Sports
Haaland defends Man City’s 100% record, Hull hold Aston Villa
Manchester City maintained its perfect Premier League start with a hard-fought 1-0 win over promoted Coventry City on Saturday, but the narrow victory highlighted how much work remains after the club’s 450 million pound ($608.45 million) rebuild.
A third successive win was sealed in familiar fashion by Erling Haaland, with a little help from British-record-equaling signing Enzo Fernandez on his debut but City were made to sweat by a Coventry side still seeking a first point.
Crystal Palace earned their first league victory of the campaign as they twice came from a goal down to prevail 3-2 at Fulham, while four other games ended all square.
Newcastle United recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 at home to Bournemouth who scored first for the third game in a row but are still without a victory.
Tottenham Hotspur picked up their first point of the season but failed to have a shot on target in a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest who had a goal ruled out by VAR for handball.
Brighton & Hove Albion drew 1-1 at home to Leeds United, Brentford versus Sunderland also finished 1-1, while promoted Hull City held visitors Aston Villa to a 0-0 draw.
After Manchester City’s eye-watering splurge continued until Tuesday with the arrival of Argentina midfielder Fernandez from Chelsea and Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye, Coventry may have feared the worst at The Etihad Stadium.
Maresca handed debuts to Fernandez and fellow deadline-day signing Ndiaye, while midfielder Elliott Anderson, whose club-record 115-million-pound arrival was surpassed by Fernandez, was also in the starting lineup.
Fernandez played a key role in Haaland’s 26th-minute opener, sliding a pass through for Antoine Semenyo, whose cross the Norway striker headed in. Haaland’s strike was his 300th goal in all competitions in his top-flight club career.
Haaland also had a goal ruled out but it was Coventry who finished strongly and an equalizer would not have flattered Frank Lampard’s side, who forced City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a string of saves.
City completed 803 passes to Coventry’s 217 but there was some relief at the final whistle, although Enzo Maresca was happy enough with the nature of the performance.
“I really liked today for different reasons. First half we could have scored one or two more but we worked together to win so I am happy,” the Italian said.
“Anxiety from the fans is normal. Nine out of 10 of these games you end with a bad feeling but it’s important to win 1-0. Not all the performances are going to be nice, you also need ugly moments.”
City lead the table with nine points. Champions Arsenal and Chelsea, the other teams with a 100% record, meet Sunday at The Emirates Stadium.
Hull dropped their first points in an impressive start to life back in the top flight but have yet to concede a goal, while Villa’s struggles persisted as Unai Emery’s side still search for a first goal and have one point from three matches.
Craven Cottage entertainment
Coventry and Fulham remain without a point after three games, while Villa will hope to get their tally up and running when they travel to surprise package Hull.
The day’s real entertainment happened at Craven Cottage where Fulham’s new manager Alvaro Arbeloa suffered his third successive defeat as Ben Chilwell scored the winner for Palace.
Josh King put Fulham ahead after 11 minutes but Tyrick Mitchell leveled for the visitors before Cesar Palacios tucked in a rebound to restore the home side’s lead.
Mitchell equalized again for Pierre Sage’s side before Chilwell, who joined on a free transfer, latched onto a loose ball to drive home the winner in the 77th minute.
“It’s a good result but we have to be honest, our start has not been of the level expected. We did better with mentality in the second half,” Sage said.
Bournemouth made Premier League history by becoming the first club to score first in their opening three games of a season without winning any of them.
Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth an early lead before a Malick Thiaw own goal made it 2-0 after 35 minutes.
Harvey Barnes pulled a goal back before halftime and Jacob Ramsey earned Newcastle a point with a late strike to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
“Two times already in the last two games, but it is what it is,” Bournemouth manager Marco Rose said. “It’s good that we are in situations to be able to win games … We have to talk about the negatives, get better and try to finish the games.”
Vitaly Janelt put Brentford ahead against the run of play just before the hour mark against Sunderland but Enzo le Fee’s late penalty earned the visitors a point. Brighton’s record signing Luka Vuskovic scored his side’s equalizer against Leeds.
Tottenham are yet to score in the league this season but at least emerged with a point from the City Ground, although Forest were left frustrated after Neco Williams’ second-half effort was ruled out for handball after some chaotic Spurs defending.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina won her fourth title of the season with a straight-set victory over Leylah Fernandez in the Ningbo Open final Sunday.
