Tag: Wolves

Premier League clubs consider Wolves proposal to ditch VAR

VAR is still a big rival for Wolves, who want the Premier League to abandon it entirely

The Premier League’s VAR era may be on the verge of ending.

Wolves is behind a resolution to abandon VAR, with the Premier League set to vote on the matter on June 6 at its annual general meeting.

In a statement published by The Athletic, Wolves referred to VAR as being “at odds with the spirit of our game,” calling for Premier League clubs to end the practice starting with the 2024-25 season.

“There is no blame to be placed — we are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football — and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success,” read Wolves’ statement.

“However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future.”

The Premier League adopted VAR for the 2019-20 season and has used it ever since. However, many calls — particularly those involving offside, which the Premier League adjudicates with visible lines provided via Hawk-Eye technology — are narrow enough that controversy remains regardless, leaving few parties satisfied.

The Premier League, in a statement to The Athletic, said that clubs are “entitled to put forward proposals at shareholders’ meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.”

However, the league added that it remains “in support of VAR.” The Wolves proposal will require 13 of the other 19 Premier League clubs to agree for the league to abandon the practice.

In April, the Premier League approved the implementation for semi-automated offside technology — something along the lines of what was introduced at the 2022 World Cup — for the 2024-25 season, though it may not be introduced at the very beginning of the campaign.

Premier League data supports continuing with VAR

Among the world’s top leagues, VAR is extraordinarily commonplace. 29 of UEFA’s 30 top-ranked leagues use it, with the only exception coming after clubs in Sweden’s top flight rejected a VAR proposal last month.

Multiple clubs have lashed out at VAR over the course of this season. Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said it was “it’s time to question whether someone remote disallowing that goal is really what football wants or needs.” after a 2-1 loss to West Ham in April that saw a Wolves goal called back by VAR.

Later in April, Nottingham Forest publicly accused a VAR official of denying the club three penalties due to an alleged allegiance with Luton Town.

Per the BBC, the Premier League claims that the rate of correct refereeing decisions was just 82% before VAR, and has climbed to 96% since its introduction five years ago.

[lawrence-related id=61278,57571,70646]

Stateside Cup 2024: Schedule, tickets, stadiums and more

Wolves, Crystal Palace, and West Ham are coming to the United States this summer.

The list of Premier League clubs coming to the U.S. this summer continues to grow.

The latest competition to be announced is the 2024 Stateside Cup, a three-team preseason event that will feature Wolves, Crystal Palace, and West Ham.

With the Premier League trio confirmed for the event, half of the league’s 20 sides have booked travel plans for the United States ahead of the 2024-25 season.

That list includes most of the league’s biggest sides, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

The Stateside Cup will feature three matches, with two at NFL stadiums in Florida and one in Maryland at the home of the U.S. Naval Academy’s collegiate football team.

Below are the Stateside Cup fixtures for 2024, including information on where to buy tickets.

Stateside Cup 2024

July 27: Wolves vs. West Ham — EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL. TICKETS.

July 31: Crystal Palace vs. Wolves — Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

August 3: West Ham vs. Crystal Palace — Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL. TICKETS.

[lawrence-related id=55185,55151,47524]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Pro Soccer Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Video shows ‘chilling’ interaction between Grand Teton wolf, coyote

Guide Bo Welden explains why the wolf likely ran off with its tail between its legs.

A guide in Grand Teton National Park last week documented an extraordinary scene featuring a wolf reacting to the “chilling” cries of a distant coyote.

The accompanying footage was captured by Bo Welden and viewers are urged to turn up the volume and note the young wolf placing its tail between its legs – an act of fear or submission – before running from the unearthly sounds.

Since wolves are substantially larger than coyotes, and seemingly fearless in most situations, viewers might wonder why the wolf was so deeply affected by the howls of a smaller canine.

That’s not entirely clear, but Welden, a Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures guide who was exploring the park with a friend, implied that the coyote was in distress because of wolves.

“During this event I was able to spot what I believe were three different yearling wolves,” Welden stated via Instagram. “We watched as two coyotes actually chased these wolves away from a possible den site. It’s rare for a coyote to be so brazen.”

Welden told For The Win Outdoors that the wolves had likely raided the coyotes’ den and “possibly even fed on their newborn pups.”

That’d explain the shrill cries.

Welden was with photographer Kelly Wasenmiller, who began her Instagram description: “If I could have ever imagined a more raw and beautiful encounter with a wolf, I would have fallen greatly short.”

Adams will miss fifth straight Bournemouth match with back injury

It’s becoming an increasingly lost season for the USMNT captain

Tyler Adams can’t catch a break this season.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has ruled out the American midfielder for a fifth consecutive game as he continues battling back spasms.

Adams will be absent on Wednesday when Bournemouth takes on Wolves, in what is becoming an increasingly lost season for the U.S. men’s national team star.

Iraola was asked on Tuesday whether Adams or Marcus Tavernier would recover from their injuries in time to face Wolves.

