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03
Tue, Nov

For fear of being attacked by Boko Haram, El Verde,  the national team of Bolivia have cancelled their friendly match with Nigeria, previously scheduled for 26th March in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

"Armed conflict and the tense political situation in Nigeria forced our withdrawal," said President of the Bolivian Football Federation, Carlos Chavez.

Commenting on the cancellation, the authorities in Nigeria  said they were shocked  by the decision, because they had already put everything in place to ensure a hitch-free game.

The game had been publicised as one in which Nigeria's Captain and goalkeeper Vinent Enyeama would have earned his 100th cap for the country.

The 32-year-old had been named in the 28-man squad selected by Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi.

The withdrawal of the El Verde means that Enyeama would have to wait until Nigeria's friendly against South Africa on 29th March before earning his landmark 100th cap.

Other players named in the squad against Bolivia include, Brown Ideye, Anthony Ujah, Aalesund defender, Akeem Latifu; Watford striker, Odion Ighalo and Belgian club Gent Moses Simon.  

This writer resisted being drawn into a public political discussion recently, but can clearly state his minds on unbecoming events by some officials of a political party based on allegations that that would wake-up a dead soul. This writer woke up at exactly 2:58AM singing an old tune by Ebenezer Obey that says, “Oja Oyingbo ko mo pe enikan o wa o” meaning, Oyingbo market doesn’t know if someone didn’t come and it took a long time to go back to sleep because of certain reality in applying the song to the current spate of events in Nigeria. From allegation of dollars everywhere being thrown away by a certain contestant of a party in the upcoming election to reckless security damnation by some citizens. Of course that song has become relevant to some political party, not just the ruling party because the suffering of the people, the austere environment, the dollar rising prices and the tagging of being corrupt mean absolutely nothing to some of these election contestants.

Allegation in respect of doling out dollars was that the contestant were providing incentives to the voters to compromise their voting power and of course, legally speaking both the offeror and the offeree of the incentive will be determined to have acted contrary to law of the land. This writer was never approached nor would he entertain such corrupt practice, but going by the actions of his colleagues in sports environment, it is very easy to jump to the wrong conclusion. Some of these people admitted openly to this bribery for vote agenda without any reservation and this is abnormal actions which must CHANGE.

Ideally, the penalty for these actions is jail time to both receiver and the payer and of course there may not be enough space in prisons to accommodate all of them, but as a deterrent to some of these people must serve jail terms or public flogging. At this juncture, it must be asked, where does the scarce dollars come from? Postulation exists that the monies were from federal purse or ill-gotten gains but is that source anything for a debate or rather the reasoning behind why such wasteful spending occurred without the political party base of such individuals calling such persons to order. The image this writer sees from such actions can be framed metaphorically, as an individual being accused of being a thief and during such accusation the individual was observed pickpocketing one of the accusers wallet while standing. This cannot be good for the spirit of democracy or the nation’s interest.

 Another issue of concern is the potential explosive situation where certain militants from the south-south to the southwest who appeared to be brandishing dangerous weapons at some individuals while protesting against the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and outright calling for his sack. Unfortunately, there is no proof of a link to any political party as their sponsor, but they admittedly announced their support for the ruling party. This writer would have expected the ruling party leaders to renounce the actions of these groups, but the party has yet to do so and until then the voters’ insinuation and allegation that those groups were sponsored remained valid. The fear is the action of these groups when the election takes place or decision is announced for the March 28 election.

Certainly these events cannot be regarded as usual electioneering rather they are despicable criminal acts in motion and the key question is where the Attorney General is? Or why the security agencies failed to respond? Either way, no one can say with all honesty, they condoned the actions of the groups not because of right of protest, but brandishing of weapons without police authority, this writer imagines. Strange things, strange happenings, strange people and all these MUST CHANGE.

I rest for now.                                                                                      

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

The Cranes of Uganda have opted to play against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the friendly match ealier scheduled to be against the El Verde of Bolivia.

Bolivia withdrew from the friendly set for 26th March in Uyo, because of the fear of armed conflict and the tense political situation in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Nigerian officials said they they were shocked with the withdrawal because they had put everything in place to ensure a hitch-free game.

The friendly against the Cranes is scheduled for 25th March at the same Uyo, Akwa Ibom stadium.

With the latest development, Super Eagles captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama will now be able to win his 100th cap.

The 32-year-old had been named in the 28-man squad selected by Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi.

The withdrawal of the El Verde means that Enyeama would have to wait until Nigeria's friendly against South Africa on 29th March before earning his landmark 100th cap.

Other players named in the squad against Bolivia include, Brown Ideye, Anthony Ujah, Aalesund defender, Akeem Latifu; Watford striker, Odion Ighalo and Belgian club Gent Moses Simon.  

 

After the exit of all the English Premiere League representatives -- Chelsea FC,  Manchester City and Arsenal FC -- from the UEFA Champions League at the round of 16 on Wednesday, the stage is now set for the remaining teams to move on to the quarter finals.

The draws for the quarter final fixtures took place  in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, ahead of actions in the game which will commence on 14th April.

Spanish league, La Liga is dominating with representatives at the moment, with three of its strongest teams -- Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid -- still in the run.

Others remaining in the run are, Saint-Germain, Juventus, Monaco and Bayern Munich.

Below is the draw for actions to commence on 14th April:

 Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona

  • Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid
  • FC Porto vs. Bayern Munich
  • Juventus vs. AS Monaco

 

A cat’s sense of intelligence cannot be compared with that a dog (trained or untrained) but once a soldier always a soldier. It will take a high sense of intellect to connect the dots on the above sentence, but it is not insulting, but a statement of fact as this writer sees it. This writing is simply a discussion on the positive effect of March 28, 2015 Presidential election in respect of sports.

Preliminary Commentaries

Few former athletes drew their lines in the sand supporting the country’s beloved President Goodluck Jonathan while current athletes are scared silly to utter a word publicly, but they made statements on social media in support of the opposition party federal candidates, but those statements cannot be positively linked to them and then came Blessing Okagbare shouting at the incumbent President’s media campaign people for using her image despite unprecedented accolades beyond counts (money or otherwise) that President Jonathan bestowed on her. Of course, she is entitled to speak freely, but wrongly advised by her handlers even after her attempted damage control and this writer appeals to the citizens of Nigeria to simply understand that she is young and growing.  And to J.J. Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Henry Amike and a few others, this writer truly wish you well between now and 2019 but the hope is that you would have learnt a strong lesson about politics. It must be noted that, an appearance of certain individuals on behalf of the political gladiators might be the game changer in a certain socialistic economic environment and to zero-in on such phenomenon is worth more than a pat on the back. Of course, this is the view of this writer on the emergence of Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-Elect of Nigeria. It is highly doubtful to think the game changer sought at the helm of power in Nigeria is that of expired athletes that were remembered only in athletic historian circles.