The top seed and defending champion won 6-2, 6-2 in 73 minutes against world No. 30 Fernandez of Canada.
The victory in Ningbo also helped the Kazakh to take a big step towards securing the year-end No. 1 ranking, further burnishing a spectacular season in which she won the Australian Open title before adding the U.S. Open crown to reach the summit.
“It’s amazing to play in front of you … it’s my second year here and my second win,” Rybakina told the crowd in the eastern Chinese city after collecting a tour-leading fourth title of the season and 15th overall.
“It’s such a special place for me. Thanks so much Ningbo.”
Rybakina’s latest triumph is a timely lift after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as she turns her attention to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before she launches her title defense at the season finale in Indian Wells, California, from Nov. 8.
Trademark power
Top seed Rybakina made the breakthrough with her trademark power in the fifth game and then unleashed a searing cross-court backhand winner to go 4-2 up, before the 27-year-old wrapped up the opening set in 38 minutes.
Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1, with the three-times Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from there.
Fernandez, who won the Singapore Open last month, remained upbeat despite a disappointing showing in the final and backed herself to finish the season strongly after a grueling run of matches in Ningbo.
“I’d like to congratulate Elena for a wonderful week and a wonderful year. Congratulations to you and your team,” the 24-year-old said, before addressing her own team.
“We’re having a good end of year. We’ve just got to keep going and keep working hard.”
Turkish football’s ultimate rivalry takes center stage Monday night as league leaders Galatasaray welcome archrivals Fenerbahçe for a blockbuster Süper Lig clash.
Galatasaray enter the high-stakes fixture riding high after a morale-boosting 4-2 UEFA Champions League victory away against French side Lille.
Domestically, the defending champions have turned RAMS Park into an impenetrable fortress, extending an astonishing 39-match unbeaten run at home in league play (31 wins, 8 draws). Their last domestic defeat on home soil came precisely against Fenerbahçe on May 19, 2024.
Okan Buruk’s side has mastered the art of late drama this season, securing 10 crucial points from goals scored in the dying minutes, including Victor Osimhen’s 90th-minute equalizer against Arca Çorum FK, Gabriel Sara’s 90+1st-minute winner against İstanbul Başakşehir, late heroics from Barış Alper Yılmaz and Mario Lemina against Kasımpaşa, and Deniz Gül’s 88th-minute winner last week against Gençlerbirliği. A victory on Monday would mark Buruk’s 120th league win at the helm of the Lions.
However, Galatasaray will have to cope without Portuguese star Rafael Leao, who is sidelined with a mild-to-moderate groin strain sustained in the win over Gençlerbirliği.
Fenerbahçe arrive in formidable domestic form under manager Ismail Kartal, riding a three-match league winning streak and boasting the Süper Lig’s most prolific attack with 22 goals.
The Yellow Canaries have kept clean sheets in each of their last four top-flight outings, outscoring opponents 14-0 across emphatic victories over Eyüpspor (8-0), Çaykur Rizespor (3-0), and Alanyaspor (3-0).
Despite their domestic surge, Fenerbahçe stumbled in Europe mid-week, letting a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 Champions League home draw against Slavia Prague.
The visitors are also battling a heavy injury toll: Marco Asensio is sidelined following left knee cartilage surgery, Nathan Ake faces a three-week layoff with a hamstring injury, and Mert Müldür and Jayden Oosterwolde remain fitness concerns.
In-form striker Vedat Muriqi, who has netted seven league goals this campaign, is expected to lead Fenerbahçe’s attack.
Recent history favors hosts
History heavily favors the hosts in recent derbies. Fenerbahçe are winless in their last four league encounters against Galatasaray, suffering a 3-0 defeat in this exact fixture at RAMS Park in April.
Furthermore, Galatasaray’s talismanic Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen boasts an undefeated record against the Yellow Canaries across four league matches and one Turkish Cup fixture – highlighted by a two-goal performance in the 2024-25 cup quarterfinals.
With championship implications and fierce local pride on the line, the tie could be a early make-or-break moment in the season.
Entering the weekend, Galatasaray sit atop the standings with 19 points on the back of six wins, one draw and a defeat. Third-placed Fenerbahçe trail by three points with 16, having recorded five wins, a draw, and two losses.
The Intercontinental Derby, scheduled for a 09:30 p.m. kickoff, will be officiated by referee Atilla Karaoğlan.