“We don’t lose anyone, we don’t recover anyone, so it’s going to be the same players available,” the coach replied at his pre-match press conference.

Adams remains stuck on three appearances for Bournemouth this season, having missed the opening of the season recovering from hamstring surgery back in March 2023 with Leeds.

The 25-year-old suffered an immediate setback after making his Cherries debut in September, and was forced to go back under the knife for a second surgery. Adams would return in March, making two Bournemouth appearances along with two appearances for the USMNT in the Nations League.

Iraola expanded on Adams’ current situation during a press conference ahead of last weekend’s game against Aston Villa.

“Not a bad injury and feeling pain in his muscle, but after so much time out we have to be careful with these decisions,” the coach said. “The medical department are dealing with it. I hope he will be back early but definitely not for Villa.”

After Wednesday’s game against Wolves, Bournemouth has just four matches remaining in the season.

[lawrence-related id=63668,63657,62727]

Yellowstone wolves kill elk at public school outside park

The attack on a cow elk at the K-12 Gardiner School occurred at night; the wolves had vanished before dawn.

A wolf pack from Yellowstone National Park devoured a cow elk last week on a school football field outside the park.

The kill site became widely known after Jim Baldwin, superintendent at Gardiner Public Schools, shared an image showing a park ranger standing over the elk carcass. (See graphic image below.)

The Gardiner School is in the town of Gardiner at Yellowstone’s North Entrance. (Part of the school building is inside the park.)

The kill occurred after dark on April 11 and the wolves had vanished back into the park before dawn on April 12.

Elk sightings at the school, and in town, are common. But wolf sightings in the populated district are rare.

Linda Veress, a Yellowstone National Park public affairs officer, told the Billings Gazette: “It’s common for elk, bison and pronghorn to be at the school grounds, less so bears and wolves. It is very rare that we document wolves within the town’s developed footprint over the last 28 years.”

Yellowstone National Park ranger stands over the elk carcass. Photo: Jim Baldwin

The 8-Mile wolf pack, which inhabits part of the park’s northern range, is believed responsible for the elk kill, according to the Billings Gazette.

The school, alongside the Yellowstone River, is a K-12 facility that serves about 200 students.

If wolves were to show at the school during the day, it’s likely that they’d be hazed with rubber bullets and/or cracker shells.

–Generic Yellowstone wolf image courtesy of NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Wyoming criticizes ‘disrespectful’ wolf hunt, but is that enough?

The hunter is alleged to have captured the wolf, duct-taped its mouth and delivered it to a bar for display before he killed the animal.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department on Monday criticized a hunter’s ‘disrespectful’ actions several weeks after the individual allegedly ran down a wolf with a snowmobile and captured and later killed the animal.

But the agency did so without identifying the hunter or specifying his alleged deeds on Feb. 29 in Sublette County. They include duct-taping the wolf’s muzzle before transporting the animal to be shown off in a bar.

“The actions and behaviors of the individual involved in this case are not reflective of Wyoming’s values for wildlife,” Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik declared in a statement. “The actions that came to light in this case were disrespectful to wildlife.

“These actions were not in keeping with conservation principles or ethical behavior. This incident casts a shadow over our state’s proven track record in successfully and responsibly managing our gray wolf population.”

The statement was in response to a flood of complaints after the man’s alleged actions began to circulate via social media.

But the statement does not change the fact that the hunter was cited only for misdemeanor possession and importation of a live wild mammal, carrying a $250 fine.

Animal cruelty charges were not possible, the agency explained, because of the way regulations are established in parts of the state, such as Sublette County, deemed “predator zones.”

In these zones, hunters can kill wolves and other predatory animals without hunting tags, as long as kills are reported. There are no safeguards against animal harassment or torture.

“The incident occurred in a part of the state where gray wolves are legally classified as predatory animals,” Game and Fish stated. “[They] are not managed by the department and animal cruelty laws, per Wyo. Stat. Ann. 6-3-1008 (a)(vii) do not apply to predatory animals.”

The cruelty aspect generated more publicity than Game and Fish would have liked, but it remains unclear whether Wyoming will alter its regulations.

It’s worth noting that wolves in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park are off-limits to hunting.

–Generic gray wolf image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Watch: Tiny Yellowstone wolf pup leaves den, encounters bull elk

“At just a month old, this was likely the first time the young wolf had ever seen an animal of this size,” the tour company explained.

A tour guide in Yellowstone National Park this week captured extraordinary footage showing a tiny wolf pup emerging from a den to find itself face-to-face with a bull elk.

“At just a month old, this was likely the first time the young wolf had ever seen an animal of this size,” Yellowstone Wolf Tracker explained via Instagram. “The two shared a quick glance that seemed to make time stand still.” (See video below.)

The description continued, “This moment, although short-lived, made us onlookers ponder questions regarding what the future might hold for the young wolf.

