Inter Milan rallied from behind to defeat Bologna 3-1 Saturday, extending its lead at the top of Serie A, while Roma climbed to second with a win over Genoa and Napoli suffered a shock defeat against Venezia.

The champions moved up to 19 points, although Lazio can go level with the leaders if they beat Juventus in Turin Sunday.

A 2-0 win for Roma at the Stadio Olimpico moved them two points off top in second, while Napoli’s loss left them a distant ninth, nine points off the title pace.

Inter came in for criticism after a disappointing midweek Champions League defeat against Club Brugge but bounced back with a comeback win ahead of the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk Wednesday.

“Our strength is the group and the quality of the players,” Inter assistant coach Aleksandar Kolarov told DAZN.

“We don’t have anything to prove to anyone except ourselves. We want to be more intense with and without the ball,” he added.

Bologna started brightly as Tommaso Pobega fired them in front after 10 minutes before hitting the bar with a powerful shot.

But Inter, shorn of injured captain Lautaro Martinez after he was ruled out for a month, responded through a towering Marcus Thuram header.

Chivu’s substitutions proved decisive as Carlos Augusto scored within a minute of coming on midway through the second half, before turning provider for fellow replacement Ange-Yoan Bonny late on.

Castro scores stunner

Just three days after throwing away a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 in the dying minutes of a Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Roma responded strongly with a 2-0 win over Genoa.

With top scorer Donyell Malen suspended and several key players injured, Roma’s young guns seized their chance as Santiago Castro and Emanuele Lulli scored their first goals for the club.

Both sides were denied by the woodwork in the first half, but an audacious flicked finish in a crowded box from Castro broke the deadlock after 50 minutes, before teenage wing-back Lulli made sure of the points with a close-range effort.

Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi, a celebrated former Roma player and coach, received a warm ovation from the home support but was unable to prevent counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini from claiming the 300th Serie A win of his managerial career.

Nicola’s dream debut

Venezia coach Davide Nicola masterminded a shock 1-0 win over struggling Napoli on debut as Kevin De Bruyne had a penalty saved.

Renowned survival specialist Nicola was appointed during the week to replace sacked coach Giovanni Stroppa after last season’s Serie B champions failed to pick up a single point in their opening six games.

He made an instant impact as Akor Adams struck the winner early in the second half to seal Venezia’s first Serie A win over Napoli since 1942.

Rested Napoli stars Rasmus Hojlund and De Bruyne came on as coach Massimiliano Allegri searched for an equalizer and Hojlund soon won a penalty, but the Belgian midfielder’s spot-kick was saved by Filip Stankovic.

The Venezia goalkeeper proved decisive in the closing stages with a string of impressive saves as Napoli pushed forward in vain.

It marked a second defeat in a row for Allegri’s side after their midweek Champions League loss at Villarreal, and the first time in 25 years that Napoli have lost five of their first nine games in all competitions.

Next up for Napoli is the visit of Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League Tuesday.

“In football you get moments like this and there is only one way out: keep working seriously and professionally, be more focused and turn this disappointment into anger,” Allegri told a press conference.

“It’s up to us to turn this situation around, starting with the Champions League.”

Napoli are ninth on 10 points, while Venezia remain bottom with three points.

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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rallied to defeat Rafael Jodar in the Shanghai Masters final Sunday, claiming his biggest career title, as the Spanish world No. 26 outlasted his compatriot 1-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

“I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what I feel. Just a huge relief,” Davidovich Fokina said.

The 27-year-old claimed his first Masters 1000 title, extending his winning streak in China to 10 matches after winning in Chengdu.

The 20-year-old Jodar, ranked No. 13, was the youngest man to reach the final in Shanghai. Still, he called it “another tennis match.”

“I just tried to enjoy the moment,” he said. “I gave everything but it wasn’t meant to be today.”

Jodar started strong. He reached over his shoulder to save a point before winning it with an overhead smash as he broke for a 2-0 lead.