Possible Lineups
Galatasaray
Uğurcan Çakır; Roland Sallai, Davinson Sanchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Eren Elmalı; Lucas Torreira, Mario Lemina; Leroy Sane, Gabriel Sara, Barış Alper Yılmaz; Victor Osimhen.
Fenerbahçe
Ederson; Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Oppong, Levent Mercan; N’Golo Kante, Matteo Guendouzi; Oğuz Aydın, İrfan Can Kahveci, Mason Greenwood; Vedat Muriqi.
Lionel Messi received the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports on Friday, becoming the first footballer to win the prestigious Spanish honor individually in recognition of his extraordinary career and charitable work supporting disadvantaged children.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward collected the award from Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, during a ceremony at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, attended by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
Fans wearing Argentina jerseys cheered and chanted Messi’s name as he arrived at the ceremony, accompanied by the sound of bagpipes and drums in the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias.
The award, announced June 3, recognizes Messi’s achievements on the field, his commitment to helping disadvantaged children access education and health care, and the values of humility, teamwork and fair play that have defined his career.
The jury praised the Argentine as “the most successful footballer of all time,” highlighting both his sporting accomplishments and his social work.
Presenting the award, Leonor praised Messi’s ability to read the game and make decisive choices under pressure, while putting the interests of his team ahead of individual glory.
“He turned the extraordinary into routine by reading the game and deciding on the most effective option in fractions of a second, while respecting the collective essence above ego,” she said.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, has won eight Ballon d’Or awards, a World Cup with Argentina and dozens of major trophies at club level.
He spent 21 years at Barcelona, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer and helping establish a dominant era in Spanish and European football under coaches Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
After leaving Barcelona in 2021, Messi spent two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami, where he continues to play in Major League Soccer.
His international career has also brought historic success. Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, assist provider and most-capped player, Messi captained his country to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, ending Argentina’s 36-year wait for the trophy.
Speaking at an event with children in Oviedo on Thursday, Messi stressed the importance of accepting both victory and defeat.
“The most important thing is to know how to lose and how to win,” he said, describing that attitude as fundamental to football.
The Princess of Asturias Award places Messi among a distinguished group of sporting figures recognized for their achievements and wider contributions to society.
Previous football recipients include former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who shared the honor in 2012. Brazil’s national team received the award in 2002 after winning its fifth World Cup title.
Other past recipients of the sports award include tennis champions Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge and American skier Lindsey Vonn.
Established in 1981, the Princess of Asturias Awards recognize achievements across sports, the arts, science and other fields, with an emphasis on contributions to human coexistence, solidarity and international cooperation. Each award carries prize money of 50,000 euros, or about $56,000.
Messi was among several prominent figures honored at Friday’s ceremony. British author Julian Barnes, American astronaut Christina Koch and musician Patti Smith also received awards.
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has warned against judging his team against Barcelona’s established success ahead of Sunday’s Clasico, insisting his second spell at the Santiago Bernabeu remains a work in progress despite a strong start.
Mourinho returns to Camp Nou with Madrid having won their last four matches across La Liga and the Champions League, but they sit third in the standings, six points behind defending champions Barcelona, who have maintained a perfect league record.
Barcelona, coached by Hansi Flick, have won back-to-back La Liga titles and scored 39 goals in their first nine league games. Madrid have scored 23, although they have also demonstrated their attacking potential, netting four or more goals in four league matches.
The contrasting records have fueled expectations that Barcelona could dominate Sunday’s encounter. Mourinho, however, believes those assessments overlook the time needed to build a team capable of consistently challenging for major honors.
“I think the people that thought a week ago Barca would thrash us will keep thinking the same thing,” Mourinho told reporters Saturday.
“I don’t think just for the Paris game, or Madrid’s (4-1 win against) Leipzig, they will change their way of thinking.”
Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the season in a 4-2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Madrid defeated RB Leipzig 4-1 at home. Mourinho said neither result should dramatically alter perceptions of the teams ahead of a fixture that often defies form.
The Portuguese coach has been in charge for only a few months since returning to Madrid, while Flick took over Barcelona in 2024 and has had considerably more time to establish his methods.
Mourinho said his squad was still learning his tactical expectations and developing an identity, making comparisons with a more settled Barcelona side premature.
