Royal Roundup: Match Fixing on the rise during the pandemic

Happy Wednesday! Did everyone make it through the snowstorms? Here’s some reading material to keep warm by.

INTERNATIONAL

• The ongoing pandemic has provided to be fertile grounds for sports betting - and along with that comes match fixing. Investigators have tracked a steep rise in questionable activity across all sports over the last year. [Guardian]
• FIFA announced the appointment of two joint-Chief Operating Officers for the Women’s World Cup 2023 set to take place in Australia & New Zealand. [FIFA]
• A UEFA Champions League surprise happened Tuesday. Barcelona lost the first leg at home 1-4 vs Paris Saint-Germain. [CBS]
• FIFA President Gianni Infantino has set off on a tour of the African Confederation. First stop was Mauritania where he inaugurate a new stadium. [FIFA]
• English Soccer has reached a breaking point over racial abuse on social media. [USAT]
• Pep Guardiola, the coach for Manchester City; believes that the upcoming international break will cause a spike in positive COVID tests for players. [Guardian]

USA

• One American, and quite a few others that played in MLS showed up on the 100 best Premier League players since 1992 complied by FourFourTwo. [FFT]
• Are professional trainers a cure or a curse? [FRS]
• The USWNT will play Canada in the 2nd game of the 2021 She Believes Cup on Thursday. The game kicks off at 5 PM MST and will be televised on FS1. [USSOC]

MLS

• The league has adjusted the dates for the primary transfer window due to the delayed opening dates. Primary window will now open on March 10th. [MLS]
• For 25 years Ireland has been sending players to MLS, here’s a look at some you may remember. [Balls]
• Hernan Losada joins the ranks of Argentine coaches in the league as he is set to lead D.C. United in 2021. [USSP]
• New England Revolution has unofficially retired the #20 jersey to honor Taylor Twellman. No player has worn that number since he retired in 2010. [MLS]
• There are still five high profile free agents that are unclaimed as the off-season clock ticks down. [MLS] Here’s the complete list of players still available. [MLS]

Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images

UTAH

• The RSL rumor mill is in action again with the team apparently making a loan offer for Brazilian Mateus Vital, currently playing for Corinthians. [MLS]
• Southern Utah University has added two international women’s players to help during the 2021 NCAA D1 season. [SUU]
• RSL has promoted their U-17 Academy coach Cody Worden to the role of Elite Talent Director for all levels of the academy. His role will be to identify and develop players who are likely to make the jump to the professional level. [RSL]

FLASHBACK

• MLS to Las Vegas has been bandied about in various circles for years, here’s proof. [2/17/11]
• Real Salt Lake lost 2-1 in a preseason match vs Seattle, here’s a few take-away thoughts from the match. [2/18/13]
• Chris Schuler was the team leader in pass interceptions during 2013, here’s a look at the statistics. [2/18/14]
• As the state legislature debated RSL’s proposal for a stadium at the fairgrounds, Dell Loy Hansen referred to it as a ‘gift’ to the state. [2/18/15]
• RSL beat New England Revolution 1-0 in the first preseason game of 2015. [2/18/15]
• RSL and New England tie 3-3 in tense preseason match. [2/17/16]
• RSL traded Abdoulie Mansally to Houston Dynamo for a 2017 conditional draft pick. [2/18/16]

VIDEO

RSL’s Samantha Yarock interviewed our new Technical Director Kurt Schmid. [video link]