Former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is set to purchase French club Marseille

Former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is preparing to move into European soccer with a purchase of Olympique Marseille of France’s Ligue 1.

The club announced that it has “entered into exclusive discussions for the acquisition of the club by Mr. McCourt.”

McCourt purchased the Dodgers in 2004. The club filed for Bankruptcy in 2011 and McCourt eventually sold the club in 2012 to the current ownership group.

In a statement from Marseille, the goal is to have the transaction completed before the end of the year.

In a statement McCourt said: Being part of the Olympique de Marseille and helping the club achieve success both on and off the pitch would be an honor and privilege for me and my family. Not only is OM among the oldest and most respected football clubs in the world and the only French club to win the UEFA Champions League, it is one of the most iconic brands in all of sports. OM enjoys the passionate support of legions of fans in Marseille, throughout France and around the world. As the steward of OM, my ambition would be to help return the club to championship form, to deliver the best fan experience in all of football, to strengthen the club’s ties with the supporters and the city of Marseille and to guide the club to long-term financial stability.”

 

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College soccer: No. 6 Florida knocks off No. 15 UCLA in overtime

Jessie Fleming made her UCLA debut Sunday and scored a pair of goals for No. 15 UCLA, but it wasn’t enough as No. 6 Florida escaped with a 4-3 overtime victory. Fleming was a member of the Canada team that earned Bronze at the Rio Olympics.

UCLA led 3-2 after Fleming’s second goal (68:35), but Florida tied the game at 72:57 and added the winner in overtime.

Here are the highlights, courtesy of UCLA Athletics

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Galaxy preview: Galaxy returns home to host Vancouver

Things are getting crowded in the Western Conference MLS standings and the GalaxyGalaxy is looking to make a big move with the first of two home games, starting tonight.

The Galaxy (9-4-12) will host Vancouver (8-12-6) at the StubHub Center at 7:30 p.m.

Vancouver is currently in ninth place in the Western Conference on 30 points. The Galaxy is in fourth with 39 points.

The teams have met twice already. The first meeting ended in a draw, the Galaxy won the second. Will the Galaxy be able to pick up a much-needed three points?

pregame reading: Brian Rowe is ready for a return

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Five SoCal players selected to U.S. U-17 Women’s World Cup

Goalkeeper Hillary Beall (Crean Lutheran HS/Laguna Beach); defenders Karina Rodriguez (Torrance HS), Kennedy Wesley (Valley Christian HS/Rossmoor); Katie Wiesner (Monrovia HS) and forward Ashley Sanchez (Monrovia) are on the the U.S. roster for the upcoming U-17 Women’s World Cup

The tournament begins Thursday in Jordan and ends Oct. 21.

The U.S. is in Group D and begins play Oct. 1 against Paraguay (9 a.m./FSP). The U.S. will also face Ghana (Oct. 4) and Japan (Oct. 8).

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Update: USL suspends Orange County Blues FC’s Richard Chaplow; he denies use of slur toward Robbie Rogers

The United Soccer League (USL) announced it has suspended Orange County Blues FC midfielder Richard Chaplow for two games fined him an undisclosed amount for “offensive and abusive language directed at another player” during the Aug. 20 game against LA Galaxy II.

The incident involves the Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers, who took to Facebook Sunday with a lengthy post stating that an opposing player had called him a homophobic slur during the game.

“The USL has zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” USL President Jake Edwards said. “We cannot, nor will we, condone any language that is counter to the values we have instilled throughout the USL.”

The suspension was determined following the USL Disciplinary Committee’s investigation that included a video review, speaking with the referee and with players and staff of both teams.

Chaplow told The Telegraph that he didn’t use a homophobic slur, but he did said that he used foul language toward Rogers.

Orange County Blues released a statement Wednesday, regarding the situation.

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Robbie Keane announces retirement from international competition

Galaxy forward Robbie Keane announced Wednesday morning that he is retiring from international duty with the Republic of Ireland national team, following next week’s international friendly.

