ALEX SANTOS DA VITORIA

Racist abuse. And social media accounts allowed to stay active even after spreading bile. English football has reached breaking point with players, coaches, referees and officials aghast at the ongoing proliferation of hate aimed at them on Instagram and Twitter. The police appear more determined to intervene and prosecute offenders who have used social media to hurl hatred. The government is also introducing legislation — the online safety bill — that could see social media companies fined for failing to protect their users.

Actress Natalie Portman and venture capitalist Kara Nortman lead a group that will bring an expansion National Women's Soccer League team to the Los Angeles area in 2022. Then she and Nortman met Becca Roux, the executive director of the U.S. Women's National Team Players Association. The women also reached out to a local supporters group that has been campaigning to bring a team to Los Angeles. The group is partnering with the LA84 Foundation, a nonprofit formed after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that promotes youth sports. The official name of the Los Angeles club, and where it will play, are expected to be announced later this year.

U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone apologized Saturday for the federation's lack of leadership in the fight against racism as she addressed its decision to repeal a policy that required players to stand during the national anthem. We are committed to doing better to help fight racism and discrimination in all its forms, Parlow Cone said. It was the first board meeting Parlow Cone has led as president. The U.S. Womens National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequities. Rapinoe kneeled during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016.

U.S. Soccer's board of directors has voted to repeal a 2017 policy that required national team players to stand during the national anthem, a rule adopted after Megan Rapinoe kneeled in support of Colin Kaepernick. The board made the decision during a conference call, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday. The U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, which includes current national team players Alex Morgan and Ali Krieger, as well as former players like Landon Donovan, called on U.S. Soccer to also apologize for the policy to foster a "positive relationship to exist going forward." The U.S. Women's National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequality. Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016.