player

Raptors to open practice facility to players starting next week


The province announced Friday it was easing restrictions on Ontario’s professional sports teams to open their doors, subject to municipal guidelines.




player

Judge dismisses unequal pay claim by U.S. women's soccer players in lawsuit

A judge has granted a request, in part, by U.S. Soccer for a summary judgment in a gender-discrimination lawsuit by the U.S. women's World Cup team.




player

'The Last Dance' Episodes 5 and 6: NBA players share their reactions

NBA players react to Episodes 5 and 6 of 'The Last Dance,' which features the relationship between NBA superstars Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.




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Tennis governing bodies and Grand Slam tournaments create player relief program

The ATP, WTA, ITF and four Grand Slam events have created a program to support players affected by the sport's coronavirus-related shutdown.




player

Tennis player Kristie Ahn delivering aces on social media during pandemic

Kristie Ahn, the 96th-ranked player on the WTA Tour, has brought much-needed comic relief to the tennis world with videos she's posted on TikTok and Instagram.




player

Galaxy permanently shut down elite girls' soccer academy, leaving players scrambling

The Galaxy have permanently shuttered their elite girls' soccer academy, leaving more than 80 girls looking for new places to play.




player

Van Dijk says football shutdown will have made players consider retirement

The Liverpool defender says the current absence of football will have forced players to think about what they'll do when they have to stop playing




player

Man Utd stars shocked club's fastest player hasn't signed professional contract

Deji Sotona turned 17 in December but hasn't yet been tied down to a professional deal at United, despite the club's senior stars being impressed by him




player

Growth Players: CellPoint Mobile’s CEO Kristian Gjerding

Aiming to enable a “nirvana” experience for travelers has driven CellPoint towards block-chain powered, biometric-enabled identification.

Keep on reading: Growth Players: CellPoint Mobile’s CEO Kristian Gjerding




player

NRL players could face salary cuts during coronavirus crisis

NRL boss Todd Greenberg says players could be forced to take pay cuts as the organisation looks to cut costs amid the coronavirus crisis.




player

Will football be suspended if a player catches COVID-19? It depends on the code

The AFL and NRL will both play matches this weekend, but both leagues are taking different approaches to dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.




player

AFL delays decision on 2020 season opener as players demand 22 rounds

The AFL will decide on Wednesday whether the opening round of the men's season will go ahead this week, as the players push for a full home-and-away campaign of 22 matches instead of 17.




player

Coronavirus forces NRL to introduce self-isolation program for players

The NRL is introducing a self-isolation program for its players, as it looks to continue the premiership amid the coronavirus pandemic.




player

Former English Premier League player Peter Whittingham dies aged 35 after pub fall

Former English Premier League footballer Peter Whittingham dies at the age of 35, nearly two weeks after an accidental fall.




player

AFL to shut down for 30 days if player has coronavirus

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the competition will shut down for at least 30 days — not 14 — if a player tests positive to coronavirus.




player

AFL players apologise 'unreservedly' for night-long party against social-distancing advice

A group of North Melbourne footballers apologises for throwing a party at a Melbourne home last night, with the club saying it was "inappropriate in the current climate".




player

Jack Riewoldt says AFL players aren't being selfish in pay cut talks

As the AFL feels the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, its players reject suggestions they are being greedy as they negotiate a pay cut with the league.




player

Geelong coach Chris Scott defends AFL players amid pay cut negotiations

AFL players have been accused of being greedy and selfish during talks with the league over pay cuts now that the season is suspended, but the Cats coach says it is unfair.




player

AFL reaches pay-cut deal with players after coronavirus shuts down season

The ugly stand-off between the AFL and its players is finally over, with the two parties agreeing to a pay deal while the men's 2020 premiership season is suspended because of coronavirus.




player

Newcastle Jets player tests positive for COVID-19

The A-League club, which played Melbourne City before the A-League postponed its season amid the coronavirus pandemic, says the correct procedures have been followed.




player

Wages of NRL and AFL players set to be paid by taxpayer thanks to JobKeeper scheme

The Government's proposed JobKeeper payment is set to move the goalposts in desperate negotiations between sporting codes and their players amid the coronavirus pandemic.




player

NRL players lose five months' pay as part of new deal during coronavirus pandemic

The NRL and Rugby League Players' Association finally reach a pay agreement while the season is on hold because of coronavirus, with the players taking a cut of about 71 per cent for the rest of 2020.




player

Why are millionaire EPL football players not taking a pay cut?

English Premier League players are coming under fire for not taking a pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic, but the players association argues cutting player salaries could do more harm than good.




player

Players worried AFLW could be sacrificed because of financial cost of coronavirus

AFLW players are concerned their competition may be sacrificed or scaled back in 2021, as the AFL continues to grapple with the financial cost of the coronavirus pandemic.




player

Footy clubs warned to keep players' welfare in mind as self-isolation drags on

Experts urge AFL and NRL clubs not to underestimate the potential effects of isolation on players, as the rugby league players' union calls for their mental health to be prioritised during the coronavirus shutdown.




player

Tributes flow for former Richmond premiership player Michael Bowden

Former Richmond Tigers premiership player Michael Bowden is remembered as a fierce footballer, inspiring educator and compassionate family man after his death from motor neurone disease at the age of 73.



