Sports
‘Blinded by power’: Legends turn up heat on FIFA boss Infantino
A group of former international players, including World Cup winners and FIFA legends, called Monday for sweeping changes at soccer’s governing body, accusing President Gianni Infantino’s leadership of losing sight of the game’s core values as pressure mounts on him ahead of next year’s election.
The group, which includes several former World Cup champions, said FIFA needs a new era of accountability and a greater role for players and fans in how the sport is governed.
“We share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world,” former France World Cup winners Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu and Robert Pires, former U.S. women’s world champion Briana Scurry and former England international Lucy Bronze said in a joint statement.
“Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under FIFA’s current leadership. Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football.”
The statement adds to growing criticism of Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking another term despite opposition from some of world football’s most powerful regional bodies.
Infantino came under particular pressure after abandoning a controversial proposal to create a commercial entity for FIFA tournament rights and sell a 20% stake to private investors. UEFA and other confederations opposed the plan, with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin describing it as worse than the breakaway European Super League proposal.
“The plan is dead,” Ceferin said in an interview with the podcast The Rest is Politics: Leading. “For me, the most important thing is that we stopped another try to sell the sport.”
The dispute has fueled wider questions over Infantino’s future. Several FIFA confederations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, have expressed opposition to his leadership, while senior figures familiar with the discussions told Reuters last week that regional power brokers are considering whether to pursue a no-confidence vote before next year’s election.
Ceferin, who has repeatedly been mentioned as a possible successor, said he will not challenge Infantino himself but believes the FIFA president could face an opponent if he seeks another term.
Infantino is expected to run for re-election at the FIFA Congress in Morocco next year, with Nov. 18 set as the deadline for challengers to nominate.
“I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who,” Ceferin said.
Ceferin said Infantino has two choices: recognize that he no longer has the backing of the wider football community and leave, or contest the election and face a challenger.
He stressed that the issue goes beyond the officials who ultimately cast votes.
“The political support of the football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches” also matters, he said.
Ceferin, 58, ruled himself out of the FIFA race, saying he remains committed to UEFA and would rather preserve his credibility than pursue the organization’s top job.
“I’m not interested because of two reasons,” he said. “One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here.”
The former players’ group also called on football’s wider community to take a more active role in determining the sport’s future.
“We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport,” they said. “There are good people within FIFA who want to rebuild trust, but a new era requires a structural change: a real, direct say for players and fans in how football is run.”
The group includes former Peru forward Claudio Pizarro, former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron, former Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, and FIFA legends Didier Drogba and David James.
FIFA legends are former players recognized for their contributions to the sport who support FIFA initiatives, including exhibition matches and social and charitable projects around the world.
The former players said their message was ultimately about restoring trust in an organization they believe has become too distant from the people who make the game what it is.
“Those who step onto the pitch and those who sit in the stands deserve a genuine voice to help reshape football’s future together,” they said. “For the fans, for the players, and for the good of the game, we will be silent no more.”
Reuters contacted FIFA for comment.
Ceferin also questioned the political relationship between Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom the FIFA president has developed a close relationship ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“To be honest, I think you are naive if you think that a politician like that, or any politician, is your good friend,” Ceferin said. “The moment you are a problem, you stop being a friend of a politician.”
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke had heroin, cocaine, morphine and multiple prescription medications in his system when he died in May, according to the full autopsy released Monday by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Clarke’s death was ruled an accident, with the medical examiner determining that the effects of heroin and cocaine caused his death. The report also listed the combined effects of multiple prescription medications as other significant conditions.
The 29-year-old Clarke was found unresponsive in a bedroom at a residence in the San Fernando Valley on May 11 and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The medical examiner had previously announced Aug. 7 that the effects of heroin and cocaine were the cause of death, but the full report provided additional details about the substances found in his system and at the residence.
Toxicology findings
The autopsy found morphine along with heroin and cocaine.
It also identified several prescription medications, including oxycodone and its metabolite oxymorphone, alprazolam, pregabalin, carisoprodol, meprobamate and metabolites associated with venlafaxine and chlorcyclizine. Mitragynine, the active compound in kratom, was also detected.
The report noted that some of the prescription medications were present at therapeutic levels. Despite the number of substances detected, the medical examiner identified heroin and cocaine as the primary cause of death and classified the manner of death as accidental.
The findings came more than two weeks after the medical examiner’s initial announcement, which said Clarke died from the effects of heroin and cocaine and that his death was accidental. The examination was conducted May 12 at the department’s Forensic Science Center.
What investigators found
According to details reported from the investigation, first responders found cannabis products, vape devices, syringes and Narcan, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, in the residence. Investigators also reported finding prescription medications, medication blister packs, vitamins and other medical-related items.
A plate containing an unidentified white powder was found in the kitchen, along with a hotel keycard.
