Sports
Argentine police raid AFA, clubs in massive money-laundering probe
Argentine police raided the national football association headquarters and several top-flight clubs Tuesday in a sweeping money-laundering investigation, just months before the world champions are set to defend their title.
The raids targeted dozens of locations linked to a financial company that served as the official sponsor of both the Argentine league and the national team last year.
“So far there have been 25 to 30 raids of teams and private homes,” a police source told Agence France-Presse (AFP), confirming that the Argentine Football Association headquarters and the national team’s training facilities south of Buenos Aires were included.
First-division clubs hit in the operation included Racing, Independiente, Banfield and San Lorenzo.
The company under investigation is Sur Finanzas, whose owner is close to AFA president Claudio Tapia. Last month, tax authorities filed a complaint accusing the firm of dodging taxes on Argentine pesos equivalent to $550 million. Local media reported authorities are investigating whether the firm used frontmen to provide loans to clubs in exchange for benefits such as broadcasting rights.
The judge in charge has lifted banking confidentiality for the clubs under investigation.
Racing downplayed its ties to Sur Finanzas, saying in a statement that a 2023 commercial agreement with the company “was only an advertising and sponsorship deal,” set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025. The club also noted that Sur Finanzas owes it money.
Another raided club, Buenos Aires-based Atlético Excursionistas, denied any financial ties to the firm beyond a standard sponsorship deal.
Power struggles
The scandal comes as football in Lionel Messi’s Argentina – which lifted the 2022 World Cup trophy – is mired in power struggles. Several controversies have raised questions about the influence of Tapia, who has headed the AFA since 2017.
Tapia has clashed with the government of President Javier Milei, who favors turning football clubs into publicly traded companies, which AFA rules currently forbid.
In a controversial move last month, the AFA created a new championship combining points from the season’s two main league tournaments. Rosario Central – the club of former Paris Saint-Germain player Angel Di Maria – was crowned “Argentine champion,” even though the final of the closing tournament has yet to be played. Estudiantes, which is playing in Saturday’s final against Racing, rejected the title, and its president was suspended for six months by the AFA disciplinary tribunal.
One of the clubs raided, Barracas Central, was run by Tapia for two decades before his son took over. In recent months, anger has grown over alleged referee favoritism toward the club, which rose from the lower divisions to the top flight in recent years.
Tapia has remained defiant amid the growing controversies. “Three Argentine presidents have come and gone in just nine years since I began leading Argentine football, and I still have many years ahead,” he said two weeks ago, referring to the end of his current mandate in 2028.
Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün said sharing good news with Türkiye means as much to him as the honor itself after earning his second straight NBA All-Star selection.
Speaking at the Rockets’ training facility, the 23-year-old described the back-to-back nod as a moment of pride not only for his career but for his country, especially during a difficult period back home.
“Recently, there have been earthquakes in Türkiye and very bad things have happened,” Şengün said. “That’s why I’m always happy to bring good news.”
Şengün emphasized the responsibility he feels representing Türkiye on the NBA’s biggest stage, calling it a source of motivation throughout the season. “I am proud to carry the name of Türkiye on my shoulders,” he said. “That’s great, my friend.”
Şengün was officially added to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 8 as an injury replacement for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with Commissioner Adam Silver naming him to Team World.
The selection makes Şengün the first Turkish player to earn consecutive All-Star appearances.
Mehmet Okur remains the only other Turkish player to be named an NBA All-Star, earning a single selection in 2007.
The Rockets’ center has backed up the honor with one of the most complete seasons of his young career.
Through 44 games, all starts, Şengün is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 49.6% from the field.
His assist average is a career high and highlights his evolution into one of the league’s most versatile playmaking big men.
This season, he is one of only a handful of players averaging at least 20 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
Şengün’s production has helped keep Houston competitive in the Western Conference and further cemented his status as a cornerstone of the franchise.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend will be held Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 in Inglewood, California, with the 75th All-Star Game played Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
This year’s event will debut a new USA vs. World format, featuring a round-robin tournament among three teams playing four 12-minute games. The All-Star Game will tip off at 5:00 p.m. ET and air on NBC and Peacock.
Rıza Kayaalp marked his long-awaited return to competition in emphatic fashion, capturing the Greco-Roman 130 kg. gold medal at the Zagreb Open and reminding the wrestling world why his name still carries weight at the very top of the sport.
The tournament in Croatia’s capital, part of United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event of 2026, was Kayaalp’s first official appearance in 610 days.
The 36-year-old Turkish heavyweight had not competed since June 2024, yet he looked untouched by the layoff, dominating every bout on his way to the title.
Kayaalp opened his campaign by overwhelming American Aden Ikaika Hammar Attao in the elimination round, winning 9-0 by technical superiority.
He followed with another lopsided victory in the quarterfinals, again posting a 9-0 technical fall against Georgia’s Rati Talikishvili.
The semifinals brought a sterner test, but Kayaalp remained in full control, shutting out Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Syrlybay 4-0 with disciplined defense and sharp work from par terre.