Davidovich Fokina put pressure on Jodar’s backhand, but Jodar held steady as Davidovich Fokina made a series of errors. Jodar broke again for 5-1 before closing out the first set in 27 minutes with an ace.

Davidovich Fokina dropped serve to give Jodar a 3-2 lead in the second set, but responded in the next game, falling on his back to save a point at the net and tie the score at 3-3.

Both men held serve in a series of long rallies, and they had to restart a point during the ninth game when a ball rolled onto the court.

Davidovich Fokina was shouting but saved two break points to take a 6-5 lead when Jodar returned into the net. But the younger Spaniard held on, sending down a backhand to force a tie-break.

Davidovich Fokina won the tie-break to force a decider. He broke Jodar’s serve in the first game. Jodar broke back, but Davidovich Fokina led 3-2 when Jodar fired long. Jodar needed a medical timeout for his right thigh while trailing 4-3.

He buckled in pain during the ninth game, keeping the match alive but requiring a trainer for his left thigh when trailing 5-4.

Davidovich Fokina claimed the title on his second championship point.

“This is going to be a memory for the rest of my life,” Davidovich Fokina said during the trophy ceremony.

He also commended his opponent.

“You are 20 years old but man, you have a future. And you’re gonna be here many times.”

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologized Thursday for his failed attempt to open the World Cup to private investors, but senior football officials said he failed to answer key questions about the controversial proposal, deepening tensions ahead of his re-election bid.

Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association and a member of the FIFA Council, said Infantino faced tough questioning during a closed-door meeting at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

“We asked a great many critical questions, but there were no satisfactory answers from my point of view,” Neuendorf told reporters.

The controversy erupted after Infantino announced in late July plans to open FIFA’s flagship competitions, including the World Cup, to private investment through a proposed initiative called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).

The plan was eventually abandoned following strong opposition from European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which oversees football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Debbie Hewitt, chair of the English Football Association and a FIFA vice president, confirmed that Infantino apologized at the start of Thursday’s meeting.

“I think it is fair to say Gianni apologized at the beginning for what had happened, and he said that with some contrition, and then there were no holds barred in terms of what we felt about what happened,” Hewitt said.

FIFA said Infantino had apologized for “the mistakes made in terms of how the project was conducted and communicated.” He also pledged that FFE had been “permanently withdrawn and will not reappear in any form,” according to the governing body’s statement.

However, council members remained frustrated over the lack of information provided before the proposal was publicly announced.

Hewitt said officials had submitted questions about the initiative but received no answers to specific requests, including access to project documents.

The FIFA Council, which includes 37 members, has been at the center of growing tensions over Infantino’s leadership and decision-making.

Re-election under pressure

Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking another term in March despite calls for him to step aside. No major challenger has emerged, but the FFE controversy has contributed to declining support among several European national associations.

His relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump has also drawn criticism. Infantino created a FIFA Peace Prize and presented it to Trump during the World Cup draw in December. He also faced scrutiny after FIFA suspended a ban for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun following a World Cup red card, after Trump intervened by calling the FIFA president directly.

Hewitt said the apology had not changed her position.

“From my position nothing has shifted,” she said, adding that she was still waiting for the information FIFA had promised to provide.

Meanwhile, FIFA confirmed plans for a $6.35 billion development fund covering the next four years. The proposal, expected to be finalized at the Council’s December meeting, would support FIFA’s 211 member associations and regional confederations.

The fund would draw partly on FIFA’s financial reserves following the commercially successful 2026 World Cup and could provide $25 million to each member association.

The initiative may help Infantino strengthen support ahead of the election, with candidates required to submit their nominations by Nov. 18.

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Turkish clubs experienced contrasting fortunes in European competition this week, with Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor securing important victories while Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray suffered heavy defeats that exposed the challenges they face against Europe’s strongest teams.

Beşiktaş claimed a 3-2 away win over Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, while Trabzonspor opened their Conference League campaign with a 4-2 victory over Finnish side KuPS Kuopio.