Clarke’s roommate told investigators that he had a history of drug use and had previously attended rehabilitation programs.
Clarke was last seen alive around midnight, according to details included in reports on the investigation. His roommate later became concerned after Clarke’s agent was unable to reach him and checked on him at about 5 p.m. He found Clarke unresponsive, and Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at approximately 5:15 p.m. The medical examiner found no evidence of fatal traumatic injuries or foul play.
Arkansas arrest weeks before his death
Clarke’s death came about six weeks after he was arrested in Arkansas on drug and traffic-related charges.
Cross County authorities arrested him April 1 after an alleged high-speed pursuit in which he was accused of driving at more than 100 mph. He was charged with trafficking and possession of a controlled substance, fleeing while exceeding the speed limit and improper passing.
According to an arrest affidavit reported by The Commercial Appeal, authorities found more than 230 grams of kratom in his vehicle. Clarke was released on bond. The charges were allegations, and his death occurred before the case could proceed further.
The Arkansas case was separate from the investigation into Clarke’s death in California, and the autopsy did not establish a direct connection between the arrest and the fatal drug combination.
Seven seasons with Memphis
Clarke spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Grizzlies after Memphis acquired his draft rights following his selection 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Vancouver, Canada, native played college basketball at San Jose State before transferring to Gonzaga. He quickly established himself in Memphis, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds during his rookie season and finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Over 309 regular-season games, including 50 starts, Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. His athleticism, energy and finishing around the basket made him a valuable part of the Grizzlies’ frontcourt during his career.
Injuries, however, increasingly limited his availability. He suffered a torn Achilles in 2023 and later underwent knee surgery before the 2025-26 season.
Clarke returned in December and played only two games, averaging four points and three rebounds, before a calf injury ended his season. Memphis had announced in March that he would miss the remainder of the campaign. He remained under contract through the 2026-27 season when he died.
The Grizzlies, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the National Basketball Players Association were among those who paid tribute to Clarke after his death, remembering him as a valued teammate and a positive presence within the Memphis community.
Fenerbahçe are one victory away from ending a 17-year wait for the UEFA Champions League as they travel to face Lyon on Wednesday in the decisive leg of their playoff.
The Turkish side drew 1-1 with Lyon in the first leg in Istanbul and now need a win in France to secure a place in the Champions League league phase for the first time since the 2008-09 season. A draw would send the tie to extra time and potentially penalties.
For Fenerbahçe, the stakes go far beyond a single playoff. The club have repeatedly fallen short in qualifying and have also missed out on the competition because of UEFA sanctions, despite winning the Turkish league.
Fenerbahçe first reached the Champions League group stage in the 1996-97 season and have since appeared in the competition’s main phase six times, most recently in 2008-09.
Their best run came in 2007-08 under Brazilian coach Arthur Zico, when they reached the quarterfinals before losing to Chelsea.
That remains the club’s deepest run in the competition and one of the defining European campaigns in Fenerbahçe’s history.
Long road back
Fenerbahçe have had to navigate a particularly difficult path back to Europe’s premier club competition.
The club’s most recent Champions League appearance came 17 seasons ago. Since then, their attempts to return have repeatedly ended in the qualifying rounds.
Fenerbahçe also missed the competition despite winning the Turkish Süper Lig in 2010-11. They had qualified directly for the Champions League but were prevented from participating amid the match-fixing investigation in Turkish football.
Two years later, after being eliminated by Arsenal in the 2013-14 playoff, Fenerbahçe received a two-year UEFA ban from European competitions. They subsequently won the Süper Lig that season but were unable to enter the Champions League in 2014-15 because of the sanction.
The club have also fallen short 11 times through Champions League qualifying.
Their first such failure came in 2002-03, when Feyenoord eliminated them in the third qualifying round after 1-0 and 2-0 victories.
They were then stopped by Dinamo Kyiv in 2006-07, Young Boys in 2010-11 and Spartak Moscow in 2012-13.
In 2013-14, Fenerbahçe eliminated Salzburg to reach the playoffs but were beaten by Arsenal over two legs.
Shakhtar Donetsk ended their campaign in 2015-16, while Monaco knocked them out the following season despite Fenerbahçe winning the first leg 2-1 in Istanbul.
Benfica eliminated them in 2018-19 after a 1-0 win in Portugal was followed by a 1-1 draw in Istanbul.
Their next attempt came in 2022-23 under Jorge Jesus. Fenerbahçe drew 0-0 away to Dinamo Kyiv before losing 2-1 at home.
Another painful exit last season
The disappointment continued last season under Jose Mourinho.
Fenerbahçe advanced past Lugano in the second qualifying round and then faced Lille in the third round. After losing the first leg 2-1 in France, they won 1-0 in Istanbul to force extra time.
