5:22 AM ET In an unprecedented meeting, a delegation of five NBA players and several officials from the National Basketball Players Association are at the Vatican this morning for a private audience with Pope Francis to discuss their work on social justice issues. An intermediary for Pope Francis reached out to the players association last
11:20 AM ET San Jose Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda will take some time to weigh up his future after the club fell on penalties to Sporting Kansas City in the opening round of the MLS playoffs. Almeyda’s team forced extra-time when MLS’ all-time leading scorer Chris Wondolowski tied the game at 3-3 in the
6:22 AM ET Adriana Garcia Silos CF said they wanted to stop the game at half-time. Ian Walton/Getty Images Silos CF, a Spanish youth football team, has apologised to their opponents SF Jucar after they defeated them 30-0 on Sunday in a regional game. Silos’ A team took on Jucar’s C team in a game played
5:10 AM ET Arsenal and Leeds United have released joint statements condemning online racist abuse aimed at both Nicolas Pepe and Ezgjan Alioski following Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Elland Road. Pepe was sent off after 51 minutes following a clash with Alioski as the pair tangled off the ball repeatedly before the Arsenal winger headbutted
7:50 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong have been left out of Barcelona‘s squad for Tuesday’s game against Dynamo Kiev with coach Ronald Koeman saying they both need a rest. Messi has featured in all 11 of Barca’s games to date this season, only sitting out the first 45
11:28 AM ET Up to 4,000 spectators will be allowed attend Premier League games in lowest-risk tier one areas of England when a month-long national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 is lifted on Dec. 2, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday. As part of new COVID-19 restrictions, fans will be allowed
11:42 AM ET Jose Mourinho and Tottenham asserted their title credentials by beating Manchester City this weekend, while in Spain, Barcelona and Lionel Messi looked ugly in defeat to Atletico Madrid, the presumptive title favorites. Elsewhere, Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped AC Milan stay atop Serie A, Real Madrid are struggling to fire, Bayern Munich also suffered
11:40 AM GMT England head coach Eddie Jones has said he met with Liverpool’s director of research Ian Graham to get some insight into the transitional play of the Premier League champions, and it played a role in Jonny May’s sensational try against Ireland. May’s score helped England to an 18-7 Autumn Nations Cup win
10:39 AM ET Dario Saric has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal to stay with the Phoenix Suns, agents Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. At 6-foot-10, 225 pounds, Saric can play the stretch 4 and 5 positions, averaging 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point range
8:00 AM ET Pep Guardiola’s decision to sign a contract extension at Manchester City last week was a big deal for the club in more ways than one: it ensures that the most celebrated coach in football will remain at the Etihad until 2023, but perhaps more significantly, it also puts the club firmly in