Sports

By Nick Ames Europe’s leading clubs threatened not to participate in future Club World Cups (CWCs) unless Gianni Infantino withdrew his FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, issuing their ultimatum hours before the plan was scrapped. In a letter to the FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, the influential European Football Clubs (EFC) group warned that its cooperation with future tournaments would hinge on Infantino backing down. It said the threat would hold unless a joint venture between EFC and FIFA – a framework for which has already been agreed – is completed before television rights can be sold for the 2028…

By Rosemary Ameh, Sokoto Sokoto State Government has approved the sum of N1.759 billion for the procurement of 1,000 Bajaj-brand motorcycles for security agencies as part of measures to strengthen operations against banditry across the North-Western state. The approval was made at the sixth regular meeting of the State Executive Council (SEC) for 2026, chaired by the Deputy Governor, Idris Muhammad Gobir. The motorcycles are expected to improve the mobility and operational capacity of security personnel, particularly in communities and areas affected by bandit attacks. The latest procurement comes shortly after the state government acquired 62 armoured vehicles at a…

Luis Enrique says it doesn’t matter what sport he is playing – football, tennis, padel or parchis, a board game – he wants to win every game, all the time. In Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), he has built a winning machine, the back-to-back Champions League victors maintaining their habit by conquering Aston Villa in an absorbing Super Cup contest in Salzburg tonight, Wednesday, 12 August. For PSG, after the joy of Munich and Budapest, three months ago, does a Champions League three-peat in Madrid in May beckon? They will surely go close. Aston Villa more than played their part in an…

*Speaks On Fashion, Life At Udinese, Others By Emanuele Guilianelli When Maduka Okoye visited Paris fashion week for the Jean Paul Gaultier show, taking his seat in the front row alongside rapper Cardi B, the online reaction was swift. Within hours, footage of the Udinese and Nigeria goalkeeper was all over TikTok and Instagram – where his audience now stretches near to two million followers – transforming the appearance into a viral cultural moment that crossed beyond the boundaries of football. There is also unfinished business with Nigeria. Watching the World Cup from his living room was far from ideal.…

By Mohammed Moallim Had Vinicius Jr joined Arsenal, he would have been a rarity as a genuine global superstar moving to the Premier League at the height of his powers. The Gunners were prepared to make the Brazil forward their primary target should he decide to leave Real Madrid, and the 26-year-old was open to the possibility. But he has now signed a new contract at the Bernabeu until 2032. It is another reminder of a curious contradiction. Premier League clubs have unrivalled collective spending power and England's top flight is widely regarded as the strongest domestic competition in world…

Vinicius Jr. is undoubtedly the name on everyone's lips this summer in Madrid. The Brazilian footballer, who has less than a year left on his contract, has yet to reach an agreement with the club to extend his contract. Arsenal have already made a move to show their interest in the winger, and the speculation surrounding his future continues to grow, according to a report today in English edition of leading Spanish daily Sport. The paper wrote that Real Madrid's position is clear: they want to make an effort and renew Vinicius's contract… but not at any price. They are…

*'Without Stars From England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, World Cup Loses Its Audience. Broadcasters Won’t Pay Top Dollar, Sponsors Will Pull Their Cash' *Revolt Against Infantino From FIFA Staff *May Lose March Presidential Poll, PSG's al-Khelaifi Backed To Challenge Him FIFA’s controversial plan to sell a piece of its business empire to outside investors has collapsed following an open revolt by soccer officials worldwide — and a major rift among top FIFA executives, The New York Post has learned. FIFA had aimed to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling a roughly 20 percent stake in the group, valuing the…

By Andrew Beasley After beating MK Dons 3-0 in a training-ground friendly last weekend, Arsenal truly begin their pre-season programme against La Liga outfit Girona on Saturday evening, 1 August. It marks a return to action for the Premier League champions, who will want to show their success last season was not a one-off. Retaining the English title is incredibly difficult if you are not Manchester City. No other club has done it since Manchester United won three in succession from 2007 to 2009. Chelsea have done it once, Liverpool have not managed it for more than 40 years, and…

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr is enjoying his vacation after the World Cup, but he has become a trending topic on social media. The reason is his new appearance following an alleged cosmetic procedure. According to Brazilian news outlet Leo Dias, the Real Madrid star underwent a chin augmentation to enhance and better define the contour of his jawline. The report claims that Vinicius, accompanied by his partner, influencer Virginia Fonseca, visited the clinic of Dr. Alessandro Alarcão for the procedure. The visit to the doctor is confirmed, as the physician himself shared a photo with Vinicius on social media.…

By David Hytner, at New York New Jersey Stadium "Spain fully deserve it. They have been absolutely superb all tournament. They have dominated all game against a ridged, rugged Argentina. The best team has won this World Cup," gushed former England goalkeeper Joe Hart on BBC One Sunday night, Nigeria time. 19 July. It was the triumph of an idea, an identity. Of an unshakable and patient faith in it. And when it was over, Spain’s new generation having emulated the one from the 2010 World Cup, all of those legendary names, there was simply delirium for them. Spain were…