A late Lille equalizer ended their hopes and sent the French side through.
Fenerbahçe received another chance the following season, beating Feyenoord in the third qualifying round before meeting Benfica in the playoff.
Fenerbahçe drew 0-0 at home but lost 1-0 in Portugal, missing the league phase once again.
The defeat marked another painful chapter in the club’s long struggle to return to the competition.
European pedigree
Standing in their way this time is a Lyon side that have also endured difficult years but are showing signs of a revival.
Lyon last reached the Champions League semifinals in 2019-20, when they were eventually eliminated by Bayern Munich, who went on to win the title.
After years of financial difficulties, Lyon finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Europa League round of 16 under coach Paulo Fonseca.
Fonseca’s team also overcame Sparta Prague in this season’s third qualifying round. After losing the first leg, Lyon responded with a 3-0 victory at home before drawing in Türkiye.
They then opened their Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Toulouse.
History also favors Lyon in qualifying. The French club have won five of their last six two-legged Champions League qualifying ties.
They also have a strong record against Fenerbahçe, having defeated the Turkish club four times during their previous meetings in the Champions League group stage. The sides drew 0-0 in the Europa League during the 2024-25 season.
Fenerbahçe arrive under pressure
Fenerbahçe’s preparations have not been entirely smooth.
İsmail Kartal has taken charge after Domenico Tedesco replaced Mourinho, and the new coach guided the team past Gornik Zabrze and Sturm Graz in the opening qualifying rounds.
But Fenerbahçe suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Gençlerbirliği at the start of their domestic campaign, increasing pressure on Kartal and a squad assembled with Champions League ambitions.
The team responded with a 4-2 victory over Konyaspor, offering some relief before the decisive trip to France.
Anderson Talisca has emerged as one of Fenerbahçe’s key attacking weapons, scoring in five consecutive matches and accounting for four of the team’s six goals during Champions League qualifying.
The Brazilian could again play a central role against Lyon, potentially operating as a false nine while Marco Asensio plays behind him. Romelu Lukaku and Vedat Muriqi provide alternative options up front, while Nene Dorgeles impressed off the bench in the first leg and hit the post with a long-range attempt.
Fenerbahçe will also have to manage several squad concerns. Çağlar Söyüncü has a muscular problem, goalkeeper Mert Günok remains sidelined and Jayden Oosterwolde is expected to join Roma.
Ederson has therefore retained his place in goal after starting the first leg and the league victory over Konyaspor.
Lyon are also dealing with an injury concern, with defender Moussa Niakhate struggling with an ankle problem. But Paulo Fonseca is expected to welcome back key players Tyler Morton and captain Corentin Tolisso after rotating his squad at the weekend.
Pavel Sulc has recovered from a knee issue, while Argentina international Nicolas Tagliafico is available again after his post-World Cup holiday.
Lois Openda is expected to lead Lyon’s attack.
For Fenerbahçe, Wednesday’s match represents another chance to rewrite a frustrating chapter in the club’s European history.
Six Champions League campaigns have produced 40 matches, 11 victories, six draws and 23 defeats. Their quarterfinal run in 2007-08 remains the high point.
Defending champions Türkiye cruised past Hungary in straight sets Monday, securing their third Pool A win at the CEV Women’s European Volleyball Championship in Istanbul.
Türkiye won the sets 26-24, 25-21 and 25-14 at Sinan Erdem Sports Hall, following victories over Slovenia and Latvia.
Melissa Vargas led Türkiye with 24 points, while Zehra Güneş added eight and Hande Baladin contributed seven.
Anett Nemeth was Hungary’s top scorer with 15 points.
Hungary took an early lead in the opening set before Türkiye rallied to edge their opponents 26-24.
Türkiye maintained a narrow but consistent lead in the second set, winning 25-21 to move within one set of victory.
The reigning European champions maintained their momentum in the third set, winning 25-14 to complete a 3-0 victory.
Türkiye will next face Germany on Wednesday as they continue their Pool A campaign.
Arthur Fils won his first ATP Masters 1000 title Sunday, while Coco Gauff beat Jessica Pegula to claim her second Cincinnati Open crown.
Fils, the 21st seed, recovered from a second-set stumble to defeat America’s Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0.
The Frenchman started strong, securing an early break to surge ahead 3-0 before Tiafoe managed to hold serve and get on the scoreboard.
He kept up intense baseline pressure, aggressively targeting Tiafoe’s second serve to extract errors and build a 5-3 lead. Finishing the opening set in dominant fashion, Fils served three consecutive aces in a flawless final game.
Tiafoe, competing in his second final in Cincinnati, retaliated with equal force during the second set.
The 28-year-old American broke early in the second game to build a 3-0 advantage, using wide forehands to push Fils off the court.
