Sports
Season runner-up Alex Marquez dominates to win Malaysian MotoGP
Alex Marquez cruised to his third MotoGP victory of the season Sunday, dominating the Malaysian Grand Prix with a commanding win, more than two seconds ahead of fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta.
Marquez, who confirmed his runner-up spot in the world championship this weekend behind brother Marc, won for the first time this year outside Spain following success at the Spanish and Catalan Grand Prix races.
Honda’s Joan Mir was third to make it an all-Spanish podium, with Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo completing the top five.
Newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez was absent because of a season-ending injury.
Alex Marquez called it the “perfect race.”
“It’s a really important win for us to celebrate second (in the championship),” said the younger Marquez, 29.
Pole-sitter Francesco Bagnaia, who won Saturday’s sprint, started well on a hot and humid Sepang circuit to hold a slender lead in the first lap with Acosta and Marquez in hot pursuit.
Marquez, who started second on the grid, made his move early in the second lap as the Ducati-Gresini star surged past Bagnaia during a sweeping corner, and maintained the lead until the finish line.
“Today the plan was clear,” said Marquez. “We improved the feeling a bit on the warm-up, and later on, I was clever on the plan to attack Pedro in the first lap and Pecco (Bagnaia) in the second one.”
“Then I just tried to manage the tyre towards the end. It was a perfect race and I’m happy for that,” he added.
Ducati’s Bagnaia had a tailgating Acosta behind him as the front three left the chasing pack behind.
As the race reached the halfway stage, Bagnaia’s focus was to fend off intense pressure from Acosta, leaving Marquez to increase his advantage.
Acosta’s pressure eventually paid off as the KTM rider found joy on the 13th lap to overtake Bagnaia into second place.
Unperturbed by the battle unfolding behind him, Marquez crossed the finish line in 40 minutes 09.249 seconds.
Bagnaia’s afternoon ended with a bike issue late on that left him unable to finish the race.
‘Prayers’ after crash
Earlier, the Moto3 race was delayed and shortened after a nasty collision involving newly crowned world champion Jose Antonio Rueda and Noah Dettwiler during the sighting lap.
Both riders were airlifted to hospital, but were conscious.
“My prayers and thoughts are with the Moto3 guys,” said Marquez.
MotoGP organizers subsequently gave an update on social media about the 19-year-old Spaniard Rueda.
It said: “Rueda is awake and alert, with a suspected hand fracture and a number of contusions.”
There was no immediate news on the condition of Switzerland’s Dettwiler.
Romelu Lukaku took part in his first training session with Fenerbahçe on Thursday as the Belgian striker began settling into his new team ahead of Saturday’s Süper Lig opener against Gençlerbirliği.
Lukaku joined his new teammates at Fenerbahçe’s Can Bartu Facilities as the Yellow-Navy Blues continued preparations for their opening league match in Ankara.
The 33-year-old completed his permanent move to Fenerbahçe from Napoli earlier this week, adding a high-profile attacking option to a squad seeking to challenge for the Turkish title.
Under coach İsmail Kartal, the session began indoors with strength and endurance exercises before the players moved onto the field for warmups, agility and coordination drills.
The squad then split into two groups for 5-on-2 possession and passing exercises before finishing the workout with small-sided scrimmages.
Lukaku’s arrival has generated considerable attention in Türkiye, not only because of his pedigree but also because of his personal connection to the country. He spent part of his childhood in Türkiye while his father, Roger Lukaku, played for Gençlerbirliği in the 1990s.
The striker arrives with an extensive resume that includes spells at Anderlecht, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Roma and Napoli. He is also Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, with 93 international goals.
Lukaku endured an injury-hit final season at Napoli, making only seven club appearances, but he played in all six of Belgium’s matches at the 2026 World Cup and scored three goals as Belgium reached the quarterfinals.
He has said he feels fully fit and ready to contribute at Fenerbahçe, describing the transfer as both an honor and an emotional return to a country that formed part of his early life.
Fenerbahçe completed the transfer for a reported fee of about 6 million euros plus performance-related bonuses, with his contract running through June 2028, according to Italian reports and Transfermarkt.
The club has made significant additions to its attack this summer, with Mason Greenwood and Vedat Muriqi among the other arrivals as Fenerbahçe look to mount a serious title challenge.
Fenerbahçe finished second behind Galatasaray in recent seasons and are aiming to end their long wait for the Süper Lig championship.
The club have also made progress in Champions League qualifying, adding another layer to an increasingly demanding start to the season.