Positive Effect on Sports

Current athletes by consensus view wants change to everything concerning sports and of course the President-Elect ran his political campaign on change in respect of governance in the country. He noted that high priority will be placed on Procurement Act of the federation. And course the readers of this writer can recall the acrimony by his brother named Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Sports Minister, that he (this writer) should produce the law (he referred to) in one of his writings concerning the misstep in the hiring of an American firm after disgraceful outings during the London Olympics Games. In fact, Mr. Abdullahi later hired two Saudi Arabia’s dumped American Coaches without any semblance of compliance with due process or Procurement Act. In addition, the former Sports Minister jettisoned the country’s heavily invested drug laboratory for the so-called high performance center ran by the two individuals hired without due process. Those individuals never produce a single athlete till date and for these events Mr. Abdullahi must not be considered to head sports again.

Recently, Mr. Abdullahi, said that the President-Elect has no business in meddling with sports and this writer can say clearly that his beloved brother (Mr. Abdullahi) was never appointed by All Progressive Congress (APC) or Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari to speak on his behalf nor his comments should be acted upon. It is hypocritical to Nigerians that Mr. Abdullahi that ignored the Federal Procurement Act while a Minister under President Jonathan should be seen with the President-Elect that announced that his number one priority is compliance with the Procurement Act and zero-tolerance on corruption.

One thing is clear and that is the incoming administration will conduct super-background checks on any political appointee because to do otherwise is tantamount to the return to status quo and will likely result in voter backlash come 2019. Furthermore, the benefit of a doubt goes to the incoming federal government executive branch, in the sense that current sport’s administrators are fearful of bad and corrupt behaviors knowing fully well that crime does not have an expiration date. Essentially, whether or not the accused committed the act during Rtd. General Obasanjo regime or the current President regime, it matters not and for that reason, the athletes and non-athletes must rejoice that past intimidation and corrupt practices will be dealt with and the fear of such penalty means, those few offending individuals (among NSC staff or federations) will shape up quickly. Hopefully, the goodness in the majority of them will become the norm and that is the positive impact of Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari even before taking the helm of power.

Status of Sports

Nothing really, to cry or rejoice about at the present time in respect of sports in Nigeria, but it is worthy of note that the era of violating the constitution of Nigeria by certain sports federations like athletics will meet serious challenges with the incoming Attorney General and Minister of Interior as well as the National security adviser. As regards to the Olympics, other than Mr. Siasia Eagles team and Blessing Okagbare, the country’s chances are very slim and that has everything to do with the reliance on useless agenda of poaching expired aged druggists from USA to represent Nigeria. Athletics Federation of Nigeria must be probed for illicit acts of facilitating issuance of Nigeria’s passports to non-Nigerians and for all monies received from the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the purposes of procuring such foreign athletes.

All in all, the incoming administration must embark on sanitizing the NSC, including its directors and all those hired without due process.

I rest for now.                                                                                      

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

The wealth of a nation is determined by the collective wealth of all its citizens, but what if the citizens got no wealth and this writer says, the nation is bankrupt and must start afresh as it was after the World Wars decades past. Sports in Nigeria is bankrupt and virtually non-existent except perhaps football. Athletics is comatose where university graduates and aged men and women are paraded as youth while the seniors are recruited aged-foreign mediocre druggists that has no semblance of connection to Nigeria. The stadiums are in deplorable conditions (National Stadium Surulere, Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo Stadium Ibadan insults common sense considering yearly recurring expenditures budgeted for them - at least over N20Billion in the past 4years). This is absurd, moral bankruptcy and insult to the citizens of Nigeria and MUST STOP. General Muhammadu Buhari are you listening?

 Current Events

Football

Power tussle in the football federation and lame-duck de facto Sports Minister Danagogo has settled down. To remind those who didn’t follow such issue, Mr. Danagogo ordered the football federation to hire Stephen Keshi or any top UEFA Coach. Although, Mr. Keshi enjoys President Jonathan support, but this event is simply outrageous and that has nothing to do with Mr. Keshi or Mr. President personally, but professionally speaking, the football federation appears to be full of ‘yes sir’ individuals that lacks courage. Although, this submission is contrary to highly esteemed credentials earned by those federation scribes and one can only conclude that unknown reasons exist that prevented these individuals from courageous act like its secretary general did by walking-off the job recently.

Quite frankly, Mr. Keshi should bow out quietly now (contract or no-contract) and that is based on observation of the team when he handled it and even now because quality expected are those being showcased by Siasia U-23 team. This writer doubts if any team presented by Keshi can defeat Siasia’s current team. Furthermore, the open door policy enjoyed by Keshi with President Jonathan is now a thing of the past and the scrutiny he is going to face will be severe from Nigerians.

 Athletics

On the athletics front, that federation is still wallowing in misery and the National Sports Commission (NSC) never at any time show interest on any development concerning that sport. Mr. Danagogo did a good thing by supervising the football federation whereas he simply ignored Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) even when Nigeria’s passports were fraudulently issued to non-Nigerians who failed woefully at the Commonwealth Games. Some Nigerians claimed he discriminated against the North with his action in respect of football and aided AFN atrocities, wherever the truth lies Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi did the same thing even changing the National Sports Festival format because of Governor Uduaghan (Delta governor) request. The fact, is both Sports Ministers (current or former) were wrong not to have universal rule.

Nigeria is presenting a team for the African Youth competition in Mauritius soon before the All African Games and age falsification is on the agenda for the youth games and for the senior’s team, Solomon Ogba vowed to present aged-illegal-bought-druggists as Nigeria’s team and the question the incoming regime is ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW THIS OR JAIL THESE PEOPLE?

A cow is said to regurgitate its meal (contaminated or not) and human beings will show signs of discomfort whenever a contaminated meal is ingested and can either vomit or purging such meal. By analogy to Nigeria sports, the country had gone through over 16years of regurgitating or rather recycling of people of no-good intention towards the country and it is time to vomit or purge every individual that were part of the system of sports mediocrity or nuisance. Recovery of all funds meant for stadium upgrade must commence and athletes’ development cannot no longer be exclusively contracted out to sport federations. The culture of epileptic sports policy must be purged, now. Change, the country demand.

 I rest for now.                                                                                      

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reversed its controversial plan to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) every four years, restoring the tournament’s traditional biennial format in a major policy U-turn.

The decision, unanimously adopted by the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), effectively scraps the proposed four-year cycle and reaffirms AFCON’s place as a biennial flagship competition on the African football calendar.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the reversal was driven by the need to protect African football, safeguard the financial interests of the continent’s 54 member associations and ensure continued opportunities for African players, particularly those playing for clubs outside the continent.

