those wickets going to Cherry-Ann Fraser, who dismissed Hunter and Orla Prendergast after Matthews had struck first to remove Lewis.Matthews’ counterpart Laura Delany and Eimear Richardson briefly steadied Ireland with a 31-run fourth-wicket stand, which was then broken by offspinner Ashmini Munisar.Delany, who scored 34, fell after adding another 28 with Kelly, but two wickets and just one run off the last four deliveries of their innings stymied Ireland, who eventually fought well with the ball, only to fall just short.

Chelsea have reportedly slapped a €20 million price tag on a fading star amid rising interest from Bundesliga teams.

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Chelsea exits expected this summerSlap €20m price tag on player's headBundesliga teams interestedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea have received several enquiries from Bundesliga teams over striker Armando Broja. He states RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg are closely monitoring the 23-year-old, who is valued at €20m (£17m).

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Broja has gone from being a highly-rated Chelsea academy product, who was valued at around £50m ($67.5m) just 18 months ago, to one who is seemingly surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge. The Albania international has had two unfruitful loans at Fulham and Everton, and now it seems a Blues departure is likely. Incidentally, team-mate Axel Disasi could also be heading for the exit.

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Despite impressing on loan at Vitesse and Southampton, where he scored 20 goals in two seasons, Broja has found the net just 23 times in 132 matches in his career at club level. He also failed to score in 19 combined appearances at Fulham and Everton and has just three goals in 38 Chelsea games.

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It remains to be seen if anyone will bid that much for Broja, who still has three years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, or if Chelsea will have to lower their asking price to get him off their books.