In the Champions League, Fenerbahçe lost 6-0 at Aston Villa on Wednesday, a day after Galatasaray fell 4-1 at home to Barcelona.

The results offered a mixed assessment of Turkish football’s European ambitions, with two clubs demonstrating attacking quality and resilience while the country’s Champions League representatives struggled to contain elite opposition.

Champions League horror

Fenerbahçe endured a difficult night at Villa Park on Wednesday, losing 6-0 to Aston Villa in one of their heaviest European defeats in recent memory.

Unai Emery’s side established control early, with Johan Manzambi opening the scoring in the 12th minute on his Champions League debut. Nicolas Jackson then struck twice, scoring in the 31st and 39th minutes to give the hosts a commanding halftime advantage.

Fenerbahçe struggled to contain Villa’s attacking pressure and repeatedly lost possession in dangerous areas. Their limited opportunities offered little indication of a comeback, with Oğuz Aydın’s effort against the post among their few meaningful threats.

The situation worsened after the break. Ross Barkley converted a penalty in the 69th minute after Manzambi was fouled by İsmail Yüksek, then scored again in the 73rd minute with the help of a deflection. Substitute Tammy Abraham completed the rout in the 90th minute.

The victory marked Aston Villa’s biggest win in European competition and their first home victory of the season. For Fenerbahçe, it exposed serious problems in defensive organization and their ability to withstand sustained pressure from technically accomplished opponents.

The Turkish side entered the match after drawing 1-1 with Roma in its opening league-phase fixture. The defeat left Fenerbahçe with one point from two matches, increasing the importance of its upcoming games.

Galatasaray also struggled against Spanish opposition, losing 4-1 to Barcelona at RAMS Park on Tuesday.

The Turkish champions made an encouraging start and took the lead in the 28th minute through Aleksey Batrakov, giving the home crowd reason to believe they could challenge one of Europe’s leading teams.

Barcelona responded before halftime, with João Cancelo equalizing in the 43rd minute. The visitors then transformed the contest with three goals after the break.

Fermín López headed Barcelona ahead in the 50th minute before Anthony Gordon extended the lead three minutes later. Karim Adeyemi completed the scoring in the 65th minute, capping a dominant second-half performance.

Lamine Yamal was instrumental in Barcelona’s turnaround, providing the assists for López and Gordon as the visitors exploited the spaces available in Galatasaray’s defense.

Although Galatasaray showed promise in the opening half, Barcelona’s response highlighted the difficulty of maintaining defensive discipline against opponents who can turn possession into dangerous attacks with little warning.

The defeat followed Galatasaray’s 3-1 loss away to Sporting CP in their opening match, leaving the Turkish champions without a point after two games.

Both Istanbul clubs now face the task of recovering from disappointing results while addressing weaknesses that became increasingly apparent against stronger opposition.

Europa League relief

Beşiktaş delivered the week’s standout Turkish performance, defeating Hoffenheim 3-2 away on Thursday to secure their second consecutive Europa League victory.

The first half ended goalless, although Hoffenheim threatened early and struck the post. Beşiktaş gradually improved after the break and took the lead in the 60th minute when Michael Murillo scored following a scramble inside the penalty area.

Hoffenheim responded eight minutes later through Fisnik Asllani, who finished after receiving a pass from Tim Lemperle to level the score.

Beşiktaş regained the advantage almost immediately. South Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu scored in the 72nd minute after being played through by Junior Olaitan, then struck again in the 79th minute following a pass from İlhan Fakılı.

Oh’s second goal gave the visitors a 3-1 lead and put them in a strong position to secure all three points.

Hoffenheim refused to concede defeat without a fight. Koki Machida headed home from Vladimir Coufal’s corner in the 87th minute, setting up a tense finish, but Beşiktaş held on to claim the victory.

The result gave Beşiktaş six points from their opening two league-phase matches and strengthened their early position in the competition.