Motsepe had announced at CAF’s Strategy Conference in Cabo Verde, held from October 7 to 9, 2026, that the governing body would reconsider its earlier decision to move AFCON to a four-year schedule.

The proposed change was linked to plans to introduce an Africa Nations League, which was expected to generate revenue and provide football development opportunities comparable to those of AFCON.

However, concerns emerged that the new competition could take several years to become financially sustainable, potentially leaving CAF and its member associations without the revenue streams needed to support football development across the continent.

Explaining the decision, Motsepe said the priority was to advance and protect the interests of African football and its stakeholders.

“The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every Two Years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African Football and CAF’s 54 Member Associations, as well as the interest of African players employed by Football Clubs outside Africa,” he said.

Under the revised calendar, the next edition will take place in 2027, jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Subsequent tournaments are scheduled for 2028, 2031 and 2033.

The 2030 edition has been dropped to avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup scheduled for the same year. Motsepe explained that CAF would not organise its senior national team competitions during a World Cup year, in line with the international football calendar.

The CAF president expressed confidence that the 2027 tournament would be a success, describing AFCON as more than a football competition.

According to him, the tournament remains one of Africa’s biggest platforms for showcasing the continent’s cultural diversity, uniting its 54 nations and strengthening connections with the African diaspora and the rest of the world.

The reversal marks a significant shift in CAF's competition strategy and underscores the financial and organisational importance of AFCON to African football.

For now, the biennial tournament is back, ending uncertainty over its future format and reaffirming its position as the centrepiece of African international football.

Nigeria’s football leadership faces a major shake-up as FIFA moves to reset the NFF, bars committee members from contesting elections and sets May 31, 2027, as the final deadline for its intervention.

World football governing body FIFA has approved the establishment of a Normalisation Committee to take charge of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), paving the way for a sweeping reset of the country’s troubled football administration.

The decision marks a significant turning point in the unfolding crisis at the NFF, with the committee expected to oversee the federation’s affairs until fresh elections are conducted into its Executive Committee.

The NFF disclosed the development in a statement, citing a letter signed by FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström and addressed to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme.

Under the arrangement, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will jointly appoint the committee members as soon as possible.

The committee will remain in office until it completes its mandate, with its tenure capped at May 31, 2027.

In a clear move to separate the normalisation process from the race for power, FIFA has ruled that none of the committee members will be eligible to contest any position in the forthcoming NFF elections.

Until the appointments are finalised, the NFF Secretariat will continue to manage the federation’s daily operations and oversee the administration of Nigerian football.

RESIGNATIONS TRIGGER ADMINISTRATIVE SHAKE-UP

FIFA’s intervention follows a turbulent period in Nigerian football administration, which took a dramatic turn in August when former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned.

The departures threw the federation’s leadership structure into uncertainty and prompted fresh steps to stabilise its operations.

The National Sports Commission subsequently approved Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim General Secretary and Ademola Olajire as interim Deputy General Secretary, while the planned NFF elective congress was suspended pending reforms.

TINUBU ORDERS REFORMS

The developments also followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football.

The National Sports Commission was tasked with working alongside the NFF and engaging FIFA and CAF to drive the reform process.

With FIFA’s approval now in place, attention shifts to the appointment of the Normalisation Committee, the implementation of its mandate and the eventual conduct of fresh elections.

For Nigerian football, the coming months could prove decisive as the federation enters a new phase of administration under international oversight, with the May 31, 2027 deadline setting an outer limit for the normalisation process.

Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s wider efforts to improve the club’s operations after being briefed on plans to reduce the workforce by as much as seven per cent.

Chief executive Richard Garlick informed employees this week that the club intended to eliminate a number of positions across several departments. The proposed changes could affect up to 61 of Arsenal’s 871 permanent employees, with the reductions focused on non-playing and administrative roles.

The club has confirmed that coaching and performance teams across both the men’s and women’s sides will not be affected. Staff working for the Arsenal Foundation, Arsenal in the Community and the club’s security department are also excluded from the plans.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s visit to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Arteta said he had been given an explanation of the review and its objectives. The Spaniard initially stressed that he was not the appropriate person to discuss the details before outlining his understanding of the decision.

He explained that the process was designed to help the club develop, improve its structure and ensure resources were directed towards the right areas.

According to Arteta, the changes are intended to place employees in suitable positions while allowing Arsenal to continue investing in their long-term ambitions.

However, he emphasised that questions about the redundancies should be directed to the club’s leadership rather than himself, asking for his position on the matter to be respected.

The restructuring comes shortly after Arteta signed a new four-year contract, following Arsenal’s first Premier League title triumph since 2004. His previous annual salary of £10 million was increased under the new agreement, which also includes a further £5 million in potential bonuses.

The workforce review had reportedly begun before Arsenal secured the league title, indicating that the proposed changes were part of a process already underway rather than a response to the club’s on-field success.

Arsenal’s latest financial figures provide further context for the decision. In February, the club reported record revenue of £691 million for the 2024-25 financial year. Despite that income, the accounts showed an overall loss of £1.4 million.

Operating expenditure also increased significantly, reaching £200.8 million compared with £147.9 million in the previous financial year.

While the club continues to generate substantial revenue, the planned job reductions highlight its efforts to review costs, reorganise its workforce and direct investment towards its future objectives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) as authorities investigate his departure from Portugal’s national team training camp in September.

The FPF’s Disciplinary Council confirmed the development in a statement reported by Portuguese public broadcaster RTP on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

According to the statement, disciplinary proceedings were initiated on October 9 following reports received by the council on October 7 concerning the circumstances surrounding the forward’s departure.

The council also imposed a provisional suspension on the Portugal captain. The federation described the measure as a “non-automatic provisional suspension,” indicating that the matter remains subject to further disciplinary review.

The case was subsequently referred to the FPF’s Disciplinary Investigation Commission on October 10 and designated as urgent. The federation added that information relating to the proceedings would remain confidential until the investigation had been concluded.

Portuguese sports broadcaster SPORT TV also reported the decision, citing the federation’s disciplinary statement.

 Ronaldo Apologises for Leaving Training Camp

Ronaldo’s suspension follows an incident on September 30, when he reportedly left Portugal’s training camp in Copenhagen amid a disagreement with head coach Jorge Jesus over his role within the team.

In a report published on October 6, beIN SPORTS said the 41-year-old forward had apologised for his decision to leave the camp and acknowledged that he could face disciplinary consequences.

“I should not have done it. The responsibility is exclusively mine,” Ronaldo said in a statement quoted by the broadcaster.

The Portugal captain also reportedly apologised to his teammates, accepting responsibility for his actions and indicating that he would respect any punishment handed down by the football authorities.