Fenerbahçe will hold their final training session Friday before traveling to Ankara for Saturday’s match at Eryaman Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. local time.
The Ballon d’Or has spent nearly seven decades measuring football greatness, with its winners ranging from pioneering legends such as Stanley Matthews and Alfredo Di Stefano to modern icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Presented by France Football since 1956, the award is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual honor in men’s football. Its scope has changed significantly over the years. It initially recognized the best European player, before eligibility was expanded in 1995 to players of any nationality playing for European clubs and then opened globally in 2007.
The award was temporarily merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year between 2010 and 2015, creating the FIFA Ballon d’Or. France Football resumed sole presentation of the award in 2016. No award was given in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the football calendar.
Since 2022, the award has assessed performances primarily over a football season rather than a calendar year. UEFA and the Amaury Group, which owns France Football and L’equipe, have co-organized the ceremony since 2024, while France Football has retained control of the voting system.
The 2025 edition added another chapter to that history when Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele was crowned the men’s Ballon d’Or winner. Dembele finished ahead of Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Vitinha after a season in which he helped PSG win its first Champions League title, a domestic double and finished with 37 goals and 15 assists.
The record holders
Messi remains the record holder with eight Ballon d’Or victories. Cristiano Ronaldo has won five, while Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten each claimed the award three times.
Alfredo Di Stefano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Ronaldo each won twice. Messi’s eight victories span Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, making him the first player to win the award while playing outside Europe when he claimed the 2023 prize with Inter Miami.
Lev Yashin remains the only goalkeeper to win the men’s award, doing so in 1963 with Dynamo Moscow. George Weah became the first African winner in 1995, and he remains the only African player to have lifted the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Brazilian Ronaldo was the youngest winner at 21 when he claimed the award in 1997, while England’s Stanley Matthews remains the oldest, having won the inaugural award at 41 in 1956.
Complete list of men’s Ballon d’Or winners
1950s
1956: Stanley Matthews, England, Blackpool
1957: Alfredo Di Stefano, Spain, Real Madrid
1958: Raymond Kopa, France, Real Madrid
1959: Alfredo Di Stefano, Spain, Real Madrid
1960s
1960: Luis Suarez, Spain, Barcelona
1961: Omar Sívori, Italy, Juventus
1962: Josef Masopust, Czechoslovakia, Dukla Prague
1963: Lev Yashin, Soviet Union, Dynamo Moscow
1964: Denis Law, Scotland, Manchester United
1965: Eusebio, Portugal, Benfica
1966: Bobby Charlton, England, Manchester United
1967: Flórián Albert, Hungary, Ferencváros
1968: George Best, Northern Ireland, Manchester United
1969: Gianni Rivera, Italy, AC Milan
1970s
1970: Gerd Müller, West Germany, Bayern Munich
1971: Johan Cruyff, Netherlands, Ajax
1972: Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany, Bayern Munich
1973: Johan Cruyff, Netherlands, Barcelona
1974: Johan Cruyff, Netherlands, Barcelona
1975: Oleg Blokhin, Soviet Union, Dynamo Kyiv
1976: Franz Beckenbauer, West Germany, Bayern Munich
1977: Allan Simonsen, Denmark, Borussia Mönchengladbach
1978: Kevin Keegan, England, Hamburger SV
1979: Kevin Keegan, England, Hamburger SV
1980s
1980: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, West Germany, Bayern Munich
1981: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, West Germany, Bayern Munich
1982: Paolo Rossi, Italy, Juventus
1983: Michel Platini, France, Juventus
1984: Michel Platini, France, Juventus
1985: Michel Platini, France, Juventus
1986: Igor Belanov, Soviet Union, Dynamo Kyiv
1987: Ruud Gullit, Netherlands, AC Milan
1988: Marco van Basten, Netherlands, AC Milan
1989: Marco van Basten, Netherlands, AC Milan
1990s
1990: Lothar Matthaus, Germany, Inter Milan
1991: Jean-Pierre Papin, France, Marseille
1992: Marco van Basten, Netherlands, AC Milan
1993: Roberto Baggio, Italy, Juventus
1994: Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria, Barcelona
1995: George Weah, Liberia, AC Milan
1996: Matthias Sammer, Germany, Borussia Dortmund
1997: Ronaldo, Brazil, Inter Milan
1998: Zinedine Zidane, France, Juventus
1999: Rivaldo, Brazil, Barcelona
2000s
2000: Luis Figo, Portugal, Real Madrid
2001: Michael Owen, England, Liverpool
2002: Ronaldo, Brazil, Real Madrid
2003: Pavel Nedved, Czech Republic, Juventus
2004: Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine, AC Milan
2005: Ronaldinho, Brazil, Barcelona
2006: Fabio Cannavaro, Italy, Real Madrid
2007: Kaka, Brazil, AC Milan
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Manchester United
2009: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
2010s
2010: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
2011: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
2012: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid
2015: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
2016: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid
2017: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, Real Madrid
2018: Luka Modric, Croatia, Real Madrid
2019: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona
2020s
2020: No award
2021: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Paris Saint-Germain
2022: Karim Benzema, France, Real Madrid
2023: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Inter Miami
2024: Rodri, Spain, Manchester City
2025: Ousmane Dembele, France, Paris Saint-Germain
UEFA’s official historical record confirms the complete winners’ list through Dembele’s 2025 victory.