“People look at us like a finished product, but finished products in football are difficult because they are never finished,” he said.
“This is the start of a product, we’re in an initial phase where the coach is learning, analysing, bit by bit defining paths, the players are learning about the coach. Comparing a team in this state to more established sides, I think is unfair.”
Mourinho added that his ambitions for Madrid remained unchanged despite the gap between the teams.
“No. Madrid with Mourinho wins titles,” he said when asked whether Sunday’s match would determine if his side could compete for silverware.
The coach has won 10 of his 12 matches since returning to the club, but his immediate challenge is to close the gap on a Barcelona team that has enjoyed a commanding run of results in the rivalry.
Flick’s side have won six of their seven Clasicos against Madrid since his arrival, scoring 22 goals and conceding 11. Sunday’s meeting will offer Mourinho an early opportunity to measure his progress against one of his team’s biggest obstacles.
Mourinho prepares for another Clasico battle
Mourinho’s return revives a rivalry that defined much of his first spell at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, when he attempted to break Barcelona’s dominance under Pep Guardiola.
He achieved that goal by guiding Madrid to the 2011-12 La Liga title, finishing with a record 100 points. But his tenure was also marked by fierce confrontations with Barcelona, both on the pitch and in public.
The rivalry reached an extraordinary intensity during the 2010-11 season, when the sides met four times in 18 days. The first encounter ended in a 1-1 league draw, before Madrid beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final through Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time winner.
Barcelona responded by eliminating Madrid in the Champions League semifinals, winning the first leg 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid defender Pepe was sent off, and Mourinho described the decision as a “scandal.” A 1-1 draw in the return leg sent Barcelona through to the final, which they won.
The period also produced one of the rivalry’s most notorious incidents. During a heated confrontation in August 2011, Mourinho poked Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye.
Mourinho had previously worked at Barcelona as an assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal in the 1990s. He was later overlooked for the head coaching position in 2008, when the club appointed Guardiola to replace Frank Rijkaard.
His battles with Guardiola and Lionel Messi became central to the rivalry, sometimes overshadowing the football itself. Guardiola once said he could not and would not compete with Mourinho, whom he called the “boss,” in the press room.
Mourinho’s confrontational approach has resurfaced during his second Madrid spell. Following a derby defeat to Atletico Madrid, he presented printed evidence of incidents he believed warranted two red cards for the opposition. He also declined to attend a news conference after Vinicius Junior was sent off against Villarreal.
Critics have often interpreted such actions as attempts to divert attention from his team’s performances. A victory against Barcelona would strengthen his position and give him a more direct answer to questions about Madrid’s progress.
President Florentino Perez brought Mourinho back in part to restore Madrid’s ability to compete consistently with Flick’s Barcelona, who have become the dominant side in recent meetings.
Tactical decisions
Despite his insistence that the team remains a work in progress, Mourinho has seen encouraging signs during Madrid’s recent winning run.
He has begun settling on preferred selections after rotating players during the opening weeks of the season. Federico Valverde, whom Mourinho initially did not consider a natural right-back, has started in that position in Madrid’s last two matches.
The Uruguay international impressed in the Champions League victory over Leipzig, helping Madrid create attacking opportunities down the right flank.
“We created a lot on that side, and Fede had a fantastic match,” Mourinho said after the game.
Valverde’s move to defense has also opened space in midfield for other options. Arda Guler featured in that role against Sevilla, while Bernardo Silva was deployed against Leipzig, giving Madrid additional possession and improving their ability to build attacks.
The Clasico presents a different tactical challenge, however. Barcelona’s attacking movement and ability to control possession could force Mourinho to adopt a more cautious approach, potentially using a defensive midfielder or even a center-back in an advanced role, as he did with Pepe during his first spell at Madrid.
Mourinho declined to outline any specific plans for containing Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, insisting that Madrid would not abandon their own identity to neutralize an individual opponent.
The 19-year-old Spain international has been in outstanding form and is hoping to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday.
“He’s a great player and great players you respect,” Mourinho said.
“One thing is respecting, another thing is to change plans, structures, forgetting your own essence. That we will not do, neither for him or any other player of great quality we face.”
The Madrid coach also dismissed the idea that recent results would determine Sunday’s outcome, describing the Clasico as a contest unlike any other in club football.
“We’ve been in a good dynamic, winning games, playing well, scoring goals, but in the Clasico it doesn’t matter what you did before, it has no influence,” he said.