Even though Fils held serve without dropping a point to get on the board, the 17th-seeded Tiafoe scored another break to lead 5-1 before closing out the set to force a decider.
Fils rapidly took charge in the final set, capitalizing on a surge of backhand errors from Tiafoe to secure two breaks and storm to a 4-0 lead.
The 22-year-old’s overwhelming pace left the American with no answers and Fils capped off a dominant 6-0 final set following an extended rally to capture the Cincinnati title.
“It was tough, because I started very, very strong, and then in the second set I lost a little bit of focus,” Fils said.
“To be able to win one title like this means a lot to me, it’s a lot of training, a lot of things, a lot of sacrifice,” he added.
Coco Gauff claimed her second Cincinnati trophy by outplaying world No.3 Jessica Pegula in a commanding 6-2, 6-4 women’s final.
The 22-year-old American took charge early, converting two breaks and capitalizing on her countrywoman’s double faults to surge to a 5-0 lead in the first set.
Though Pegula, who had eliminated defending champion Iga Swiatek the previous day, managed a love break at 5-2, she couldn’t overcome her poor start against the overwhelming power of the world No.4’s forehand.
Building momentum ahead of the U.S. Open, Gauff raced to an early 3-0 lead in the second set, securing a break in the second game by capitalizing on the 32-year-old’s return errors.
Pegula, coming off a defeat to Alexandra Eala in the Washington Open final earlier this month, held serve at love in the seventh game and subsequently broke back to trim the margin to 5-4.
However, two-time Grand Slam winner Gauff immediately broke back to claim the set at love, sealing her 12th career singles title.
The ball used in Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his iconic strike score against England at the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals sold for $3.35 million Saturday, Heritage Auctions said.
The Dallas-based auction house sold the ball after experts matched it to photographs taken during the match but the final price fell significantly short of the pre-auction estimate of at least $10 million.
Prior to the auction, Heritage described it as arguably the most famous ball in any sport and said it could become the most valuable football item ever sold.
Maradona earned the phrase “Hand of God” for his opening goal against England when referees missed his left-handed punch past goalkeeper Peter Shilton and allowed the score to stand.
Just four minutes later, the Argentine captain took possession in his own half and wove past five English players, scoring a goal which fans later voted FIFA’s World Cup “Goal of the Century.”
Match referee Ali Bin Nasser of Tunisia, who officiated the match, held onto the ball for 36 years before it was first auctioned in London in 2022 for 2 million pounds ($2.37 million).
Maradona’s shirt from the same match later sold for almost $9.3 million at Sotheby’s.
The recent sale also did not break the record for the most expensive sports ball. Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball from his historic 2024 MLB campaign fetched $4.392 million, including buyer’s premium.
The record for the most expensive piece of sports memorabilia belongs to Babe Ruth’s New York Yankees jersey from Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. Heritage Auctions sold it for $24.12 million, including the buyer’s premium, in 2024.
Turkish Süper Lig giants Trabzonspor announced Monday the arrival of former Liverpool star Fabinho to bolster their midfield.
Ahead of an expected transfer move, Trabzonspor shared a video of the 32-year-old Brazilian free agent aboard a plane on Turkish social media company NSosyal and invited supporters to welcome him at Trabzon Airport.
“Fabinho is coming. We invite all our supporters to the big meeting at Trabzon Airport at 11.30 a.m.,” the club said.
Fabinho also appeared in the video, referring to his anticipated reunion with former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah.
“A familiar face is waiting for me in Trabzon and I am on my way. For us, everywhere is Trabzon,” he said, using a catchphrase associated with the Black Sea club.
Salah joined Trabzonspor earlier this month after nine seasons at the Premier League side Liverpool.
Liverpool pedigree
Fabinho and Salah played together at Liverpool between 2018 and 2023, becoming key members of the team assembled by German manager Jürgen Klopp.
Fabinho geliyor!
Saat 11.30’da Trabzon Havalimanı’nda tüm taraftarlarımızı büyük buluşmaya bekliyoruz.#FabinhoIsComing pic.twitter.com/LJwhcGOsHC
— Trabzonspor (@Trabzonspor) August 24, 2026
Fabinho joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2018 and established himself as the team’s defensive midfielder, with occasional central defensive duties.
He made 219 appearances and scored 11 goals during his five seasons with the English club.
Fabinho helped Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title in the 2019-20 season, ending the club’s 30-year wait to become English champions.
He also won the UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and English League Cup with Liverpool.
Before moving to England, Fabinho helped Monaco win the French Ligue 1 title in the 2016-17 season and reach the Champions League semifinals.
The Brazilian left Liverpool for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in 2023 and most recently played for the Jeddah-based side.
His expected arrival would add further international experience to Trabzonspor’s squad and reunite him with Salah three years after their partnership at Liverpool ended.
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