Well, I think boys as well as girls start to go through some small body changes at that age. I have 9 yr old lets remember puberity doesn't start right when a boy grows armpit hair or when his voices changes. Just the same as I've noticed girls get a bit the same way just a few yrs before their onset as well.
With that said consider this football would not be good to take him out of it's exercise and it's got disipline involved in it as well. If grades were becoming a problem then I'd consider it. My sister has 4 boys she would never use football as something she'd take away because of what it gives a child, it's more then just tossing the ball.
Possible to sit down and just talk, yes he may be a bit of a pain but lets remember who's mom. Sometimes boys actually liked to be talked to and share their feelings. They are always having to hide them lets go over how when they get hurt they are not s'pose to cry. They are different yes but society also treats a boy different then a girl.
How about telling him hey look we have some differences can we talk about it and you allow him to talk not just mom doing the talking. I too am a mother, of 3 boys and I have to remember they need to state their feelings.
Let him know that you'd rather he didn't lie to you and that you don't feel you should be the blame for everything. Part of playing football is to see where you have made an error learn from it and move on. You ahve to trust your team mates well let him know you'd like to trust him as well, let him know you are willing to work on things that upset him as well you want him to work on what upsets you. You'd like to be a team player to resolve this matter. Then when you do leave it behind you don't beat a dead horse and bring it up all the time.
Chores are no different then playing football he's expected to make certain plays, right? then at home he's got some plays there as well. See what's wrong is there a chance you can change up his chores see what the real deal is and before you get made at whatever it is he says remember he's sharing his feelings.
If you can't find middle ground now before he becomes a teen and share some mutual respect for each other it will only become harder. You don't have to like your child you do have to love them. Not doing anything nice well, that's not working for you so it's time to move on to more mature ways to settle this...don't get mad either honestly look at that statement you're not doing nice things to get his attention.....wrong idea.
I'm goin to save you lots of money for a counselor you need to talk, talk, talk...no yelling, no taking him out of football to show him who's boss....sit down and start now building a better relationship with him. I'm saying this because my sister made many errors before she learned to talk with her children, she now talks with the 3 younger ones she had 6. Live and learn he heed advise from those with experience.