Despite the controversy, Ronaldo has no intention of ending his international career. According to beIN SPORTS, he has expressed his willingness to return to the national team once any suspension has been served. RTP also reported that the forward remained open to rejoining the Portugal squad.

 Final Disciplinary Decision Still Pending

The FPF’s latest action represents a provisional measure rather than a final ruling on the case. The ongoing investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Ronaldo’s departure and determine whether further disciplinary sanctions are warranted.

For now, the federation has not disclosed what additional punishment, if any, the forward could face. Details of the investigation will remain confidential until the proceedings are completed.

Ronaldo’s future involvement with Portugal will therefore depend, in part, on the outcome of the disciplinary process and any sanctions ultimately imposed by the federation.

Pep Guardiola has reaffirmed his loyalty to Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

The former City manager said he would continue to stand behind the club’s owners, executives, players, staff and supporters, despite an independent commission finding the club guilty of breaching financial rules covering several seasons.

In a message to City supporters, Guardiola said he wanted fans around the world to know that he remained firmly behind the club.

“I am, always have been, always will be, behind my club,” he said, also expressing his support for the ownership, chairman, players, staff, manager and supporters.

“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”

The independent commission found Manchester City guilty of charges relating to financial breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club was also found guilty on all but one of the charges concerning its alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

Among the commission’s findings were allegations involving commercial agreements that the Premier League described as “sham contracts”, with more than £830m in secret funding alleged to have been disguised through those arrangements.

Manchester City has consistently denied wrongdoing and rejected the commission’s conclusions. The club said it was “disappointed and surprised” by the verdict and remains confident that it can overturn the findings through the appeal process.

Guardiola, who managed City from 2016 until his departure last summer, had previously made clear that the charges would not automatically change his commitment to the club. In November 2024, he said he would remain with City even if the club were relegated as a result of the case.

During his time in charge, Guardiola guided City to six Premier League championships, including four consecutive titles, as well as the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups.

Richards: Verdict has been difficult to accept

Former City defender Micah Richards has also spoken about the emotional impact of the verdict.

Richards, who joined City's academy as a teenager and spent much of his career at the club, said he was deeply upset after reading the commission's findings.

He highlighted the language used in the report, particularly the reference to “sham contracts”, and said the situation had been painful for both former players and supporters.

Richards recalled receiving a call from the family he lived with during his early years at the club. The family had supported Manchester City for decades, and he said the uncertainty surrounding the case had left them extremely distressed.

“I haven't got the answers to tell him,” Richards said, explaining that he could not provide the information the supporter was looking for.

Richards acknowledged that City's own response to the verdict presents a different version of events.

He said he felt “saddened”, “angry” and “confused” because supporters were being confronted with the commission's findings while also hearing City's argument that the club had been wrongly judged.

Carragher calls for titles to be reconsidered

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher offered a more critical response to the verdict.

Speaking on Sky Sports News and The Rest Is Football podcast, Carragher said he believed the controversy could affect how City's achievements are viewed, particularly by the players who were involved during the period covered by the investigation.

He argued that City players had been relying on assurances from the club's leadership and could now feel that their achievements had been undermined.

Carragher also questioned whether titles won during the period covered by the charges should remain in City's record. He distinguished between removing honours from City's history and deciding whether those championships should subsequently be awarded to other clubs.

His comments also focused on the emotional significance of trophies for players, rather than simply the physical medals themselves.

The 2013-14 Premier League title was particularly significant in that context. Manchester City finished two points ahead of Liverpool, denying Steven Gerrard and his team-mates their closest opportunity to win the Premier League during Gerrard's career.

For City, however, the legal process is not necessarily over. The club has continued to reject the allegations and has until 2 October to submit an appeal against the commission's findings.

The case therefore remains unresolved from the club's perspective, with Manchester City maintaining that it can demonstrate its innocence despite the commission's verdict.

If the reported findings against Manchester City are ultimately upheld, English football will face a reckoning that goes far beyond points, fines or even trophies.

The reported conclusion that City have been found guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League financial-rule charges represents one of the most consequential moments in the history of the competition.

But this is not yet the end of the story.The sanctions have not been announced. The full reasoning behind the findings has not been made public. Manchester City are expected to appeal.

Those distinctions matter. Yet if the findings survive the appeals process, football will have to confront a question that reaches to the heart of the modern game:

Can a competition claim to have meaningful financial rules if breaches of those rules can take years to resolve and consequences arrive long after the sporting contests themselves have been decided? That is the real issue.

 The question of competitive integrity

Manchester City have become one of the defining forces of English football. During the period covered by the allegations, the club won multiple Premier League titles and established itself among the elite of European football.

If the reported findings are ultimately upheld, the debate will inevitably move beyond the technical details of individual regulations. It will become a question of competitive integrity.

That does not mean every City victory should automatically be erased, every trophy removed or every match rewritten. Football does not work that simply.But rival supporters and clubs are entitled to ask a basic question: what are financial regulations actually worth if breaking them carries consequences only years after the competitive advantage may already have been gained? The answer will depend heavily on what punishment follows.

 The punishment could reshape English football

The Premier League has a range of disciplinary powers available in serious cases, including financial penalties, points deductions, suspension and, in the most extreme circumstances, expulsion.

A points deduction would have an obvious sporting impact.Relegation or expulsion would be something else entirely. The consequences could spread through almost every part of the club's operation: broadcasting income, sponsorships, player contracts, recruitment, European qualification and the ability to retain a squad assembled to compete at the highest level.

And the effects would not necessarily stop at Manchester City. A major punishment could alter league positions, European places and financial distributions, potentially creating consequences for clubs that had nothing to do with the original allegations.

But it would be wrong to treat any particular punishment as inevitable.The sanction has yet to be announced, and the appeal process remains an essential part of the case.The reported findings are a major development. They are not necessarily the final word.

 Then comes the compensation question

There is another potential battle waiting beyond the disciplinary process: compensation. If other clubs believe they suffered financial losses because of Manchester City's alleged breaches, they could potentially seek damages through separate legal or regulatory channels.

That would take the dispute into much more complicated territory. It is one thing to establish that a rule was broken. It is another to demonstrate that a particular club suffered a specific financial loss because of that breach and then establish what that loss was worth.

The arguments could involve league positions, prize money, European qualification, commercial opportunities and other sporting consequences.Whether such claims ultimately succeed is impossible to say at this stage.But the fact that the possibility exists illustrates the extraordinary reach of this case.

## And what happens to the trophies?

This is where emotion is likely to overwhelm reason. If the findings are upheld, there will inevitably be calls for Manchester City's titles to be stripped and historical records rewritten.But a disciplinary case cannot simply be settled by public outrage.

There is a crucial distinction between punishing a club for regulatory breaches and retrospectively declaring that individual matches or entire competitions never counted.Any decision about titles, points or historical records must have a clear legal and regulatory foundation.That principle cuts both ways.

