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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

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

Andy Polo of Universitario celebrates his goal during Liga 1 Profesional Peru match between Alianza Lima and Universitario at Estadio Nacional de Lima on February 10, 2024 in Lima, Peru.

Andy Polo

Soccer

Peruvian International Andy Polo Found Liable For Domestic Violence

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Patrick Redford

MONZA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 18: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan scores his team's second goal during the Serie A TIM match between AC Monza and AC Milan - Serie A TIM at U-Power Stadium on February 18, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

AC Monza v AC Milan – Serie A TIM

How Thrilling It Is To Have Christian Pulisic Back In Top Form

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Albert Burneko

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Sociedad: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Maybe Kylian Mbappé Really Is Leaving This Time?

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Dayot Upamecano of Bayern Munchen is expelled by the referee François Letexier during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SS Lazio and FC Bayern München at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2024 in Rome, Italy.

SS Lazio v FC Bayern München: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Bayern Munich Is Face-To-Face With Its Own Mortality

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Billy Haisley

Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between RB Leipzig and Real Madrid CF at Red Bull Arena on February 13, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

RB Leipzig v Real Madrid CF: Round of 16 First Leg – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Everybody’s A Star At Real Madrid

Handball referees Marcus Helbig (l) and Lars Geipel show the new blue cards in Leipzig, Germany, 1 August 2016. The two will be refereeing at the Olympic games for the second time. PHOTO: JAN WOITAS/DPA | usage worldwide (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Handball referees Geipel and Helbig go to Olympics for 2nd time

Soccer’s Rulemakers Are Rolling Out Blue Cards

Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Manchester City at Brentford Community Stadium on February 05, 2024 in Brentford, England.

Brentford FC v Manchester City – Premier League

Manchester City Is Ready To Pounce

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Barry Petchesky

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David Roth

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Kathryn Xu

Metlife Stadium across the Hackensack River in Secaucus, New Jersey, on June 15, 2023. Activist Bill Sheehan has turned mountains to clean up the river, polluted by industry, ten kilometers (6.2 miles) from Manhattan, even if much remains to be done. "It didn't take me long to realize that the river needed a full-time advocate," he says of the hemmed in by an ultra-dense urban grid. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

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Let Us Discuss What The World Cup Final Means For “New York New Jersey”

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

Jonatan Giraldez, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, gestures during the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage match between FC Barcelona and Eintracht Frankfurt at Estadi Johan Cruyff on January 25, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Eintracht Frankfurt: Group A – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24

Jonatan Giráldez Is Trading A Golden Past For An Uncertain Future

Head Coach Xavi Hernandez of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on January 27, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Villarreal CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Xavi Writes Himself An Ending

Jurgen Klopp announces he will leave Liverpool in a 25-minute interview

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Jürgen Klopp To Leave Liverpool At The End Of This Season

Jordan Henderson of Ajax during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax Amsterdam and RKC Waalwijk at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on January 21, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Dutch EredivisieAjax Amsterdam v RKC Waalwijk

Saudi Arabia’s Expensive Soccer Experiment Is Already Showing Cracks

Real Madrid players celebrates after Daniel Carvajal goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and UD Almeria at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid CF v UD Almeria – LaLiga EA Sports

Real Madrid Is The Good Guy

Real Madrid players celebrates after scoring a goal during Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid - Super Copa de España Semi-Final on January 10, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Real Madrid CF v Atletico Madrid – Super Copa de Espa√±a Semi-Final

The Saudi Supercopa Is Great In Spite Of Itself

Joao Pedro of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Stoke City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Bet365 Stadium on January 6, 2024 in Stoke on Trent, England.

Stoke City v Brighton and Hove Albion – Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Brighton Runs On João Pedro Power

Antoine Mille takes a penalty in a Coupe de France match between Chateauroux and Les Herbiers.

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When Keeping It Highlight Reel Goes Wrong: Panenka Edition

Nathaniel Clyne of Crystal Palace is challenged by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison of Everton, leading to a red card for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on January 04, 2024 in London, England.

Crystal Palace v Everton – Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Game’s Gone

Ivan Martin (Girona FC) celebrates with his teammates after scoring during La Liga football match between Girona FC and Atletico de Madrid, at Montilivi Stadium on January 3, 2024 in Girona, Spain. Foto: Siu Wu

Girona FC vs Atletico de Madrid

Girona Is Wide Awake

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the fourth Liverpool goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United at Anfield on January 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool FC v Newcastle United – Premier League

Mohamed Salah’s AFCON Absence Will Be Liverpool’s Biggest Test

Malo Gusto of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on December 27, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.

Chelsea FC v Crystal Palace – Premier League

Chelsea Is Neither Here Nor There

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - DECEMBER 21: Vinicius Junior attends the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the LA Clippers on December 21, 2023 at Paycom Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder

Vinicius Jr. Pays Visit To Best Cities In America, Also Los Angeles

Fans protesting the establishment of the breakaway European Super League demonstrate outside Stamford Bridge stadium, home of Chelsea Football Club, in London, United Kingdom on April 20, 2021. Chelsea is one of six English Premier League clubs to have signed up to the planned midweek competition, announced on Sunday night in defiance of condemnation from football authorities and political leaders including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

European Super League protest in London

The European Super League Is Undead

COLUMBUS, OHIO - DECEMBER 08: MLS Commissioner Don Garber speaks during his state of the league address ahead of the 2023 MLS Cup at Lower.com Field on December 08, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

2023 MLS Cup – Commissioner Don Garber Press Conference

MLS Tries, Fails To Chart Bold New Frontier In Anti-Competitivity

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Tom Ley

Everton's Manager Sean Dyche during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Chelsea FC at Goodison Park on December 10, 2023 in Liverpool, England.

Everton FC v Chelsea FC – Premier League

Sean Dyche Is Proving He Was Never A Dinosaur

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Ray Ratto

Luton Town players applaud fans after game was abandoned after team-mate Tom Lockyer needed lengthy medical treatment before being stretchered off during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town at Vitality Stadium on December 16, 2023 in Bournemouth, England.