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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

Protect The Head That Reads Defector

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Merch v3

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Albert Burneko

Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag, looking lonely and miserable on the sideline while his team blows a lead to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

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Soccer

More Like Erik Two Hag

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Billy Haisley

The LED board shows the VAR check which disallows a Tottenham Hotspur goal for offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 06, 2023 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC – Premier League

VAR Turned A Great Match Into The Worst And Weirdest Game Of The Season

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Liverpool FC at Kenilworth Road on November 05, 2023 in Luton, England.

Luton Town v Liverpool FC – Premier League

Luis Díaz Delivered For Liverpool As Search For Kidnapped Father Continues

Francisco 'Isco' Alarcon of Real Betis celebrates a goal during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between Real Betis and CA Osasuna at Benito Villamarin stadium on October 29, 2023, in Sevilla, Spain.

Real Betis V Ca Osasuna – La Liga Ea Sports

Isco’s Career Renaissance Is Better Late Than Never

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

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023.

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The Moments That Made Aitana Bonmatí The Best In The World

A general view of the performance as Saudi Arabia is displayed on the LED Screen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 World Cup

Jude Bellingham player of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Jude Bellingham Has Already Made Madrid His Own

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Newcastle United FC v Borussia Dortmund: Group F – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Update: Sandro Tonali’s 10-Month Gambling Ban No Longer In Limbo

Brais Mendez of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Sociedad at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on October 24, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

SL Benfica v Real Sociedad: Group D – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Champions League

Real Sociedad Is Exactly What The Champions League Needs

Johan Bakayoko of PSV celebrates 0-1 with Sergino Dest of PSV during the UEFA Champions League match between RC Lens v PSV at the Stade Bollaert Delelis on October 24, 2023 in Lens France

RC Lens v PSV – UEFA Champions League

The Champions League’s ‘RedZone’ Had Its Crowning Moment