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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

Defector's 2025 Tip Jar Sweepstakes: Join Chris and Kelsey in the Great Blogger Bake Shop

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Tip jar sweepstakes

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Tom Ley

Zohran Mamdani holding up a photo of Ian Wright

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This Is So Stupid

Can Zohran Mamdani Keep New Yorkers Safe From Remembering Some Arsenal Guys?

Idrissa Gueye of Everton receives a red card for a disagreement with Michael Keane of Everton during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Manchester United v Everton – Premier League

Soccer

You Can Get Slapped By Your Own Teammate And Still Beat Manchester United

Abigail Segel is a writer based in Montreal.

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Abigail Segel

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Rose Lavelle #16 of NY/NJ Gotham FC celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammates during the 2025 NWSL championship game between Washington Spirit and NJ|NY Gotham City FC at PayPal Park on November 22, 2025, in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Elysia Su/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Washington Spirit v NJ/NY Gotham FC – NWSL Championship 2025 Presented by Google Pixel

Gotham Grabs The Crown Of An NWSL At A Tipping Point

Lesley Ryder is a writer and a host covering the Chicago Red Stars. She co-created <a href="https://galpalsports.com/">Gal Pal Sports</a>, a platform that lives to make women’s sports fun for everyone.

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Lesley Ryder

Investigations Editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

DFM New Headshot

Diana Moskovitz

A detail of the NWSL logo on a game ball prior to the NWSL match between the Houston Dash and the Angel City FC at Shell Energy Stadium on April 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

Houston Dash v Angel City FC

The NWSL Received 43 Complaints In 2024, And Five In The First Half Of This Year, Public Records Show

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Scotland's Kieran Tierney (R) and Kenny McLean celebrate at full time during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park, on November 18, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Scotland vs Denmark

Scotland Stunned Its Way Back To The World Cup

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Billy Haisley

Ireland's forward #07 Troy Parrott celebrates his 2-3 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F European qualification football match betweem Hungary and Republic of Ireland at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on November 16, 2025.

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The World Cup Is The Best, Even When It’s Not The World Cup

Norway's team players ans staff celebrate their victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025.

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Norway Is So Much More Than Just Erling Haaland

Luis Rubiales and editor Gonzalo Sichar speak during the presentation of "Matar a Rubiales"on November 13, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. The former president of the RFEF presents his book "Matar a Rubiales" in which he tells his version of events about the non-consensual kiss to Jenni Hermoso.

Luis Rubiales Presents “Matar A Rubiales”

Life's Rich Pageant

Luis Rubiales Egged By Uncle Who Is Also Named Luis Rubiales

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Ray Ratto

Przemyslaw Adam Frankowski (29) of Galatasaray receives yellow card during Turkish Super Lig week 33 football match between ikas Eyupspor and Galatasaray at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye on April 27, 2025.

ikas Eyupspor v Galatasaray – Turkish Super Lig

Gambling

Turkish Soccer Is Eating America’s Lunch When It Comes To Gambling Suspensions

Brian Brobbey of Sunderland AFC scores a late equalizing goal for Sunderland during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Arsenal at the Stadium Of Light in Sunderland, England, on November 8, 2025.

Sunderland v Arsenal – Premier League

Sunderland Doesn’t Need To Die To Get To Heaven

Carlos Forbs of Club Brugge celebrates after scoring the team's first goal against Wojciech Szczesny of FC Barcelona and Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Club Brugge KV and FC Barcelona at Jan Breydelstadion on November 5, 2025 in Bruges, Belgium.

Club Brugge KV v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4

Barcelona Is Falling Into Its Own Offside Trap

Chicago Stars FC fans chant Trans Rights are Human Rights while holding up a Transgender flag behind Alyssa Naeher #1 of Chicago Stars FC during the first half during a game between San Diego Wave FC and Chicago Stars FC at Seatgeek Stadium on April 26, 2025, in Bridgeview, Illinois.

San Diego Wave FC v Chicago Stars FC

The Anti-Trans Grifters Are Coming For The NWSL

Aaron Timms

Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, during the conference about 'Present and Future of the Football Industry' by ISDE Sports Convention at ISDE Madrid on March 27, 2025, in Madrid, Spain.

Presentation Of ISDE Sports Convention With Javier Tebas

In The Fight For Soccer’s Soul, Europe Wins A Battle But Is Still Losing The War

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City v Bournemouth – Premier League

Erling Haaland Has Taken Control

Roma's Spanish defender #22 Mario Hermoso celebrates with Roma's Argentine forward #21 Paulo Dybala after scoring his team's first goal during the Italian Serie A football match between AS Roma and Parma at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on October 29, 2025.

FBL-ITA-SERIE A-ROMA-PARMA

The Best Title Race Is, Once Again, In Serie A

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool looks on alongside teammates during the Premier League match between Brentford and Liverpool at Gtech Community Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Brentford, England.

Brentford v Liverpool – Premier League

Alright, What The Damn Hell Is Going On With Liverpool?

Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on October 21, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal FC v Atletico de Madrid – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3

Arsenal Shows No Mercy

Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Bournemouth at Selhurst Park on October 18, 2025 in London, United Kingdom.

Crystal Palace v Bournemouth – Premier League

It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than Bournemouth-Crystal Palace

Fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv stage a pro-Israel demonstration at the Dam Square, lighting up flares and chanting slogans ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam, Netherlands on November 07, 2024. Maccabi fans clashed with pro-Palestinian citizens and ripped off Palestinian flags hung on the streets. In the lead-up to the Ajax vs Maccabi Tel Aviv match, several areas of Amsterdam have been designated as security risk zones.

Pro-Israel Maccabi fans stage demonstration in Amsterdam, at least ten arrests

Keir Starmer Won’t Tolerate Racist Hooligans Being Barred From Aston Villa’s Stadium

Ange Postecoglou Head Coach of Nottingham Forest looks dejected with empty seats behind during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at City Ground on October 18, 2025 in Nottingham, England.

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea – Premier League

Big Ange Has Never Been More Out

Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates during the European qualifier Fifa World Cup 2026 match between Italy and Israel at Friuli stadium. Final score; Italy 3 : 0 Israel.

Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates during the European

Italy Makes Up For UEFA’s Cowardice By Ending Israel’s World Cup Chances

Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 league phase match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munchen Frauen at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 07, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v FC Bayern M√ºnchen – UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1

Barcelona Is On The Warpath

Jaedyn Shaw #2 of NY/NJ Gotham FC attempts a shot during the match against Portland Thorns at Sports Illustrated Stadium on September 26, 2025 in Harrison, New Jersey.

NY/NJ Gotham FC v Portland Thorns

Jaedyn Shaw’s Redemption Arc Is Underway

Jack Grealish of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Everton v Crystal Palace – Premier League

Jack Grealish Has Rediscovered His Excellence