How the award is decided
The modern Ballon d’Or is based on three principal considerations: individual performance, team achievements and the player’s conduct, including fair play. The men’s award is decided by an international jury of specialized journalists, with representatives from the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. Each voter ranks 10 players, with points awarded on a descending scale of 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.
The evolution of the voting system mirrors the globalization of the sport itself. What began in 1956 as an award restricted to European players eventually became a worldwide honor, allowing stars such as Weah, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Messi and Dembele to compete on the same stage regardless of nationality.
Eras of dominance
The early years were dominated by European stars, with Matthews, Di Stefano, Kopa, Eusebio, Charlton and Best among the players who established the award’s prestige.
The 1970s brought the influence of Dutch football, most notably Cruyff’s three victories, while Beckenbauer and Rummenigge helped define a powerful German era. Platini then became the first player to win three consecutive awards, taking the prize in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
The 1990s ushered in a more global era. Weah’s historic 1995 victory followed the expansion of eligibility and was followed by the emergence of Brazilian stars Ronaldo and Rivaldo, along with Ronaldinho and Kaka in the next decade.
Then came the Messi-Ronaldo era.
Beginning with Ronaldo’s 2008 victory and Messi’s first triumph in 2009, the two superstars dominated the award for more than a decade. Messi won four straight between 2009 and 2012, Ronaldo claimed back-to-back awards in 2013 and 2014, Messi won again in 2015, and Ronaldo followed with victories in 2016 and 2017. Luka Modrić interrupted their run in 2018 before Messi won again in 2019.
Messi’s later victories added further milestones. He won in 2021 with Paris Saint-Germain and again in 2023 after Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, this time while playing for Inter Miami. Rodri broke the Messi-Ronaldo dominance in 2024 after Manchester City’s historic season and Spain’s European Championship victory.
Dembele continued the post-Messi-Ronaldo era in 2025, becoming the latest PSG star to claim the game’s most coveted individual prize after a season highlighted by Champions League success.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be presented Oct. 26 in London, marking the award’s 70th edition and its first ceremony in the British capital.
Paris Saint-Germain have signed Spain international Ferran Torres from Barcelona on a contract through 2031, the French champions and the Spanish club announced Saturday.
The 26-year-old forward joins PSG for a reported 50 million euros ($58 million) fee, although neither club disclosed the financial details. Torres will wear the No. 9 shirt in Paris.
The move gives Torres a new challenge at one of Europe’s dominant clubs and reunites him with Luis Enrique, his former Spain coach.
Enrique is now in charge of PSG, who have won the Champions League in each of the past two seasons and are seeking to extend their dominance at home and abroad.
“I’m delighted to be beginning a new adventure at such an ambitious club as Paris Saint-Germain,” Torres said in a club statement.
“I’d like to thank President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Luis Campos and coach Luis Enrique for giving me the opportunity to join the team, which I hope to help win as many trophies as possible.”
From World Cup hero to PSG newcomer
Torres arrives in Paris at the peak of his career after becoming Spain’s World Cup hero last month.
He scored the decisive goal in extra time of the final against Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, giving Spain a 1-0 victory and its second World Cup title.
Torres came off the bench and struck in the 106th minute, finishing a move that began with Pedro Porro’s cross and a headed knockdown from fellow substitute Nico Williams. His left-footed volley beat Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and settled a tense final.
The goal capped a remarkable summer for Torres, who also helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship.
He now moves to Paris with 25 goals in 65 appearances for Spain and the experience of working under Enrique, who coached the national team before taking charge of PSG.
A productive final season at Barcelona
Torres leaves Barcelona after one of his most productive seasons since joining the club.
He scored 21 goals and recorded three assists in 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2025-26 campaign, helping Barcelona retain the La Liga title under coach Hansi Flick. His 16 league goals also put him among the division’s leading scorers.
