World soccer officials are working with different governments to establish an evacuation plan for athletes at risk in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control.
Why it matters: FIFPRO, the world soccer players' union, made the announcement Friday on Twitter after news of the death of 17-year-old Zaki Anwari, a member of Afghanistan's national youth soccer team, who died after falling from a U.S. military plane.
Topps, the venerable maker of baseball cards and chalky chewing gum, this morning announced the mutual termination of its deal to go public at a $1.3 billion valuation via Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: MUDS).
Why it matters: This comes a day after Topps lost its exclusive licensing deal with Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to Fanatics.
Trading card marketplace PWCC has been suspended by eBay for "shill bidding" — the practice of artificially boosting the price of an item through dishonest bids.
Why it matters: One of the industry's biggest players getting rocked by scandal could have deleterious effects on the card-collecting hobby, which is built largely on trust.
The country's top sports betting companies are trying to elbow their way into the market in Florida by couching their industry as a way to finance public education in the Sunshine State, records show.
Why it matters: As legalized sports gambling sweeps the nation with promises of increased tax revenue, betting operators have become intimately involved in state politics — and tailored strategies accordingly.
U.S. gymnast Simone Biles plans to raise awareness around mental health as part of the post-Olympic Gold Over America Tour, AP reports.
Driving the news: Biles didn't have the Olympic experience she expected after pulling out of several finals to prioritize her mental health. But she says she wouldn't "change anything for the world," adding that she "gave an outlet for athletes to speak up about their mental health and their well-being and learn that you can put yourself (as a person) first before the athlete,” per AP.
Public, an investing app that doubles as a social network, is launching a new program today called "One Team." The goal: teach financial literacy to college athletes.
Why it matters: Now that student athletes can cash in on their name, image and likeness (NIL), it's crucial that they learn money management. This is especially true for future pros, who go broke at an alarming rate.