Keane was selected to roster for the Aug. 31 game against Oman at Aviva Stadium in Robbie+Keane+returnsIreland. That will be his final game. Keane is Ireland’s all-time leader in goals (67) and appearances (145) over 18 years. He made his international debut in 1998 at the age of 17.

In a statement posted on his Facebook, Keane said:

“Today, I am announcing my decision to retire from international football following the
upcoming game with Oman on 31st August in the Aviva Stadium. It has been a wonderful journey for me to have played with the Irish international team for over eighteen years.”

“It has also been a great honor, for both me and my family, to have been given the opportunity to captain my country for over ten years. I have been on the most incredible journey with the Irish team and fans over the last 18 years and words cannot express how proud I am to be Irish.”

In his career with Ireland, Keane appeared in the 2002 World Cup and the 2012 and 2016 European Championships.

In this statement, he also stated his desire to continue his club football playing. His contract with the Galaxy reportedly expires in January.

“While this is the end of my international career, I hope to continue to play for some years yet. I love my time playing with LA Galaxy and intend to focus my energies on continuing my club football for a few more seasons.”

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Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers says he was called slur during Saturday’s game

galaxyGalaxy midfielder Robbie Rogers said he was subject to a homophobic slur during Saturday’s USL-game with LA Galaxy II against the Orange County Blues.

Rogers, who revealed that he was gay in 2013, posted a lengthy Facebook story about the incident from Saturday’s game.

Here are portions of the post:

“In the heat of the last fifteen minutes of the game a player from the opposing team called me a “queer” repeatedly. To be honest my initial reaction was one of shock. This is my fourth season back in the MLS and I’ve yet to hear another player use that or any other gay slur during a game. I quickly became enraged, I spent the drive home wishing I had channeled my inner Zidane and punched or head-butted this player even though I knew punching this person wouldn’t have helped either of us, my team, or the greater cause of advancing equality in sports. I went to bed upset last night. Angry at this player and his ignorance. Angry at myself for not doing more in the moment.

“Sad we still live in a time where this kind of intolerance still exists in my sport and elsewhere. And if I’m being honest, I was even a bit ashamed that a single word could make me feel, even just for a moment, all the awful feelings I felt for so many years: small, less than, wrong, and unworthy of love and respect by my family or god forbid by my teammates.

“But it was just for a moment.

“Minutes later my head was back in the game. And this morning even most of the anger has faded and the predominant emotions left are just love and gratitude. I’m happy that I practiced restraint worthy of my sport. I’m thankful for the many players on my team and even the opposing one who apologized to me for one man’s actions. Today, I woke up grateful to work in organization filled with so many players and coaches who have worked hard to practice tolerance of everyone and to help change a culture.

“But mostly I’m proud of myself. I am proud more than ever that I had the courage to come out as a queer man. I feel so fortunate to have gotten to share my story with others and to have gotten to play this sport I love so much as an openly gay person. I am, more than ever, thankful to have teammates and a family that love and support me for the son, brother, partner, father and queer player that I am.

“I’m encouraging, as I did when I came out four years ago, all athletes to find the courage within themselves to come out. Listen, only you know when and how it’s best for you to live your truth and share your story, but each one of you that chooses to make this courageous step is not just vastly improving your own life but literally saving others.”

LA Galaxy II was defeated by the Orange County Blues, 2-0, Saturday.

In a statement from Major League Soccer, released Sunday evening, the league said: “Soon after Robbie Rogers shared his story on social media on Sunday about being subject to a homophobic slur while playing for the LA Galaxy II in a USL match on Saturday, Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League began an investigation. Although the investigation is ongoing, both MLS and the USL have zero tolerance for homophobia or any type of discrimination in our game.”

The USL statement read: The USL has begun a full investigation into allegations of homophobic slurs directed at a player during last night’s Orange County Blues FC vs. LA Galaxy II game. The USL has zero tolerance for any discriminatory behavior.

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