Their response to Hoffenheim’s equalizer proved particularly important. Rather than allowing the hosts to build momentum, Beşiktaş attacked decisively and scored twice to regain control.

Oh’s brace underlined his importance to the team’s attacking options, while the visitors’ ability to withstand late pressure demonstrated the value of their second-half performance.

The victory offered encouragement that Beşiktaş can compete effectively away from home, although maintaining that consistency will be essential as the competition progresses.

Conference League glory

Trabzonspor opened their Conference League campaign with a 4-2 victory over Finnish champions KuPS Kuopio on Thursday, producing an attacking performance that secured three valuable points.

Paul Onuachu opened the scoring in the third minute after receiving a pass from Mohamed Salah and finishing from close range. The striker was forced off with an injury around the ninth minute, however, and was replaced by Franculino Djú.

Despite losing Onuachu early, Trabzonspor continued to threaten. Salah doubled their advantage in the 44th minute, finding the net with a left-footed finish after a Trabzonspor attack left the ball available inside the penalty area.

Djú extended the lead two minutes after the restart, reacting quickest to a rebound after a shot from Pedro Malheiro’s teammate Pina was saved by KuPS goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl.

KuPS reduced the deficit in the 54th minute when captain Petteri Pennanen sent a corner directly into the net, catching Trabzonspor goalkeeper Andre Onana out.

Onana subsequently redeemed himself by saving a penalty from Piotr Parzyszek in the 59th minute, preventing KuPS from reducing the deficit further and preserving Trabzonspor’s two-goal cushion.

Djú secured his brace in the first minute of stoppage time, finishing from close range after a pass from Enis Destan’s teammate Ernest Muçi to restore Trabzonspor’s three-goal advantage.

Gustav Engvall scored for the hosts in the sixth minute of added time, but the late goal did little to change the outcome.

Salah’s goal and assist made him a key figure in Trabzonspor’s victory, while Dju’s two goals demonstrated the impact he could make after coming off the bench. The early injury to Onuachu, however, remains a concern as the club looks ahead to its next fixtures.

The win gave Trabzonspor a positive start to their European campaign and demonstrated their ability to remain productive despite an early disruption to their attacking plans.

Contrasting challenges

The week’s results illustrated the different challenges facing Türkiye’s representatives across European competitions.

Beşiktaş showed composure and attacking efficiency against Hoffenheim, responding quickly after conceding and holding firm under late pressure. Trabzonspor also demonstrated attacking depth, with Salah and Dju helping the team overcome Onuachu’s early injury.

Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray, meanwhile, struggled to match the quality and intensity of their Champions League opponents. Their defeats highlighted defensive vulnerabilities and difficulties dealing with sustained pressure and rapid attacking transitions.

The contrasting performances underline the gap between promising individual displays and the consistency required to succeed in Europe.

Turkish clubs have shown they can produce competitive performances and secure important victories, but the Champions League defeats demonstrated how quickly matches can turn against teams that lose their defensive structure.

Rwanda’s agreement to host Formula One’s first African Grand Prix in more than three decades promises international exposure, tourism opportunities and investment, but undisclosed costs and human rights concerns raise questions about whether the project will deliver lasting benefits.

Formula One announced a 10-year agreement with Rwanda on Oct. 13, 2026, paving the way for the championship to return to Africa for the first time since 1993.

The inaugural race is planned for the early 2030s at a new circuit in Bugesera, south of Kigali, as President Paul Kagame’s government seeks to establish the country as a destination for international business, tourism and major sporting events.

The deal represents a significant expansion of Rwanda’s strategy to promote its international image through high-profile sports partnerships.

But with the financial terms undisclosed, the investment raises questions about its cost, the distribution of its economic benefits and whether the government’s ambitions justify the commitment.

Global advertisement

Rwanda is not simply buying the right to stage a sporting competition. It is investing in a recurring international showcase that could associate the country with technology, luxury tourism, business and sporting excellence.