  • Sport
  • Community and Society
  • Australian Football League

player

Having Friday night footy withdrawal? You're not alone. Players like Josh Jenkins are just like you

The blare of the footy siren on Friday nights brings a thrill at the end of the working week for AFL fans. But many supporters and players alike are struggling in its absence and finding there's no cure for the Friday night footy blues.




player

Western Bulldogs player Lachie Hunter suspended over alleged drink-driving crash

Lachie Hunter is suspended for four games, gives up his vice-captaincy of the Western Bulldogs and is fined by the club over a drink-driving incident that saw four parked cars damaged in Melbourne last week.




player

'None of them are going to starve': Dominic Thiem doesn't want to fund struggling tennis players

The men's world number three has earned more than $37 million during his career, but he says he is not willing to contribute money to a planned relief program to help tennis professionals doing it tough during the coronavirus shutdown.




player

NRL players fined $1,000 for camping trip amid coronavirus lockdown

NRL players Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr have been fined $1,000 each for breaching the state's coronavirus distancing lockdown during a weekend away, as the NRL describes the getaway as "unacceptable".




player

Players who breached social-distancing rules put NRL restart at risk, Federal Sport Minister says

Federal Minister Richard Colbeck says he hopes sport halted by the coronavirus pandemic can get started again, but warns NRL players' misbehaviour threatens a return of play.




player

AFL players in 'shock' over 20-week isolation hub proposal

AFL players are stunned by the league's worst-case scenario for completing the season — that they could have to spend up to 20 weeks in isolation without their families.




player

NRL season restart under a cloud as players raise pay concerns

The resumption of the NRL season on May 28 remains in doubt, with the players seeking answers over pay and other conditions only days out from their planned return to training.




player

'Here we are now, entertain us': Fans demanding players hurry up and get back to work are the ones being selfish

The cries of football fans demanding players return to the field under any circumstances have become shrill as the craving for lockdown distraction turns from stoical whimsy to rank desperation, writes Richard Hinds.




player

Unwell Warriors player stays home as team lands in Australia

The New Zealand Warriors, minus two players, touch down in Australia on a charter flight from Auckland to prepare for the resumption of the NRL season.




player

Port Adelaide player accuses AFL of Victorian bias over training restrictions

Despite more relaxed coronavirus restrictions in South Australia and Western Australia, the AFL says it does not want clubs from those states training in bigger groups until Victorian teams are allowed to do so.




player

NRL players agree to new pay deal as May 28 restart takes shape

The NRL ticks another box ahead of its planned restart later this month, as the players officially sign off on a new pay agreement ahead of a return to training this week.




player

More NRL players refuse flu vaccination, Raiders seek exemption

The restart of the NRL could be jeopardised as Raiders forwards Sia Soliola, Joe Tapine and Josh Papalli join Titans forward Bryce Cartwright in refusing to sign an unedited version of the vaccination waiver.




player

NRL players who refuse flu shot can still play 'under compelling circumstances'

The NRL announces players who choose not to have the flu vaccination on religious, medical or conscientious grounds will be allowed to train and play, but they must sign a revised waiver.




player

Three Gold Coast Titans players stood down amid flu vaccine furore

Three Gold Coast Titans players, including Bryce Cartwright, have been stood down for refusing to have a flu shot only a day after the NRL announced its revised stance on vaccinations.




player

Flu shot not mandatory for AFL players

The AFL will not implement a mandatory league-wide policy regarding the flu shot and will leave decisions on the vaccination up to players and club doctors.




player

Former NFL Player, Ex-Casino Owner and Nevada Businessman Indicted in Massive Tax Fraud Scheme

A Las Vegas federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Alan Rodrigues, a former pit boss and casino owner from Henderson, Nev.; Weston Coolidge, a businessman from Las Vegas; and Joseph Prokop, a former National Football League punter from Upland, Calif., with a tax fraud scheme for their promotion of a fraudulent tax product through the now defunct National Audit Defense Network (NADN).



  • OPA Press Releases

player

NFL Players Association Joins Justice Department Effort to Raise Awareness Around Violence Against Women

The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has joined its year-long campaign to commemorate the 15 year anniversary of President Bill Clinton signing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law.



  • OPA Press Releases

player

Former High School Football Player Pleads Guilty to Making Racially Motivated Threats to African-American Assistant Football Coach

Jonathan Caine, 20, of Nashville, Tenn., pleaded guilty today to a federal hate crime for making racially motivated threats to an African-American assistant football coach at a local high school in, the Justice Department announced.



  • OPA Press Releases

player

Ex-Casino Owner, Nevada Businessman and Former National Football League Player Found Guilty in Massive Tax Fraud Scheme

A Las Vegas jury returned guilty verdicts yesterday against Alan Rodrigues, a former casino owner from Henderson, Nevada, Weston Coolidge, a former businessman from Las Vegas, and Joseph Prokop, a former National Football League punter from Upland, California, for conspiracy and fraud related to their promotion of a fraudulent tax product through the now-defunct National Audit Defense Network.



  • OPA Press Releases

player

Commissioner Adam Silver tells NBA players that resuming the season remains fluid

Adam Silver told NBA players that a return to the court is up in the air but that games could be held in Las Vegas or Orlando, likely without fans.




player

Team Players

Microbial partnerships turn out to be more common and influential than scientists could have ever imagined




player

John Park on the Key Player in North Korea's Leadership Succession

Uncertainty of Kim Jong-un's health has many wondering what the future holds for North Korea.




player

John Park on the Key Player in North Korea's Leadership Succession

Uncertainty of Kim Jong-un's health has many wondering what the future holds for North Korea.




player

John Park on the Key Player in North Korea's Leadership Succession

Uncertainty of Kim Jong-un's health has many wondering what the future holds for North Korea.