In Sunday’s final, he faced American Cohlton Michael Schultz and delivered a composed, authoritative performance, pulling away for a 7-1 victory to secure the gold medal.
Across four matches, Kayaalp conceded just one point.
The Zagreb Open also marked Kayaalp’s return following a doping case that sidelined him for much of 2024 and 2025. An out-of-competition test in May 2024 detected trimetazidine, a prohibited substance under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
Kayaalp maintained the substance came from the prescribed medication Vastarel, which he used to treat severe tinnitus and related symptoms.
While an initial ruling imposed a four-year ban, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced the sanction to 18 months, allowing him to resume competition on Jan. 1, 2026.
Kayaalp’s comeback adds another chapter to one of Greco-Roman wrestling’s most decorated careers.
He owns three Olympic medals, five world titles and a record 12 European championships, a mark he currently shares with Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin.
Gold at the 2026 European Wrestling Championships in April would make Kayaalp the most successful European champion in history.
Türkiye enjoyed a strong showing overall in Zagreb, finishing the event with three gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Alongside Kayaalp, Yüksel Sarıçiçek and Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu claimed gold, while Nesrin Baş took silver and Ömer Halis Recep earned bronze.
Turkish short-track speed skater Furkan Akar says he feels prepared, confident, and hungry for a medal as he gets set to compete at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, aiming to turn experience into a podium finish.
Speaking from the Olympic Village in Milan, Akar described a smooth build-up to his second Games and said years of racing at the highest level have sharpened both his mindset and his belief.
“I gained experience with a sixth place and a bronze medal, then raced many more international events,” Akar said. “This is my second Olympics. I feel very ready and very motivated. I believe I can finish on the podium.”
Akar arrives in Italy with a growing resume. He finished sixth in the 1000 meters at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the best Olympic result ever for Türkiye in short track speed skating.
A year later, he claimed bronze at the 2023 European Championships in Gdansk, delivering Türkiye’s first European medal in the discipline.
Those milestones, he said, helped shape his confidence heading into Milan.
The atmosphere has already left a mark. Akar was one of the Turkish flag bearers at the opening ceremony, an experience he described as overwhelming and unforgettable.
“Carrying the Turkish flag in front of 80,000 people was incredibly exciting,” he said. “The energy here is completely different from Beijing. It was intense, emotional, and special. We are still training twice a day, fitness and ice sessions, right up to the 16th. The excitement keeps building.”
On the ice, Akar knows where the biggest challenge lies. He pointed to Canadian skaters as the strongest contenders in the men’s 500 meters but made it clear he is not intimidated.
“I think the Canadians are strong in the 500,” he said. “Other than that, I trust myself. I will give more than my best and represent my country in the strongest way possible.”
The Olympic environment, he added, carries a unique weight.
“Racing against the best athletes in the world is a very different feeling,” Akar said. “I worked hard for this, sacrificed a lot, and now I am seeing the reward. I want to thank everyone who supported me, from the federation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. I am getting so many messages from across Türkiye, and that support means everything.”
Türkiye will be represented by two skaters in short track at Milano-Cortina for the first time. Denis Örs will join Akar in competition, with Örs also saying he feels strong and focused ahead of the races.
Akar and Örs are scheduled to compete in the men’s 500-meter heats on Monday, Feb. 16, at 1:17 p.m. local time. The event is known for its explosive pace, tight margins, and unpredictability, often producing dramatic finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo still waits for his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Nassr hope their longest-running drought ends with his return to the pitch this week in continental competition.
The Riyadh club faces Arkadag of Turkmenistan on Wednesday in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Two round of 16, a two-match tie that offers Al-Nassr a clear path toward silverware.
The return leg will be played in Saudi Arabia next week, with a quarterfinal place at stake.
Ronaldo, now 41, has missed Al-Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League matches amid reports of frustration over the club’s transfer strategy and funding structure.
Those concerns surfaced after rivals Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema during the January window, reigniting debate over how Saudi football’s biggest clubs are backed despite all four being majority owned by the Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi Pro League moved quickly to address the issue, stressing that clubs operate independently within a shared framework.
In a statement, the league said Ronaldo has played an important role in Al-Nassr’s growth but emphasized that no player holds influence beyond their own club.
Transfer funding, the league added, comes from a centralized acquisition pool and individual club resources, not personal preference.
Despite the noise, Al-Nassr have shown resilience without their marquee name.
They beat defending league champions Al-Ittihad 2-0 on Friday, their second straight win without Ronaldo, easing immediate pressure ahead of the Arkadag trip.
Al-Nassr’s continental campaign unfolds as Saudi clubs continue to dominate the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite.
Al-Hilal sit comfortably atop the West Zone with six wins from six matches, allowing coach Simone Inzaghi room to rotate his squad.
Al-Ahli have also secured progression after claiming their first continental title earlier this year.
Al-Ittihad remain the only Saudi side yet to confirm a place in the knockout stage.
Sixth in the standings with two matches left, they can secure advancement by defeating Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Tuesday, even after losing Benzema to Al-Hilal.
Elsewhere in Asia, Vissel Kobe are the only East Zone team already through, while Japan could send three clubs into the round of 16 if Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Machida Zelvia deliver wins this week.