Manchester City must have the right to challenge the findings through the established appeal process. Equally, if the findings survive that process, the Premier League must enforce its regulations consistently and transparently. The credibility of the system depends on both principles.

 The bigger failure may be the length of the process

Perhaps the most uncomfortable question is not about Manchester City at all. It is about the system itself.

The allegations were investigated over a period of years. Charges were brought in 2023. The independent hearing concluded in 2024. The reported verdict has now emerged in 2026.That is an extraordinary length of time for a sporting disciplinary case.

Football can accept complex investigations. What becomes harder to defend is a system in which the consequences of alleged wrongdoing may remain unknown for years while the competition continues around them.

Players change.Managers leave.Squads are rebuilt.Trophies are won.Relegations and promotions take place. And yet the central question remains unresolved.

Rules cannot fully protect competitive integrity if enforcement moves at a pace that allows several seasons to pass before accountability arrives.That is why this is bigger than Manchester City.It is a test of football governance itself.

The hardest punishment may not be financial

There is also a consequence that no commission can easily quantify. Reputation.Even if Manchester City succeed in reducing or overturning some findings on appeal, the controversy surrounding this period of the club's history will not simply disappear.

And if the reported findings are ultimately upheld, every future discussion of Manchester City's extraordinary modern success will inevitably be accompanied by questions about the financial-rule case.

That does not erase the football played on the pitch.It does, however, change the context in which that history is remembered.

A fine can be paid.Points can be deducted.A season eventually ends. But questions about the legitimacy of an era can survive for generations.

The final judgment must come from the final judgment

For now, caution remains essential. There is a fundamental difference between reported findings, the commission's detailed reasoning, the eventual punishment and the outcome of an appeal.

Those stages should not be collapsed into one.Manchester City have denied the allegations and have the right to challenge the findings through the proper process.

Football should therefore resist the temptation to write the final chapter before the final judgment exists.But it should also recognise the scale of what is at stake.

If 114 of the 115 reported charges are ultimately upheld, this will not simply be a story about whether Manchester City lose points or trophies.It will be a test of whether English football's financial rules possess enough authority to protect the competition they were designed to regulate. Because ultimately, this is not just about Manchester City.

It is about every club that follows the rules, every player who competes under them and every supporter who believes that the outcome of a football match should be decided on the pitch — within a system in which the same rules apply to everyone.

The punishment will matter. The appeal will matter. The trophies will matter.But the biggest question will be whether, when this extraordinary case is finally over, anyone still believes the rules mean what they say.

 

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League charges relating to alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.

The findings follow a lengthy independent hearing into the club’s financial affairs. The allegations include claims that City failed to provide accurate financial information and did not properly disclose certain payments involving players and coaches.

Manchester City have consistently denied the allegations.

No sanction has been announced following the reported findings, and the club is expected to appeal.

The case could have significant consequences for Manchester City, who have enjoyed an unprecedented period of success since Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008.

During that era, City have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League.

Potential sanctions could include a substantial points deduction or other disciplinary measures. However, the final punishment has yet to be determined, and any appeal could further extend the process.

The latest development therefore represents a major turning point in the long-running case, but the final outcome remains unresolved.

Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka is facing an investigation by prosecutors in Lucerne over allegations that he obtained a fraudulent Covid-19 vaccination certificate in 2022.

Swiss authorities confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to establish whether Xhaka committed a criminal offence by obtaining or using a certificate that was false or forged.

Xhaka, 33, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, addressed the matter publicly on Monday. He admitted that he obtained a vaccination certificate after struggling with doubts about the Covid-19 vaccine.

The Sunderland midfielder said he had been affected by "worries and uncertainty" and acknowledged that he should have dealt with his concerns differently.

Xhaka said he now accepts that his decision was wrong, apologized for his actions and confirmed that he would cooperate fully with the investigation.

Although Switzerland did not impose a nationwide legal obligation for everyone to possess a Covid certificate, certificates were required for access to certain venues, activities and forms of travel during the pandemic. Restrictions remained in place until spring 2022, while certificates continued to be issued afterward mainly for international travel.

The potential consequences for Xhaka have not yet been established. A previous Swiss case involving national ice hockey coach Patrick Fischer provides one example of how authorities have dealt with the issue. Fischer was convicted in 2023 after using a fake Covid certificate connected to his participation at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and was fined 38,000 Swiss francs. He was later dismissed from his position and received a four-year ban from the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Following Xhaka's statement, the Swiss Football Association confirmed that he would withdraw from the national team's upcoming Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia.

The association said the decision was reached jointly by Xhaka and the team's management. His future with the national side is expected to be discussed after the international break.

Xhaka is Switzerland's record appearance holder, with 152 international caps. The midfielder also captained the country at this year's World Cup, where Switzerland reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual runners-up Argentina.

At club level, Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris declined to comment on the investigation after his side's defeat by Manchester City.

Le Bris said the matter was outside his responsibility, adding that his focus was football and describing Xhaka's performances on the pitch positively.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal conviction against Xhaka has been reported.

 

Mauricio Pochettino has delivered a stunning verdict on Chelsea’s 2016–17 Premier League triumph: strip them of the title and hand it to Tottenham.

Pochettino’s Tottenham side finished runners-up that season with a club-record 86 points, just seven behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who lifted the trophy after an extraordinary 30-win campaign and 93 points.

But Chelsea’s title-winning season has been dragged back into the spotlight after the Premier League fined the club £10.75 million for historical breaches involving undisclosed payments and transfer-related reporting between 2011 and 2018.

The cases included deals involving stars such as Eden Hazard, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matić.

For Pochettino, that punishment does not go far enough.

“We should win one Premier League. We should have been awarded it.”

The former Tottenham boss, who later managed Chelsea during the 2023–24 season, insists Spurs were not competing on a level playing field.

“We didn’t compete before the start of the season with the same card.”

Pochettino believes Tottenham could have strengthened their squad had they operated under the same circumstances — potentially changing the outcome of the title race.

“Maybe with the same rules, we could’ve signed some players that would have made the team better or scored more goals.”

He was careful not to diminish Chelsea’s performances under Conte, acknowledging that they were an excellent side.

But his message was blunt: if the rules were broken, there should be consequences for the title.

“If you broke the rules, then ‘ciao’ — you need to give it to another team.”

And Pochettino says he would apply exactly the same standard to Tottenham.

“If we were at Tottenham and broke the rules, I’d admit the same: We don’t deserve the title because we broke the rules.”

Tottenham’s 2016–17 campaign remains their best-ever Premier League finish. Spurs won 26 games, lost just four and amassed 86 points — yet still finished behind Chelsea.