Formula One broadcasts will expose Rwanda to audiences worldwide, while the race could attract international journalists, corporate executives, sponsors and wealthy spectators. The government hopes that attention will translate into more tourists, private investment and commercial activity.

The strategy builds on Rwanda’s Visit Rwanda campaign, which has used partnerships with prominent football clubs, including Arsenal and Aston Villa, to promote the country.

Formula One would extend that approach into a sport with a global calendar and substantial commercial reach.

Unlike a conventional advertising campaign, however, hosting a Grand Prix requires a long-term commitment to infrastructure, operations and contractual obligations.

The agreement’s financial terms have not been publicly disclosed in the available reporting. The total hosting fees, construction costs and potential public liabilities therefore remain unclear.

Expenses could include circuit construction, safety installations, spectator facilities, security, medical services, transport and long-term maintenance.

Even if private investors finance parts of the project, public authorities could face costs associated with roads, utilities and other supporting infrastructure.

Without greater transparency, it is difficult to determine who carries the financial risks or whether the expected returns will justify the investment.

Tourism, jobs and investment

The government’s ambitions extend beyond race weekend. Rwanda wants to attract international tourism, conferences, major sporting events and foreign investment, and Formula One could help advance those goals.

Visitors could spend money on hotels, restaurants, transport and other local services. Corporate guests might also use the event to explore investment opportunities or establish business relationships.

The proposed circuit’s location in Bugesera, about 40 kilometers south of Kigali, is significant because it is near a new international airport under construction. The area could become part of a wider development zone combining transport, tourism and commercial facilities.

But international exposure does not automatically produce economic growth. The benefits will depend on visitor numbers, spending patterns and how much business reaches Rwandan companies rather than foreign contractors or international hotel groups.

The race could also create jobs in construction, hospitality, logistics, broadcasting and event management. Developing local expertise in motorsport operations could provide longer-term opportunities.

However, temporary construction work and race-weekend employment are not the same as permanent jobs. The project’s lasting value will depend on whether local workers acquire transferable skills and domestic businesses win contracts.

Building a sustainable venue

The Bugesera circuit must meet the standards required to host a Formula One world championship race. Former Formula One driver Alex Wurz is involved in its design, while the planned location offers potential logistical advantages because of its proximity to the new airport.

Yet the circuit will need a purpose beyond hosting an annual Grand Prix.

Purpose-built racing facilities require continuing maintenance and operating expenditure. If the venue attracts little activity between races, it could become an expensive asset with limited commercial value. Regional motorsport competitions, corporate events and other entertainment activities could help generate revenue, provided demand is sufficient.

Vietnam offers a cautionary example. A circuit was built in Hanoi for a Formula One race scheduled for 2020, but the event was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic and never took place.

Rwanda’s project is different, and its outcome remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the comparison highlights the risks of investing heavily in infrastructure tied to a major sporting event before its long-term commercial viability is established.

Sportswashing debate

The financial questions are accompanied by criticism of Rwanda’s human rights record.

Amnesty International criticized Formula One’s agreement, arguing that it could help the Rwandan government improve its international image despite allegations of arbitrary detention, torture and restrictions on freedom of expression. Formula One has emphasized the sport’s potential to inspire people and reach new audiences in Africa.

The controversy reflects a broader debate over sportswashing, the use of sporting events and partnerships to improve the reputation of governments or institutions facing criticism.

Kagame’s government has pursued economic development and international investment since the 1994 genocide. At the same time, human rights organizations have raised concerns about restrictions on political opposition, civil society and freedom of expression.

The Grand Prix will not resolve those concerns. Critics argue that international sporting partnerships can give governments prestigious platforms without requiring meaningful improvements in their human rights records. Supporters of such partnerships maintain that international events can promote tourism, create jobs and encourage investment.

Rwanda’s regional role adds another dimension. The country has faced allegations of supporting the M23 rebel movement in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the conflict has caused widespread suffering. Rwanda has disputed accusations concerning its involvement.

The agreement therefore places Formula One within a wider debate about the responsibilities of international sporting organizations when selecting host countries.