Chinese teams face mounting pressure, with Shanghai Port rooted to the bottom and Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Shenhua clinging to qualification hopes.
For Al-Nassr, however, the focus is narrower and more urgent. Ronaldo has elevated the club’s profile since arriving in January 2023, but a major trophy remains missing from his Saudi chapter.
Turkish center Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets on Sunday was named an NBA All-Star for the second time in his career.
“Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Team World for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game (Sunday, 2/15 on NBC & Peacock),” the NBA said in a statement on Sunday.
Canadian star Gilgeous-Alexander has been sidelined by an abdominal strain but was voted a starter in taking his fourth All-Star selection in a row.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will be played next Sunday at Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Şengün was named an All-Star for the first time last year. In his fifth NBA campaign, Şengün is averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over 44 games.
Şengün has helped the Rockets to a 32-19 record, sharing fourth place in the Western Conference.
In a revamped All-Star format, the World squad will face two teams of American players, USA Stars and USA Stripes, in a round-robin mini-tournament with three 12-minute games deciding which two sides advance to the 12-minute final.
England survived a major scare to beat Nepal in its T20 World Cup Group C opener in Mumbai on Sunday, despite Lokesh Bam’s blistering 39 not out off 20 balls.
Sam Curran held his nerve at the iconic Wankhede Stadium and defended just 10 off the last six balls as Nepal was restricted to 180-6 in 20 overs, replying to England’s 184-7 (20 overs).
Bam hit two sixes and four fours to raise the possibility of an improbable and stunning upset, but Curran bowled an exceptional final over to get England across the finish line.
Earlier, England had won the toss and opted to bat. Jacob Bethell hit 55 off 35 balls, including four sixes. Skipper Harry Brook added 53 off 32 balls with three sixes.
Will Jacks provided the finishing touch with 39 not out off 18 balls, hitting four sixes, and took England to a more defendable target from a precarious 137-5 in 15.3 overs.
In the morning game at Chennai, Tim Seifert’s 65 off 42 balls helped New Zealand get off to a winning start in the tournament and beat Afghanistan by five wickets in Group D.
It is expected to be the toughest group that also includes 2024 finalists South Africa.
New Zealand cruised to 183-5 – its highest ever chase at the T20 World Cup – with two overs to spare. Afghanistan scored 182-6 after winning the toss.
Curran took 1-27 in four overs, while left-arm spinner Liam Dawson picked up 2-21. For Nepal, skipper Rohit Paudel hit 39 off 34 balls, and Dipendra Singh top-scored with 44 off 29 balls.
Group C also includes West Indies, Italy and Scotland. Two-time champions West Indies beat Scotland by 35 runs Saturday.
England were 57-3 after 6.1 overs, when Bethell and Brook came together. They added 71 off 45 balls for the fourth wicket.
Bethell scored 50 off 28 balls, while Brook hit 50 off 31. Bethell fell in the 14th over and England slipped further before Jacks came to the rescue.
Jacks was named player of the match for his all-round showing. He helped England to reach a par score, and then picked up 1-17 in two overs.
He dismissed opener Kushal Bhurtel, who hit 29 off 17 balls and provided Nepal with a quick start as England searched for a breakthrough.
Dawson picked up two wickets as slower deliveries hit Nepal batters. Paudel and Singh added 82 off 54 balls for the third wicket, setting up a base for the finish.
Adil Rasheed proved expensive – 0-42 in three overs – but Curran dismissed Singh in the 15th over, in what was a crucial moment for the game. Bam’s heroics fell short in the end.
Gulbadin Naib, batting at No. 3 for the first time in T20s since the 2024 World Cup when Afghanistan knocked out the Black Caps from the race to the semis with an 84-run win at Guyana, smashed 63 off 35 balls.
But opening batter Seifert (65) raised his maiden T20 World Cup half-century to overcome Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s twin strike that had rattled New Zealand to 2-14 inside the first two overs.
Mujeeb clean bowled Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive balls before Glenn Phillips (42) dealt with the hat-trick ball and then put the chase back on track by putting on an aggressive 74-run partnership with Seifert.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan (1-36) also couldn’t stem the flow of runs as New Zealand continued to accelerate in the middle overs against the experienced leg-spinner.
Rashid broke the stand in the 10th over when Phillips dragged it back onto his stumps.
Seifert completed his fifty in style by smacking off-spinner Mohammad Nabi for two successive sixes and followed it with a boundary before he was caught at deep square leg.
Mark Chapman (28 off 17 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (25 not out) then accelerated to get Black Caps home in the team’s first game of the tournament.
Earlier, Naib struck four sixes and three boundaries and laid a platform for Afghanistan’s strong finish with a 79-run partnership with Sediqullah Atal (29).
Naib took his time, scoring 14 off 16 balls but needed only another 13 deliveries to raise his half-century as New Zealand struggled with their fifth bowler.
Express bowler Lockie Ferguson (2-40) had struck twice when he was introduced in the last over of the power play and removed both openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Ibrahim Zadran (10).
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