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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

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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

Jeremy Doku of Manchester City battles with Pascal Gross of Brighton &amp; Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion – Premier League

Jérémy Doku Unleashed

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Tom Ley

Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign reacts after her last home regular-season NWSL match at Lumen Field on October 06, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Washington Spirit v OL Reign

Megan Rapinoe Put Retirement Off A Little Longer

United States forward Christian Pulisic (10) celebrates his goal with United States forward Tim Weah (21) during a match between the United Sates and Germany on October 14, 2023, at Pratt &amp; Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.

SOCCER: OCT 14 USA vs Germany

The USMNT Once Again Played The Best

Belgium's forward Eden Hazard celebrates during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on July 6, 2018.

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Eden Hazard Deserved A Better Ending

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder #11 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 8, 2023.

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Gabriel Martinelli Is Built For The Big Ones

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Patrick Redford

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring first goal during the Serie A Tim match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Luigi Ferrari Stadium on October 7, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Genoa CFC v AC Milan – Serie A TIM

Christian Pulisic Is Finally Back In The Groove

Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Paris Saint-Germain at St. James Park on October 4, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Newcastle United FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Group F – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Newcastle Roared To Champions League Life

Chicago Fire fans celebrate from the stands at SeatGeek Stadium on June 6, 2023 in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Houston Dynamo v Chicago Fire – Quarterfinals: 2023 U.S. Open Cup

Chicago Fire Tries Bribing Fans To Attend Game Messi Might Not Play In

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Anthony Martial, Andre Onana of Manchester United walks off during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and Galatasaray A.S. at Old Trafford on October 03, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United v Galatasaray A.S.: Group A – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Manchester United Is Back In The Pain Cave

Luis Diaz of Liverpool reacts after a goal was rules offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool FC – Premier League

Audio Reveals Panic, Confusion, And Expletives In Liverpool-Tottenham VAR Room

The giant screen shows a goal from Luis Diaz of Liverpool being checked for offside by VAR during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England.

VAR Fucked Up The One Thing It Is Supposed To Never Fuck Up

Victor Osimhen of Napoli looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on September 24, 2023 in Bologna, Italy.

Bologna FC v SSC Napoli – Serie A TIM

Napoli Shitposted Its Way Into A War With Its Own Best Player

Julie Ertz #8 of the United States watches a tribute video after playing South Africa at TQL Stadium on September 21, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

South Africa v United States

Julie Ertz Was The USWNT

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Martin Oedegaard of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal FC v PSV Eindhoven: Group B – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Arsenal’s Return To The Champions League Was Typically Stylish

Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their sides first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid CF and 1. FC Union Berlin at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on September 20, 2023 in Madrid, Spain