Torres spent more than four seasons at Barcelona after joining from Manchester City in January 2022. He made 207 appearances for the Catalan club, scoring 65 goals and helping them win three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups.
Barcelona initially paid Manchester City 55 million euros for Torres, with the transfer potentially rising to around 65 million euros with add-ons.
His departure also comes with his Barcelona contract due to expire in June 2027, allowing the club to recoup a substantial portion of its original investment rather than risk losing him later in his contract.
Reunion with Luis Enrique
The transfer gives Torres another opportunity to work with Enrique, who knows his qualities from their time together with Spain.
Torres offers versatility across the attack, having played as a centre-forward, second striker and on either wing. His pace, movement, work rate and finishing give Enrique another option as PSG reshape their forward line.
The French club have been active in strengthening their attack this summer, with departures and possible exits creating additional room for reinforcements.
Torres joins a PSG squad that has established itself as one of the most powerful teams in Europe. The club recently added the UEFA Super Cup to its trophy haul with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa and is preparing for another season of domestic and Champions League competition.
A career that began in Valencia
Torres was born in Foios, near Valencia, and developed through Valencia’s academy before making his senior debut for the club.
He moved to Manchester City in 2020, where he won the Premier League and English League Cup, before Barcelona brought him back to Spain in January 2022.
At PSG, Torres will compete for a central role while retaining the flexibility to operate elsewhere across the front line. His arrival also gives Enrique a player he knows well and trusts at the highest international level.
Türkiye is expanding its zero-waste and sustainability efforts across the sports sector through a new partnership between the Turkish Olympic Committee and the Zero Waste Foundation.
The Turkish Olympic Committee (TMOK) and the Zero Waste Foundation signed a cooperation protocol aimed at promoting zero-waste practices and environmental sustainability throughout the sports community and the Olympic movement.
The agreement was signed by Samed Ağırbaş, president of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, and Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır, president of TMOK, during a ceremony hosted by the foundation.
The partnership builds on the global expansion of the Zero Waste movement, which was launched in Türkiye under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, founder of the Zero Waste Movement, chair of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste and honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation.
Using sport to promote sustainability
Ağırbaş said the agreement would help take the zero-waste message to wider audiences by using sport’s broad reach and influence.
“We see this cooperation protocol with the Turkish Olympic Committee as an important step toward reaching wider audiences with the zero-waste approach through the power of sport,” Ağırbaş said.
He credited Erdoğan’s leadership with helping the Zero Waste movement develop in Türkiye and grow into a global environmental initiative.
Ağırbaş said sport has a unique ability to influence behavior and habits because of its reach among millions of people.
“Sport is a universal language with the power to reach millions and transform behaviors and habits,” he said.
He added that the goal was not simply to reduce waste at sporting events but to create a broader sports ecosystem built around efficient use of resources, preventing waste and promoting sustainable living.
The initiative will cover the Olympic movement’s various stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, sports administrators, facilities and event organizers.
Athletes as role models
Çakır said the Olympic movement had a responsibility that extended beyond sporting performance and international competition.
He thanked Ağırbaş and Erdoğan for their work to promote environmental awareness and sustainable living, saying sport has a particularly strong influence on young people and their everyday habits.
“We do not see sport solely as sporting performance or success at national and international competitions,” Çakır said. “We also aim to raise our athletes and prospective athletes as exemplary citizens in every sense.”
Çakır said the partnership would help athletes develop greater awareness of sustainability and zero-waste practices and encourage them to set an example for younger generations.
Zero-waste measures at sports facilities
Under the agreement, TMOK and the Zero Waste Foundation will work together to establish and expand zero-waste practices across the sports community.
The partnership will encourage the exchange of knowledge and expertise while developing strategies for sports facilities and events.
TMOK will support measures at the Olympic House and other sports facilities to separate waste at its source, improve recycling, use resources more efficiently and reduce unnecessary consumption.
Sustainability measures will also be incorporated into national and international competitions, training camps and other sporting events.
The partners plan to promote more sustainable consumption habits, prevent waste and increase environmental awareness through communication campaigns and public awareness initiatives.
Education and awareness for athletes and coaches
Sustainability and zero-waste principles will also be incorporated into Olympic education and athlete development programs.
Athletes, coaches and representatives of sports federations will receive training designed to increase their understanding of environmental sustainability and responsible resource use.
The Zero Waste Foundation will support TMOK in organizing educational, communication and awareness programs for athletes, coaches, sports administrators and wider sections of society.