Despite Pochettino’s explosive call, however, Chelsea remain the officially recognised 2016–17 Premier League champions. No retrospective title change or points deduction has been imposed following the Premier League’s findings.

For now, the trophy remains at Stamford Bridge.

But Pochettino has made his position crystal clear: if Chelsea broke the rules, he believes Spurs should have the crown.

Shockwaves have hit West African football as Ibrahim Musa Gusau loses his grip on the WAFU Zone B presidency following his dramatic exit from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Gusau’s reign at the regional level has come to an abrupt end, just days after he resigned as President of the NFF, triggering a major leadership shake-up in West African football.

In a decisive move, the WAFU Zone B leadership has appointed Oumarou Sawadogo, President of the Burkina Faso Football Federation, as Gusau’s successor.

The development means Nigeria has been stripped of its place at the top of the sub-regional football bloc, with Burkina Faso now taking the leadership seat.

Gusau had occupied the powerful WAFU Zone B presidency while simultaneously steering the affairs of Nigerian football. But following his departure from the NFF, that dual leadership has now come to an end.

Sawadogo inherits the regional presidency at a crucial moment as WAFU Zone B continues to drive football development, organise competitions and coordinate programmes involving its member associations.

The sudden change marks a dramatic new chapter for the regional body — and signals the end of Nigeria’s latest spell at the summit of WAFU Zone B. From Abuja to the regional stage, Gusau’s football leadership era has ended — and Burkina Faso is now calling the shots.

The crisis rocking Nigerian football has taken a dramatic new turn, with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) set to launch a joint assessment mission in Abuja after insisting that no decision has yet been taken on the unfolding Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) situation.

The development effectively throws the latest claims of an agreement between FIFA, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and other stakeholders into fresh doubt.

In a strongly worded email dated September 7 and addressed to Barrister Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, said FIFA and CAF were still examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral issues arising from the crisis within the NFF.

“At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps,” the message stated.

The position is a significant departure from reports suggesting that FIFA and the NSC delegation led by its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Bukola Olopade, had reached an understanding over the proposed football reforms.

FIFA Puts NFF Election on Hold

In what could prove to be the most consequential part of the communication, FIFA asked that the ongoing NFF electoral process be suspended, with no further steps or decisions taken until further notice.

FIFA said the request was necessary to preserve the status quo while it and CAF complete their assessment and consult the various stakeholders.Importantly, however, the football governing body stressed that the suspension should not be interpreted as a ruling on the validity of any position, decision or action taken by any of the parties involved.

In other words, FIFA has frozen the process without yet declaring who is right or wrong.

Ikpeme, Not NSC, Named Key Contact

FIFA also made it clear that Emmanuel Ikpeme, whom it recognises as the NFF's Deputy General Secretary, should remain the primary point of contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF — rather than the National Sports Commission — until further notice.

That move further underscores the importance FIFA attaches to dealing through the recognised football administration while its investigation continues.

FIFA, CAF Delegation Heading to Abuja

The international football bodies are now preparing for a joint mission to Abuja at the earliest opportunity.

The delegation is expected to meet with representatives of:

The NFF administration;NFF members;The NFF electoral bodies; and The Federal Government, including the National Sports Commission.

The mission, FIFA said, is intended to give both organisations a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the latest developments, hear directly from the various stakeholders and identify issues requiring further examination under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulations.

No Winner, No Verdict — Yet

The message from Zurich is unmistakable: the matter remains open.

FIFA and CAF have reserved the right to make recommendations or proposals to their respective decision-making bodies after completing their assessment.

Until then, FIFA has warned against assuming what action it will eventually take.

The latest development therefore leaves Nigerian football in a state of suspense, with the electoral process effectively frozen and the next move now resting with FIFA and CAF.

For now, there is no final verdict, no approved reform deal and no clear winner in the escalating battle over the future direction of Nigerian football. FIFA and CAF are coming to Abuja. And before they leave, the full picture of the NFF crisis may finally begin to emerge.

There is the prospect of a genuine sports revolution in the air. There is a refreshing spirit across the land. There are glimpses of a new dawn for the entire sports sector through the developments in football.

Beyond sport, there are also emerging, the faint outlines of a new nation from 2027. Things are coming together. Things are falling into places and fitting in like a jig saw puzzle.


Even the Universe is involved in the evolving ‘conspiracy’. Otherwise, who can explain the spate of coincidences of developments in Nigerian sports?

Presidential support

It was all kick-started by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He directed that proper sports reforms take place. And he backed his directive with the money to get it done.

Such level of presidential interest has not been seen since the era of late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu.

The president means business, and everyone knows it.

The NSC – getting things done!

The National Sports Commission, NSC, bosses have been very busy, demonstrating proficiency in managing the crisis-situation in Nigerian football and maneuvering through the maze of difficult issues. They dealt with the disbandment of the board of the NFF masterfully. It went without any outcry, or resultant crisis.

They led a delegation to the headquarters of FIFA and came back with a bouquet of flowers (that I hope are not coated with hidden poisons)from the embattled president of FIFA. I hope they now have the clearance to carry out the needed reforms in Nigerian football without involving the Congress of the NFF. That organ should have been dismantled as well, and without the threat of any sanction for ‘Third-Party interference’ hanging on our necks.

The NSC, I hope, are now set to advance matters to the next level – setting up a body of credible, neutral, and knowledgeable persons to dismantle the old failed system and to create new instruments for genuine football development in the best interest of the country.

A few days before that, Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of AirPeace Airline, had approved that the ‘file’ of the Olympic Gold Medalists of 1996 be dusted, and that the names of the heroes be uplifted again and inscribed in Gold on the ‘NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame’ at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos.

The induction ceremony will be held in October/November, 2026, a year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games Boycott led by Nigeria, as well as the 30th anniversary of Nigeria’s greatest moment in sport, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Two of Nigeria’s great sports ambassadors will also be decorated on the day – late captain and manager of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi; plus the only world record breaker in Nigeria’s athletics history, Tobi Amusan(even as her record has been broken by America’s Olympic champion Masai Russel).


Governor Uba Sani – a new titan

Then, last week, came the bombshell. In my humble reckoning, the best news of the year came from Kaduna.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, CON, has joined Allen Onyema to fan the embers of the ‘Dream Team’, Nigeria’s victorious Olympic football team of 1996. Following that success, the Governor of Kaduna State at the time rewarded the players and their officials with plots of land in Kaduna. For some reason, the deed was not completed. The parcels of land were not documented and handed over the players.

30 years after, Governor Uba Sani has awakened ‘dead bones’, dusted the long-buried files, completed the process and redeemed the State government’s promise.

