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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

New Defector Merch For Your Baby

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Merch v3

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Tom Ley

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Everton captain Seamus Coleman encourages the Everton supporters as he is carried from the field on a stretcher during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton FC at The King Power Stadium on May 1, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom.

Leicester City v Everton FC – Premier League

Soccer

Seamus Coleman Never Stopped

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on April 23, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League

Tottenham Gave Up

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Mike Maignan of AC Milan saves the penalty kicked by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of SSC Napoli during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on April 18, 2023 in Naples, Italy.

SSC Napoli v AC Milan: Quarterfinal Second Leg – UEFA Champions League

Napoli-Milan Had A Double Dose Of Stunning Penalty Saves

Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur looks on in-front of a flare after Bournemouth score their third goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 15, 2023 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth – Premier League

Does Anyone Want To Finish Fourth In The Premier League?

Harry Maguire of Manchester United reacts after scoring an own goal to make it 2-2 during the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal first leg match between Manchester United and Sevilla FC at Old Trafford on April 13, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Manchester United v Sevilla FC: Quarterfinal First Leg – UEFA Europa League

Manchester United Scores Four Goals, Draws 2-2

Frank Lampard, Caretaker Manager of Chelsea, looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid v Chelsea FC: Quarterfinal First Leg – UEFA Champions League

Frank Lampard Is Just Here To Eat Chelsea’s Shit

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Patrick Redford

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Muenchen looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match between Manchester City and FC Bayern München at Etihad Stadium on April 11, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Zemanek/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Manchester City v FC Bayern M√ºnchen: Quarterfinal First Leg – UEFA Champions League

Dayot Upamecano Lived A Defender’s Worst Nightmare

Granit Xhaka of Arsenal is held back by Alisson Becker as they argue with Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool who is held back by Ibrahima Konate during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on April 09, 2023 in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool FC v Arsenal FC – Premier League

The Winner Of Liverpool-Arsenal Was Manchester City

Romelu Lukaku of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between Juventus FC and FC Internazionale at Allianz Stadium on April 4, 2023 in Turin, Italy.

Juventus FC v FC Internazionale – Coppa Italia Semi Final

Romelu Lukaku Urges Serie A To Do Something, Anything About Racist Fans

LEEDS, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Luis Sinisterra of Leeds United scores the team's second goal whilst under pressure from Neco Williams of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on April 04, 2023 in Leeds, England.

Leeds United v Nottingham Forest – Premier League

The Premier League’s Relegation War Has Gone Nuclear

Mapi Leon of FC Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg match between FC Barcelona and AS Roma at Spotify Camp Nou on March 29, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v AS Roma: Quarter-Final 2nd Leg – UEFA Women’s Champions League

Barcelona Femeni Opened The Floodgates

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

STADIO OLIMPICO , ROME, ITALY - 2023/03/21: Salma Paralluelo of FCB Barcelona celebrates with teammates after scoring the goal of 0-1 during the Women Uefa Champions League quarter finals football match between AS Roma and FCB Barcelona. Barcelona won 1-0 over AS Roma.

Salma Paralluelo of FCB Barcelona celebrates with teammates

Barcelona Femeni Is Ready To Make The Climb

Ozil warms up before the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Semi Final match between Germany and Spain at Durban Stadium on July 7, 2010 in Durban, South Africa.

Germany v Spain: 2010 FIFA World Cup – Semi Final

Mesut Özil Would Dare

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring Arsenal's 4th goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on March 19, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal FC v Crystal Palace – Premier League

Bukayo Saka Is Arsenal’s Beating Heart

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 11, 2023 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v Nottingham Forest – Premier League

Nobody Has Ever Wanted To Be Fired As Badly As Antonio Conte

Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his opening goal ,during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 15, 2023 in Naples, Italy.

SSC Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt: Round of 16 Second Leg – UEFA Champions League

Victor Osimhen Is Napoli’s Exclamation Point

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Three Oakland Roots Supporters

Amedspor supporters march to the stadium before a match against Sanlıurfaspor in 2015.

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The Scorpions Behind The Barricade

World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina v France: Final – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

The Big World Cup Is Getting Bigger

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 3: United States head coach Gregg Berhalter salutes the fans after a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Netherlands v USA: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Investigation Reveals Details Of Berhalter-Reyna Family Feud

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Ray Ratto

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: BBC sports presenter and former England international football player Garry Lineker returns home on March 13, 2023 in London, England. The BBC will review its social media guidelines and how they apply to freelance talent outside of news following Mr Lineker's suspension for comments he made on twitter appearing to criticise the UK government's new asylum policy. Gary Lineker will return to host BBC sports shows this weekend after reaching a deal with the corporation.

Twitter Row Between Gary Lineker And The BBC Resolved

Media Meltdowns

Gary Lineker Routs BBC

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Gary Lineker looks on from the stands during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on March 11, 2023 in Leicester, England.

Gary Lineker at Leicester City

How Gary Lineker Brought the BBC To Its Knees

Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker leaves his home in London following reports that the BBC is to have a "frank conversation" with the ex-England striker after Home Secretary Suella Braverman branded as "irresponsible" the TV presenter's comments in which he compared the language used to launch the Government's new asylum policy to 1930s Germany. Picture date: Thursday March 9, 2023.

Gary Lineker comments on Illegal Migration Bill

‘Match Of The Day’ Pundits Boycott Show In Support Of Gary Lineker [Update]

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Laura Wagner

ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND - JULY 23: Corinne Diacre Head coach of France reacts prior to kick off in the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 Quarter Final match between France and Netherlands at The New York Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Rotherham, England.

France v Netherlands: Quarter Final – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022

French National Team Coach Fired Because Players Hated Her So Much They Quit The Team

Antonio Conte, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 08, 2023 in London, England