Royal Roundup: Hall Of Fame finalists named

Neymar set to remain at PSG, NWSL preseason, USMNT player ratings, will MLS players call the league’s bluff? All this and more in today’s roundup.

By Kreg Asay Feb 3, 2021, 6:00am MST

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Your mid-week news from the world of soccer.

INTERNATIONAL

Last week’s bombshell about Lionel Messi’s salary has revealed just how high taxes are for athletes in Spain. [USA Today]
Use of VAR once again creates a controversy in the EPL after a red card was upheld against Arsenal. [FTW][Goal]
Winners and Losers in the European winter transfer window. [FFT][Goal]
French Ligue 1 team Marseille have announced the suspension of their coach Andre-Villas-Boas after he made many comments criticizing the club management’s transfer policy after they signed a player against his wishes. He has already expressed the desire to leave, and will likely be fired in the coming days. [Goal]
The Ligue 1 and 2 TV broadcast rights crisis has worsened in France as current bidders were deemed to be ‘unsuitably low’. [Guardian]
Brazilan superstar Neymar is working out final details on a 4-year contract extension with Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain. [Goal]

The ongoing pandemic has prompted most college soccer conferences to change to an abbreviated spring schedule. [USSP]
Alex Morgan and Christen Press called up to USWNT for the She Believes cup. [WaPo]
NWSL preseason rosters and questions for all 10 clubs. [Equalizer]
Six US players were involved in the Decision Day transfers. [Goal] A total of 9 US players moved during the winter transfer window. [US.AS]
The final ballot of 40 names for the US Soccer Hall Of Fame has been revealed. Only 2-4 new inductees will be announced in March, here’s the full list of finalists. [NSHOF]
Here are the player ratings from the USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago rout. [MLS][Multiplex][St8tes]

D.C. United has loaned Paul Arriola to Swansea City for the remainder of their season (until May). [WaPo]
Former Chicago Fire CB, and more recently Asst. Coach for 5 different MLS teams (including Real Salt Lake) C.J. Brown, has finally landed a Head Coach position with a new team in the 3rd Division National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) The team (yet to be named), will play in the former Chicago Fire stadium in Bridgeview. [FRS]
The 2021 hype train has begun! The official match ball has finally been revealed! [MLS]
The three teams that are winning the off-season so far. [MLS]
Dane Murphy may be a name recognized by a few MLS fans, particularly those from RSL (2015-18) and DCU (2018-19) as he spent some time in the club management of both teams; he’s now the Technical Director for the Barnsley FC in the 2nd division English Championship, and is keen to use his contacts in North America. [MLS]
Should the MLS Players Union call the league’s bluff? The players have offered concessions while the owners are refusing to budge. Question is, which side stands to lose in the court of public opinion? [S&SF]

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Highlights from the USMNT rout of T&T.