Christian mens fellowship

REUTERS: France's Stephanie Frappart will become the first female official to take charge of a men's Champions League game when Juventus host Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday. Frappart, who turns 37 next month, was the first female referee to officiate in a major UEFA competition match when Liverpool played Chelsea in the Super Cup in Istanbul last year. She also officiated the 2019 Women's World Cup final between the United States and Netherlands and became the first female referee to take charge of a French Ligue 1 match when Amiens played Strasbourg in April last year. She oversaw her first Europa League game in October when Leicester City hosted Zorya Luhansk. Switzerland's Nicole Petignat was the first female referee to officiate in UEFA matches when she was put in charge of three UEFA Cup qualifying round games between 2004 and 2009. Juventus, who have already qualified for the last 16, are second in Group G with nine points from four games, eight points clear of Dynamo … [Read more...] about Frappart to become first female referee to officiate men’s Champions League game

LONDON: Christian Eriksen's penalty on his 100th appearance for Denmark earned his side a 1-0 win over England in their Nations League clash at Wembley on Wednesday (Oct 14) as the hosts played more than half the game with 10 men. Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eriksen powered his spot-kick past Jordan Pickford in the 35th minute, a couple of minutes after England centre back Harry Maguire had received a red card for a second booking. Defeat ended a run of nine successive home wins for England, who beat top-ranked Belgium on Sunday, while Denmark celebrated their first victory over England at Wembley since 1983. To rub salt into the home wounds Reece James was also shown a red card after the final whistle following a melee. England slipped to third place in Group A2 which is now headed by Belgium with Denmark above England on goal difference. While it was a memorable night for Danish playmaker Eriksen, it was a disappointing one for England who suffered only their … [Read more...] about Football: Eriksen penalty earns Denmark win over 10-man England

President Joe Biden authorized his first military action on Thursday: airstrikes on facilities in Syria used by militias linked to Iran. The airstrikes came in response to attacks on American personnel in Iraq. Criticism was muted on both sides of the aisle, with some questioning whether the airstrikes were authorized under the existing Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). Others noted that the airstrikes mark a 180-degree turn for Biden and members of his administration. Last year, Biden was among those who criticized President Donald Trump’s airstrike on Iranian terrorist General Qasem Soleimani. He called it “a hugely escalatory move in an already dangerous region,” and claimed — falsely, as it turned out — that the attack would provoke, rather than deter, the Iranian regime. “We could be on the brink of a major conflict across the Middle East,” Biden said — wrongly, again, as peace deals soon emerged. My statement on the killing of Qassem Soleimani. … [Read more...] about Joe Biden Accused of Hypocrisy over Syria Airstrike

James Goodman, distinguished professor of history at Rutgers University, Newark, is the author of " Stories of Scottsboro ," " Blackout " and " But Where Is the Lamb? " The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion on CNN. (CNN) A modest proposal: It's time to stop calling slavery America's "original sin." James Goodman There is no need for me to name names. So many people do it. Secular people as well as religious people; lay historians as well as men and women of the cloth; rabbis as well as ministers and priests; people who believe that Adam and Eve's disobedience resulted in their expulsion from paradise and the estrangement of human beings from God, and people who have never given the Fall and its consequences a moment's thought; left-wingers, right wingers and just about everyone in between. It is one of the few things about which longtime political opponents Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Barack Obama … [Read more...] about It’s time to stop calling slavery America’s ‘original sin’

A group of hijabi women gathering to play ball at their Scarborough mosque. A 17-year-old who is already busy coaching and mentoring the next generation of Regent Park youngsters. An Orangeville grandmother settling down on her very own team bench alongside her grandson on game night. These are the faces of Raptors fans tucked away in all corners of the GTA and beyond. The thread that ties them together is their passion for a game that makes them feel like a part of a pulsing community — regardless of race, gender, social status, and age. In recent weeks The Star dropped into the mosque, the barbershop, the elementary school gym, places where basketball culture — and connections — thrive, amplified by a team and a fanbase that’s as diverse as the city. As Toronto gears up for a defining Game Seven conference semifinal showdown with the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday night, these are the stories of those who see their passion and themselves represented in the Raptors. HIJABI … [Read more...] about Represented by Raptors: How one team connects the most diverse city in the world

TABOAO DA SERRA, Brazil: When the women's team of Taboao da Serra lost a league match 29-0 last month it looked like things could hardly get much worse for the small club based outside Brazil's biggest city Sao Paulo. The horrific loss made headlines around the world but it wasn't the final straw. They lost their next three games 14-0, 10-0 and 16-0 and were eliminated from the Sao Paulo state championship at the group stage. The results sparked yet another debate about the competitiveness of the women's game in Brazil. The backlash – and of course the sexist ridicule - was even more predictable. When we lost "they said it looks like the whole team has COVID-19, don't bother playing, those kind of things, you know," said captain Lohane Ferreira. They were "talking as if football was only for men, that women should stay at home washing dishes, like men's slaves. Most of the players get these kind of messages." The results and the messages reflect the challenges faced by … [Read more...] about 29-0 loss reopens debate on women’s football in Brazil