“The Clasico is unique, normally the football world stops to watch it. Hopefully it’s a great game. And we win.”
Barcelona will also have individual milestones in sight. Flick is approaching his 100th victory in charge and could guide the team to a new record for the best start to a La Liga season, surpassing Madrid’s previous mark of nine consecutive wins set in 1968-69.
The German coach played down the significance of Barcelona’s defeat in Paris, saying his players had recovered and were ready for the challenge.
“El Clasico is different. It’s the best game football has to offer, and everyone will be watching,” Flick said. “I have a good feeling. The players have recovered and are ready for the game. The team is really looking forward to playing it.”
Turkish football received a welcome boost in Europe as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor went unbeaten across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, combining for two wins and two draws.
Galatasaray delivered the week’s standout result with a comeback victory in France, while Trabzonspor maintained their perfect start in the Conference League.
Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş were held to draws after showing attacking promise and resilience in their respective matches.
The results offered encouraging signs for the Süper Lig’s European campaign, although defensive lapses continued to cost teams valuable points.
Galatasaray’s comeback
Galatasaray secured their first win of the Champions League league phase with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Lille in France on Oct. 21.
The Turkish champions made an ideal start when Yunus Akgün opened the scoring in the second minute, but Lille responded quickly through Soriba Diaoune, who equalized in the seventh minute before putting the hosts ahead again in the 39th.
Galatasaray refused to let the game slip away. Aleksey Batrakov restored parity in the 44th minute, heading home from a Roland Sallai delivery to send the teams into halftime level.
The visitors took control early in the second half when an own goal by Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer put Galatasaray ahead.
Victor Osimhen then provided the finishing touch in the 61st minute, converting after Barış Alper Yılmaz set him up to complete an impressive away performance.
The victory was particularly important after Galatasaray had lost their opening two league-phase matches.
Their ability to recover after falling behind twice demonstrated their attacking threat and determination, with Akgün, Batrakov and Osimhen making decisive contributions.
Three points in France revived their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages and gave the Turkish side renewed confidence ahead of their remaining European fixtures.
Fenerbahçe surrender late lead
Fenerbahçe were left frustrated after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague on Oct. 20.
The Istanbul side started aggressively, with Oğuz Aydın opening the scoring in the fourth minute before Mason Greenwood doubled the lead seven minutes later following a Nélson Semedo assist.
Their early advantage, however, proved difficult to protect. Lukas Provod pulled one back for Slavia in the 15th minute, giving the visitors a route back into the contest.
Fenerbahçe continued to threaten and had opportunities to restore their two-goal cushion, but they could not put the match beyond their opponents. The punishment came in the 90th minute when Pavel Kačor scored from close range following an Emmanuel Ayaosi cross.
The draw left Fenerbahçe with two points from three league-phase matches. Although the late equalizer denied them a valuable victory, their early attacking intensity and the contributions of Aydın and Greenwood offered positives.
Their challenge now is to turn promising spells into complete performances and avoid surrendering points in the closing stages.
Beşiktaş show character after going down to 10 men
Beşiktaş earned a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Oct. 22, recovering from a second-half deficit before finishing the Europa League encounter with 10 players.
The Black Eagles took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Wilfred Ndidi converted after a long ball created the opportunity.
Crystal Palace responded forcefully after the break. Yéremy Pino equalized in the 51st minute, with the goal initially ruled out for offside before a video review confirmed it. Jean-Philippe Mateta then put the English side ahead four minutes later, leaving Beşiktaş facing the prospect of another difficult European night.
Junior Olaitan restored parity in the 73rd minute with a composed finish after creating space for himself, giving the home side a lifeline.
Beşiktaş’ task became more complicated when Ümit Akdağ was sent off in the 77th minute. Reduced to 10 men, they had to withstand further pressure but held on to secure a point at Tüpraş Stadium.
The result followed their 3-2 away victory over Hoffenheim earlier in the league phase, leaving Beşiktaş with seven points from three matches.
Their ability to recover from going behind and protect the draw while short-handed underlined their competitiveness, although the defensive problems that allowed Palace to take the lead will require attention.
Trabzonspor maintain perfect record
Trabzonspor continued their strong start in the Conference League with a controlled 2-0 home victory over Heart of Midlothian on Oct. 22.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty after Franculino Dju was fouled inside the box.
