Jon Marthaler's soccer short takes
December 9, 2017 at 12:05AM
• U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati, above, has decided not to run for re-election next year, probably a good decision given that angry fans might have stormed the federation's headquarters if he had been re-elected. He will be remembered for a string of bad decisions on who should coach the men's national team, and for refusing equal pay for the all-conquering women's national team.
• Could the next American goalkeeping star be somone with a very familiar — and German — name? This week Jonathan Klinsmann, son of former USA coach and Germany star Jurgen, made his professional debut for the Bundesliga's Hertha Berlin, saving a penalty in a 1-1 tie in the Europa League. Klinsmann is yet another player to add to the roster of young American standouts in the Bundesliga, and he could be the USA's netminder of the future.
• Things have gotten so bad for FIFA that even the scandal-ridden International Olympic Committee is running rings around it. Contained in the IOC's far-reaching Russian ban this week was a ban for Vitaly Mutko, who will still remain in his current post as the head of the 2018 World Cup, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
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The Vikings, who have sought to mirror the approach San Francisco has had for years, have now beaten the 49ers twice in 11 months.