There was more great development

The state government was handed back the ownership of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, a heritage site that was built and opened in 1964 by the government of Northern Nigeria under Sir Ahmadu Bello. The stadium has deep historical significance to Northern Nigeria . It was taken over by the federal government for renovation for the Nigeria ‘99 FIFA Under-17 championship.

To have taken over all the State stadia became the worst decision ever. Some administrators in charge at the time, not versed in sports matters, ignorantly destroyed all major sports infrastructure in the country. Nigeria has not recovered from that misadventure and financial brigandage since then.

The Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kaduna, the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, and the Township Stadium, Calabar, had some of the best football facilities in Africa. Their ‘renovation’ became their destruction by some Nigerian and Israeli contractors.

Governor Uba Sani has come to spearhead a redemption of those monuments. The Governors of Oyo and Cross Rivers States should follow Uba Sani’s lead, secure the release of the two other State stadia from the NSC and rebuild them for the sake of posterity and for the coming reformation of sports in Nigeria.

By Segun Odegbami

FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” against president Gianni Infantino as the bitter row over a scrapped $4.2bn investment deal escalates into a legal battle.

UEFA has accused FIFA and Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” over the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), a plan that would have sold a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary to US investment firm Thrive Capital.

But in court filings in the United States, FIFA has hit back, arguing UEFA is seeking documents to support a foreign criminal case that does not exist.

“Rather than participate in that democratic process, UEFA issued a press release - the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said.

The governing body also dismissed UEFA’s legal arguments as suffering from a “fundamental defect” and “legal deficiencies”.

The proposed deal would have seen Thrive Capital, led by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, invest $4.2bn in the new FIFA entity. The plan was abandoned within days of being publicly revealed in July after triggering fierce opposition across world football.

FIFA had argued that the deal would dramatically increase funding for its 211 member associations, raising payments for the 2027-30 cycle from £5.9m to £14.7m per association.

UEFA claims the deal was struck at an artificially low valuation and alleges FIFA’s World Cup commercial assets were priced at around £15bn without an open auction or independent valuation.

It also alleges that Infantino discussed the concept with Kushner for almost a year before the final terms were agreed and claims the FIFA president failed to properly consult the organisation’s governing bodies.

UEFA has asked a New York court to order the disclosure of documents and testimony from Kushner and his company Thrive, as well as American financier Greg Maffei, a key adviser to the proposed deal.

Neither Kushner nor Maffei is expected to be a defendant, UEFA says, but their evidence could shed light on how the controversial proposal was developed and valued.

FIFA, however, claims UEFA has an ulterior economic motive for opposing the scheme, arguing that giving smaller football nations greater financial resources would strengthen global competition and potentially weaken UEFA’s market dominance.

UEFA has declined to comment, although sources have indicated that its position is simple: if FIFA has nothing to hide, it should release the documents and allow the legal process to move forward.

The row marks a dramatic escalation in UEFA’s opposition to Infantino, who is facing calls to resign from three continental confederations.

Kushner has also expressed regret over becoming involved in the deal, saying the group “failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football” and would not have participated had it known how the controversy would unfold.

What began as a failed investment proposal has now become a high-stakes battle over FIFA’s finances, governance and Infantino’s leadership.

The transfer window has slammed shut. The big-money deals are done. The deadline-day chaos is over. Clubs can no longer splash millions on new signings.

But there’s still plenty of talent sitting on the sidelines. A remarkable group of household names are now free agents, meaning clubs can potentially snap them up without paying a transfer fee.

And the list is loaded with former Premier League champions, Champions League winners, Ballon d’Or winners and some of the biggest names of the past decade.

Pogba, Benzema and Ramos headline the free-agent market
At the very top of the list is Paul Pogba.

The 33-year-old former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder is searching for his next chapter after Monaco terminated his contract following a difficult spell blighted by injuries.

Pogba's career has been interrupted repeatedly in recent years, but there is no doubt about the pedigree. At his best, he was one of the most exciting midfielders in world football.

Then there is Karim Benzema.

The former Real Madrid superstar and Ballon d’Or winner has also suddenly become available after his contract with Al-Hilal was terminated.

At 38, Benzema is no longer the unstoppable striker who terrorised European defences at Madrid — but his experience, finishing and enormous trophy haul make him one of the most intriguing free agents on the market.

And then there is Sergio Ramos.

Forty years old. Four Champions League titles. World Cup winner. One of the most decorated defenders of his generation.

Ramos has been without a club since leaving Monterrey in December 2025, yet he has still not called time on his extraordinary career.

Could one more adventure be waiting?

⚡ Sancho is still looking for his next move
Few names on this list carry more intrigue than Jadon Sancho.

The 26-year-old's Manchester United career never reached the heights expected after his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.

Loan spells followed at Chelsea and Aston Villa, and now Sancho is searching for another opportunity.

A move to Brazilian giants Palmeiras has reportedly been agreed — but until everything is officially completed, Sancho remains one of the biggest names on the free-agent market.

At just 26, he could still have plenty of football left to offer.

⯑ Champions League pedigree is everywhere
Sancho isn't the only player whose CV jumps off the page.

Dani Carvajal spent 13 years at Real Madrid, making an astonishing 451 appearances and winning virtually everything there is to win.

David Alaba, meanwhile, left Madrid after five years and arrives on the market with a résumé that includes 12 league titles and four Champions League triumphs.

Then there's Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian winger won the Premier League five times and lifted the Champions League with Manchester City. He scored 37 goals in 122 appearances for Al Ahli before his contract was terminated.

He may not be available for long, however, with reports linking him with a move to Al-Shabab.

⯑ And the list goes on...
There are plenty of other familiar faces waiting for their next opportunity.

Raheem Sterling, 31, is available after leaving Feyenoord following just eight games.

Philippe Coutinho, 34, has been without a club since leaving Vasco da Gama and has previously been linked with a move to MLS.

Jamie Vardy, 39, is also searching for his next destination after leaving Cremonese following their relegation to Serie B.

And there are plenty more experienced players available:

Jordan Ayew, 34
Dele Alli, 30
Joselu, 36
Anthony Martial, 30
Conor Coady, 33
Wilfried Zaha, 33
James Rodríguez, 35
Tyrell Malacia, 27
Oleksandr Zinchenko, 29
Solly March, 32
Georginio Wijnaldum, 35
Yves Bissouma, 30
The window may be closed — the market isn't For these players, deadline day didn't bring an ending. It simply brought another question: Who will take the gamble?

Some are veterans chasing one final chapter. Others, such as Sancho, Malacia and Zinchenko, are still young enough to rebuild their careers at the highest level.

And with no transfer fee required, clubs could be looking at some potentially huge bargains.

The transfer window may have slammed shut. But the free-agent market is still wide open.

The Premier League has gone transfer-mad.

English clubs have smashed the summer spending record for the second year running, pouring a staggering £3.410bn into the transfer market.