“Would this encounter potentially shape the wolf into a fearless hunter? Are we possibly seeing the makings of a future pack leader? Only time will tell!”

The footage is grainy because it was captured, by Michael Sypniewski, through a spotting scope from a distance of 3/4 of a mile.

Leo Leckie, spokesman for Yellowstone Wolf Tracker, told FTW Outdoors that the pup belongs to the Junction Butte Pack in the park’s northern range.

The Junction Butte wolves “have become skilled bison hunters over the years,” Leckie added.

Yellowstone wolves also prey on elk, deer, and smaller mammals.

Wolf pups are born in early spring. They typically begin to emerge from dens at 10-14 days, according to the park. They stay at the den site for up to 10 weeks.

Yellowstone Wolf Tracker offers wolf-watching expeditions throughout the year.

Last-gasp Wright winner sends Coventry to FA Cup semis at Wembley

Coventry City stunned Wolves in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday to secure a trip to the semifinal round at the iconic Wembley Stadium. And U.S. men’s national team forward Haji Wright’s last-second dagger was the knockout blow. Fresh off his …

Coventry City stunned Wolves in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday to secure a trip to the semifinal round at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

And U.S. men’s national team forward Haji Wright’s last-second dagger was the knockout blow.

Fresh off his omission from USMNT Nations League roster, the striker continued his strong campaign with a 100th-minute winner.

An all-time classic for Coventry unfolded on Saturday at Molineux. The Championship side led 2-1 in the 83rd minute before Premier League outfit Wolves equalized and then took the lead in a five-minute span.

But Ellis Simms equalized for Coventry at the 97′ mark, and was followed up by Wright three minutes later. The 25-year-old unleashed a curling effort that found the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations.

As the first quarterfinal match to take place over the weekend, Coventry have some waiting to do to see who they face in the next round. Plenty of time for both USMNT and Coventry supporters to take in and celebrate his heroic effort.

Reaction from both sets of fans can be found below:

Wolf-poaching incident near Yellowstone under investigation

Authorities in Montana would not say how the wolf was killed or whether it might have belonged to one of Yellowstone National Park’s known packs.

Authorities in Montana are investigating a suspected wolf-poaching incident that occurred recently near Yellowstone National Park.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks stated Wednesday that the wolf was killed near Mol Heron and Cinnabar creeks northwest of Gardiner on Jan. 27.

Gardiner is just outside Yellowstone’s North Entrance.

FWP spokesman Morgan Jacobsen, citing an active investigation, did not provide details regarding how the wolf was killed or whether it had belonged to a pack that lives mostly inside the park.

“I can confirm that a wolf died likely as a result of a poaching incident a few miles north of Yellowstone National Park,” Jacobsen told FTW Outdoors. “And Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is conducting an investigation.”

The Yellowstone National Park Public Affairs Office also declined to provide details, citing the FWP investigation.

News From The States reports that the wolf was killed inside Montana’s Wolf Management Unit 313, where a hunting quota of six wolves was filled by Dec. 27.

All six wolves, as a Yellowstone National Park spokeswoman recently confirmed to FTW Outdoors, “belonged to packs that spend the majority of their lives inside Yellowstone National Park and have territories largely within the park.”

FWP is seeking help from the public as part of its investigation. Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to visit myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/tipmont or call 1-800-TIP-MONT.

Informants could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

–Generic Yellowstone wolf image courtesy of the National Park Service

Yellowstone wolves visit Old Faithful in surreal webcam footage

Members of the Wapiti wolf pack were observed strolling across the boardwalk system that winds around Old Faithful and other thermal features.

Yellowstone National Park fans who tuned into the Old Faithful webcam  Thursday morning were thrilled to see wolves strolling across the iconic thermal region.

“What a view this morning!” Yellowstone Forever exclaimed via X. “The webcam captured some incredible footage of the park’s Wapiti wolf pack making its way through the Upper Geyser Basin.”

The webcam footage – rare footage, indeed – shows several wolves on and near the basin’s sprawling boardwalk system. (See footage below.)

A 10-minute version produced by the National Park Service (posted below) shows more extensive exploration by the wolves near Old Faithful and other geysers as steam floats across the wintry landscape.

At times, the wolves are traveling on boardwalks that are crowded with tourists in spring and summer. One wolf is shown near a geyser’s vent, as if savoring its warmth.

A screen shot from the webcam footage was posted on the Yellowstone Insiders Hub Facebook page by Joe Nagel, who exclaimed: “Wolves right now on the Old Faithful webcam!”

One follower joked: “Get. On. The. Boardwalk,” in reference to a park regulation that applies only to human visitors.

Another remarked, “Well, that probably cleared the elk and bison out of the geyser basin.”

Old Faithful is in the southwest portion of the 2.2-million-acre park, which is situated in Wyoming and small portions of Montana and Idaho.

Although wolf sightings can occur anywhere inside the park, the most likely spotting destinations are across the vast northern range.

–Footage courtesy of the National Park Service