Salah turned provider after the break, setting up Dju for a well-taken finish in the 58th minute to double Trabzonspor’s advantage and put the result beyond the visitors’ reach.
The Turkish side finished with 10 men after Sidny Lopes Cabral received a second yellow card in stoppage time, but their two-goal cushion ensured the dismissal did little to threaten the outcome.
The victory gave Trabzonspor six points from their opening two matches and extended their positive run under head coach Thomas Reis.
Salah’s goal and assist were among the night’s highlights, particularly as the Egyptian marked his 150th appearance in UEFA competitions. His contribution demonstrated the value of experienced players in decisive European fixtures, while Dju’s finishing provided another encouraging sign for the team.
With two wins from two, Trabzonspor have positioned themselves well for the remainder of the league phase.
Turkish football gains momentum, but challenges remain
The four clubs’ results provided a timely boost for Turkish football, with Galatasaray’s comeback win and Trabzonspor’s efficient performance standing out alongside the resilience shown by Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.
The results also highlighted different strengths across the Süper Lig contingent. Galatasaray demonstrated their ability to recover under pressure, Trabzonspor made their chances count, and Beşiktaş showed determination after losing a player.
Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, displayed attacking quality but paid the price for failing to protect their lead.
There is still work to do. Fenerbahçe’s late concession and Beşiktaş’ defensive struggles illustrated how quickly promising European performances can be undermined by lapses in concentration.
The league phases also leave little room for complacency, with each club facing further demanding fixtures.
Nevertheless, two victories and two draws without a defeat represent an encouraging return.
The results have strengthened the Turkish clubs’ immediate European prospects and offered supporters reason to believe their teams can make deeper runs in the knockout stages.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa endorsed Gianni Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president on Friday, signaling a reconciliation two months after accusing the soccer chief of a “breach of trust” over a plan to bring private investors into FIFA’s commercial operations.
Speaking at the AFC’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo, Sheikh Salman said he had resolved his differences with Infantino, whose reelection campaign has gained support across Asia and Africa despite continued scrutiny from European soccer’s governing body, UEFA.
“I think that we reaffirm our full commitment, of course, to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as a FIFA president,” Sheikh Salman told Infantino, who attended the meeting.
The Bahraini official acknowledged their earlier disagreements but said recent discussions had cleared the air.
“The last few days we met in Zurich. You made it clear that there was a true, a clear understanding between us,” he said. “As one Asian family we are ready to move forward, united in your support Gianni.”
The endorsement could prove significant as Infantino seeks a fourth term in office, extending his presidency through 2031. Candidates must submit their nominations by Nov. 18, ahead of the election scheduled for March.
The reconciliation follows a dispute over the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a proposed commercial entity that would have held rights linked to major competitions, including the World Cup. Infantino’s attempt to attract private investment into the venture in July prompted criticism from several confederation leaders, including Sheikh Salman, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, who jointly issued an open letter questioning Infantino’s conduct.
Infantino apologized over the handling of the project at a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich this month. He also withdrew the proposal, according to Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, who said Infantino had made clear he would not pursue it further.
UEFA, however, continues to seek answers from FIFA about Infantino’s presidency, including the FFE controversy and the FIFA Peace Prize. Reuters contacted UEFA for comment on Sheikh Salman’s endorsement.
Infantino returns the favor
Infantino praised Sheikh Salman at the Tokyo congress, backing the AFC president’s own bid for another term.
“You’ve been doing a fantastic job in AFC in the last 13 years, my dear Salman,” Infantino said. “You will do fantastically as well for the next how many years you want. And always, always with my full support.”
Asked about the AFC’s endorsement, Infantino said he felt great about the confederation’s support.
Several influential Asian members, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have already publicly backed his reelection campaign. However, it remains unclear whether all 47 AFC member associations support him.
Miyamoto said Japan was considering aligning its position with the AFC but had not made a final decision. He also cautioned that member associations might not share a unanimous view.
“I don’t think the AFC members’ opinions are all aligned together,” Miyamoto said, adding that discussions between the AFC and FIFA had taken place over recent months.
He said Infantino’s apology and withdrawal of the FFE proposal had been factors in the discussions.
Africa has also backed Infantino, while UEFA remains a source of opposition as questions over FIFA’s leadership continue. Reuters has contacted AFC member associations to clarify their positions.
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