And the message to the rest of Europe is clear: the Premier League has money — and plenty of it.

Last summer’s record of £3.14bn has already been blown away.

Then came deadline day.

Manchester City paid an initial £60m for Iliman Ndiaye, pushing the total beyond the previous record.

And that still wasn’t the end.

Soon after the window slammed shut, City confirmed another blockbuster: £125m for Enzo Fernández from Chelsea, matching the British transfer record.

Three of the 10 most expensive transfers in football history have now been completed this summer — and every one involved a Premier League club.

Chelsea paid £117m for Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

Manchester City spent £116m on Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool committed an initial £106m for Bradley Barcola, with the deal potentially rising to £123m.

The numbers are staggering.

Just five years ago, Premier League clubs spent £1.13bn in an entire summer.

Now they are spending almost three times that amount.

England is buying England

Perhaps the most remarkable part of the spending spree is where the money is going.

Increasingly, Premier League clubs are buying from each other.

Around 35% of transfer-fee deals this summer have been completed between Premier League clubs, up from 30% last year.

Add deals involving clubs lower down the English pyramid and that figure rises to 44%.

Tottenham paid up to £100m for Sandro Tonali.

They also spent £85m on Mateus Fernandes and potentially £85m on Savio.

Arsenal paid £75m for Bruno Guimarães.

Manchester United spent £70m on Carlos Baleba.

The Premier League is becoming its own transfer marketplace.

Europe struggles to keep up

The financial gap is becoming impossible to ignore.

Premier League clubs have maintained a net spend of more than £1bn, comfortably ahead of Europe's other major leagues.

And even when English clubs sell, much of the money simply stays in England.

Newly promoted Ipswich Town have spent more on players than European heavyweights such as Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

That tells you everything about the scale of the Premier League's financial muscle.

Why leave England to shop abroad?

There is a simple reason many clubs are increasingly looking closer to home:

certainty.

A player who has already succeeded in the Premier League is a safer bet than an expensive import who still has to adapt to English football.

Recent big-money signings from abroad have not always delivered, giving clubs another reason to target proven Premier League performers.

There is also a darker side to the boom.

Foreign clubs know exactly how much money Premier League sides have — and that can push asking prices higher.

So English clubs are often choosing to spend huge sums on players they already know, rather than gamble on talent from overseas.

The result?

Record spending. Record fees. Record power.

The Premier League isn't just dominating English football.

It is reshaping the global transfer market — one £100m deal at a time.

UEFA is continuing its campaign to find a single candidate capable of challenging Gianni Infantino in next year’s FIFA presidential election, even as it prepares to abandon its threatened boycott of FIFA competitions.

The decision to drop the boycott follows assurances from FIFA that the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal will not be brought back. The plan, which involved opening FIFA’s commercial interests to private investment, triggered strong opposition across European football and led UEFA’s 55 member associations to consider withdrawing from FIFA tournaments.

UEFA is expected to formally communicate the decision to its member associations and FIFA Council representatives following its executive committee meeting in Monaco. The move will allow European teams to take part in the upcoming FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, where England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and hosts Poland are scheduled to compete.

However, ending the boycott does not mean UEFA has ended its opposition to Infantino. European football officials remain determined to find a unity candidate to contest the FIFA presidency when the election takes place in March 2027. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has ruled himself out of the race but has indicated that a challenger is likely to emerge.

The election could be significantly closer than Infantino might have expected only a few months ago. A candidate needs 106 votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations to secure victory, meaning an opposition campaign would need to build support well beyond Europe.

One of the strongest potential challengers is CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who is reportedly considering a bid. Other names have also emerged, including AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström, although neither has formally entered the race.


UEFA has also stepped away from the idea of pursuing a formal vote of no confidence against Infantino. Such an initiative would require the backing of three-quarters of FIFA’s membership, making it considerably more difficult than simply building a coalition around an alternative candidate.

For UEFA, the objective now appears to be political as much as electoral. Even if Infantino manages to win another term, European officials believe that a narrow victory could weaken his authority and raise questions about the level of support for his leadership.

The dispute began after Infantino’s proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative sparked widespread concern over the potential commercialization and private ownership of major FIFA competitions. FIFA subsequently abandoned the proposal, but the controversy continued to fuel criticism of Infantino’s leadership and governance.


Infantino, meanwhile, continues to seek re-election and retains significant support, particularly among some African and South American associations. With the nomination deadline set for November 18, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether UEFA and its allies can agree on a single candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge.

The withdrawal of the boycott may ease the immediate confrontation between UEFA and FIFA, but it does not resolve the deeper political conflict. With several confederations increasingly questioning Infantino’s leadership, the 2027 FIFA presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most contested in recent years.

The Irish Football Association (IFA) has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino’s bid to remain FIFA president, adding further pressure on the under-fire leader ahead of next year’s election.

The Northern Ireland governing body said it was time for change after expressing serious concerns over Infantino’s approach to FIFA’s governance and financial affairs.

The decision follows controversy surrounding a proposal to sell a 21% stake in FIFA’s commercial operations to a private investment company. The plan was eventually abandoned after strong opposition, particularly from UEFA, which had warned it could consider boycotting FIFA competitions.

In a statement, the IFA said the proposal had gone beyond a simple communication failure and raised serious concerns about FIFA’s strategy, governance and management of its assets.

The association had previously supported UEFA’s opposition to the plan but had stopped short of formally withdrawing its backing for Infantino. It has now joined a growing number of football associations calling for new leadership.

Football associations in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have already withdrawn their support for Infantino, who is expected to seek a fourth term as FIFA president at the election in March 2027.

Former Players unite against FIFA
Former Manchester United and France defender Mikaël Silvestre, a member of FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel, published a statement calling for significant changes within the organisation. The statement was subsequently shared by prominent players and former internationals, including England defender Lucy Bronze, France World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit and former England goalkeeper David James.

The players criticised FIFA for making major decisions without sufficient consultation with footballers or supporters. They argued that the sport had moved away from its traditional values under Infantino’s leadership and called for players and fans to have a greater say in how football is governed.

“Change is necessary,” the statement said, arguing that recent developments had made it impossible for players to remain silent.

Infantino is facing increasing pressure from several parts of the football world. UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has suggested that the FIFA president should either step aside or face a serious challenge at next year’s election.

However, Infantino still retains influential support. Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Association and a former Barcelona striker, has defended the FIFA president and said he does not believe Infantino has done anything wrong.

Eto’o credited Infantino with expanding opportunities for smaller nations and increasing Africa’s influence within international football.

With more national associations and prominent players now calling for change, the pressure on Infantino is growing. The crucial question will be whether his opponents can unite behind a credible alternative before the FIFA presidential election next March.

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