Why Formula One chose Rwanda

The deal also advances Formula One’s commercial ambitions. Returning to Africa would restore the championship’s presence on a continent it has not visited for a world championship race since 1993 and expand its reach into a potentially important market.

Formula One has cited an estimated 100 million fans across Africa, highlighting the audience it hopes to reach. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also advocated for the sport to return to the continent.

South Africa had pursued a return to the calendar through the historic Kyalami circuit, which last hosted a championship race in 1993. Rwanda’s agreement secures an opportunity to bring the sport back to Africa, although it does not rule out another African race in the future.

For Formula One, Rwanda offers a government willing to commit to a long-term project. For Kagame, the championship provides international exposure that conventional advertising would struggle to replicate.

Will ordinary Rwandans benefit?

The project’s ultimate test will be whether its economic benefits extend beyond government prestige and international publicity.

If public resources support the circuit or its associated infrastructure, citizens have a legitimate interest in knowing whether the money could generate greater returns through health care, education, housing or transport.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave “no satisfactory answers” when grilled Thursday during a meeting to discuss his attempts to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, senior members of football’s global governing body said, but he did offer an apology for the failed project.

“We asked a great many critical questions, but there were no satisfactory answers from my point of view,” said Bernd Neuendorf, the head of the German Football Association (DFB), who is also a member of the FIFA Council.

Neuendorf was speaking after the Council met behind closed doors at the body’s Zurich headquarters, where Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal was one of the main topics on the agenda.

Infantino has been under severe pressure since his announcement in late July that he wanted to open FIFA’s premium competitions such as the World Cup to private investors.

That plan was ultimately abandoned in the face of widespread criticism, with a rebellion led by European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, which runs the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

“I apologized for the mistakes that we made in relation to the communication and consultation process related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project,” Infantino said in a video published by FIFA.

“But what is important to remember is that it was a proposal, so in no way a done deal, just a proposal, that actually intended to enable FIFA to invest more in our member associations.”

However, the FIFA chief reaffirmed that the FFE initiative “has been permanently withdrawn and will not reappear in any form.”

Infantino has headed FIFA since 2016 and is running for reelection next March, despite calls for him to stand down in the wake of the FFE plan.

For the moment, no heavyweight candidate has put themselves forward to run against him.

Debbie Hewitt, the chair of the English Football Association who is also a FIFA vice president, told reporters that Infantino is “not fit to be FIFA president” unless he releases all documents pertaining to the failed sell-off plan and answers key questions.

Hewitt and Neuendorf are among the 36 members of the FIFA Council, along with Infantino.

“We were asked to submit our questions,” in relation to the plan which was not put to the FIFA Council before the July announcement, Hewitt said.

“One of the disappointing things was we didn’t get answers. We didn’t get answers to anything we had specifically requested, for example getting the papers from FFE, and so we asked the question why and why not.”

Nothing has shifted

Many leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino in the upcoming election because of the uproar caused by FFE and other controversies, including his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chief among those were Infantino’s decision to create a FIFA Peace Prize and award it to Trump at last December’s World Cup draw, and the decision to suspend a ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun following a red card during the World Cup after Trump intervened directly by phoning Infantino.

“I speak for myself as a Council member – from my position nothing has shifted,” Hewitt added. “I have no new information that makes me feel any differently to how I felt when I went in, other than we do have a president of FIFA who is apologetic about what has happened, and secondly a promise again that we will get the information that we have requested.”

FIFA confirmed its intention to set up a $6.35 billion development fund for the next four years, a plan which is expected to be finalized by the Council at its next meeting in December.

To finance the fund, which would allow money to be distributed to FIFA’s 211 federations as well as to the regional confederations, it would draw in part on its financial reserves after a commercially successful 2026 World Cup.

The plan would allow for the payment of $25 million to all 211 member federations.

Infantino may hope the latest plan reinforces his position ahead of the election.

The deadline for submitting candidacies is Nov. 18.

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