Auckland City eliminates Boca Juniors

▲ New Zealand defender Christian Gray tightens his grip on Edinson Cavani, who was unable to prevent the Xeneize team's elimination. AFP photo

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, p. a10

At Auckland City, forklift drivers and real estate agents team up with sales managers, students, dentists, hardware store employees, and physical education teachers, like the seasoned Christian Gray, who skipped school for a month at Mount Roskill Intermediate School in New Zealand to celebrate his teammates' 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup with a goal. "We took a couple of beatings, but we deserved it ," said the teacher and captain of the Auckland national team, surrounded by nearly 17,000 fans at Geodis Park in Nashville.

The amateur nature of New Zealand football, in which players train and compete with their teams outside of work hours, stands in contrast to the era of excessive professionalization. The New Zealand Football Association created the National League in March 2001 with 10 participants, of which Auckland City is the most successful with three titles. Over the past two decades, the so-called Navy Blues have become a regular participant in the World Cup .

Their best performance under the previous format came in 2014, when they defeated Cruz Azul on penalties and finished third. If in their five previous visits the Auckland team's biggest challenge was playing a single match, this year's expanded version not only involved facing Bayern Munich, Benfica, and Xeneize , but also requiring unpaid leave. With their headquarters based in Tennessee, the feat of securing a point in a true land of giants was achieved yesterday in the most unlikely of battles.

Boca Juniors needed to win by at least six goals and for Benfica to succumb to Bayern Munich in the other Group C match, which was played at the same time in Charlotte. Neither of those things happened.

The historic Argentine club's elimination was confirmed when Benfica secured a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich to take first place in the group with seven points, one more than the German champions. The Argentines earned two points, thanks to a pair of draws, and Auckland earned a point.

Only a header from Lautaro di Lollo, which bounced off goalkeeper Nate Garrow and found the back of the net, could break the New Zealand goalkeeper's clean sheet.

In Group D, Brazil's Flamengo advanced to the next round as leaders after drawing 1-1 with MLS side LAFC, while Chelsea finished second after beating ES Tunis 3-0.

▲ The San Diego Padres star player indicated that his battle is to protect those young baseball players who don't know how to protect themselves from these lenders and illegal financial schemes . AP Photo

Ap

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, p. a11

San Diego . San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a lawsuit Monday against Big League Advance (BLA) in an attempt to void the future earnings contract he signed as a 17-year-old minor leaguer, potentially costing him $34 million.

The complaint, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, accuses BLA of using predatory tactics to lure him into an investment agreement that was actually an illegal loan. The company misrepresented itself to Tatis, concealing his unlicensed status and pushing him to accept loan terms prohibited by California consumer protection laws, the lawsuit alleges.

Attorney Robert Hertzberg said he is seeking injunctive public relief to protect young athletes from being lured into such deals.

Hertzberg claimed that Tatis received $2 million upfront in exchange for 10 percent of his future earnings. Tatis signed a 14-year, $340 million contract in February 2021. The litigator noted that Tatis would also be obligated to pay a percentage of the earnings from any subsequent agreement he might sign, unless the pact is voided.

"I'm fighting this battle not only for myself, but for everyone still pursuing their dream and hoping to make a better life for their families ," Tatis said in a statement. "I want to help protect those young players who don't yet know how to protect themselves from these predatory lenders and illegal financial schemes; kids should focus on their passion for baseball, not on dodging shady business deals ."

Tatis, the son of the former major league player, declined further comment before Monday night's game against the Washington Nationals.

Hertzberg noted that although Tatis signed the agreement in his native Dominican Republic, it is covered by California consumer protection laws.

Big League Advance declined to comment.

California lawmakers have implemented serious and direct protections against predatory financial activity, but BLA has ignored our laws to pursue a business model based on prohibited, deceptive, and abusive practices , said Hertzberg, a former California State Assembly speaker and California Senate Majority Leader.

▲ Oklahoma City Thunder players greeted their fans and allowed them to touch the championship trophy yesterday during the parade celebrating their first NBA title. Local police estimated that more than 500,000 people gathered for the celebrations in the streets of Oklahoma. AP photo, with information from AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, p. a11