The two organizations also plan to develop and share successful zero-waste practices at national and international sporting events.
Seminars, workshops and awareness events will form part of the cooperation, alongside pilot projects at selected facilities and model sporting events.
The partners aim to establish sports facilities and events as examples of how zero-waste principles can be incorporated into large-scale sporting operations.
Long-term vision for sustainable sports
The two-year protocol is intended to establish a lasting coordination mechanism between TMOK and the Zero Waste Foundation and provide a framework for long-term cooperation on environmental sustainability in sport.
The organizations will collaborate on the planning, implementation and evaluation of joint projects. They will also support one another, when needed, through academic research, data and resource sharing, document exchanges and the development of educational materials.
The broader objective is to position sport as a force for environmental sustainability alongside its traditional roles in physical and social development.
Arsenal begin their Premier League title defense with Mikel Arteta still at the helm, giving them rare continuity after an offseason that has seen a wave of managerial changes reshape English football.
Arteta’s methods remain firmly established at Arsenal after nearly seven years in charge, but their biggest rivals are entering new eras. Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all appointed new managers, adding another layer of uncertainty to the title race.
In total, a record nine Premier League clubs will start the season with a new permanent manager.
Whether that upheaval clears the path for Arsenal to retain their crown or sets the stage for one of the most unpredictable Premier League seasons in years could become the defining storyline of the campaign.
Arsenal must evolve
For Arsenal, it is a case of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” as they seek to prove last season’s first league title in 22 years was the start of something bigger.
Unless your name is Pep Guardiola, however, building a dynasty has proved difficult in the Premier League recently.
Guardiola made winning titles look routine, with six in nine seasons, but the last manager to retain the Premier League crown before him was Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2009.
There was a sense that opponents had begun to figure out Arteta’s tactics toward the end of last season, and the Spaniard is only too aware that standing still is not an option.
Rather than sprint across the line in a blaze of glory, Arsenal ground through last season’s title run-in.
It wasn’t pretty, with their reliance on set pieces and hard work taking a toll on the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who looked physically and mentally spent at the World Cup.
Staying ahead of Manchester City was all that mattered last season, though, for the tens of thousands of fans who celebrated on the streets of north London as Arsenal finally shed the nearly-men tag.
“Now we have to show that we belong to this level and we want to increase and take this football club to a different dimension,” Arteta said.
There was surprise when Leandro Trossard, a key part of Arsenal’s title-winning side, was sold to Beşiktaş, although there are high hopes that Greece winger Christos Tzolis, signed from Club Brugge, will bring goals and creativity.
Arteta also predicted that the arrival of midfield warrior Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United can help take his team to the next level.
Main title rivals
It is hard to look beyond Manchester City as Arsenal’s chief rivals once again, although much depends on how quickly Enzo Maresca can put his stamp on a squad built by Guardiola but now deprived of several familiar faces.
Guardiola had begun building a new model with the attacking flair of Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku supplying Erling Haaland, but it was prone to misfiring. The hope is that England midfielder Elliot Anderson, signed for a club-record 116 million pounds ($156.6 million), will link it all together.
Liverpool talisman Mo Salah’s departure has left the club seeking a new identity as Andoni Iraola attempts to bring the intelligent football that won so many admirers at Bournemouth to Anfield. Few would bet against the Spaniard succeeding.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the latest manager tasked with trying to assemble the Chelsea jigsaw.
The club finished 10th and out of Europe last season after parting company with Maresca and then Liam Rosenior. Challenging for the top four will be the minimum requirement for Alonso as he tries to complete the seemingly never-ending Chelsea rebuild.
Once again, the west London club has spent heavily, with Morgan Rogers arriving from Aston Villa and Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, while veteran Jordan Henderson, signed from Brentford, will be invaluable as an old head in a young squad.
Manchester United finished third last season and returned to the Champions League, so there will be high hopes that Michael Carrick can continue where he left off as he embarks on his first full season in charge.
Manager Unai Emery guided Aston Villa to an outstanding last campaign and, despite the loss of Rogers and Lucas Digne, they should challenge again for a place in the top six.
Who has gone where?
While the appointments of Maresca, Iraola and Alonso dominated the headlines, nearly half the division will start the season under new management.
Germany’s Marco Rose will try to continue Iraola’s work at Bournemouth. Nottingham Forest are relying on Oliver Glasner to bring the magic that delivered two major trophies to Crystal Palace, who themselves will hope Pierre Sage proves a worthy replacement.
Fulham appointed Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa as Marco Silva’s replacement, promoted Ipswich Town turned to Gary O’Neil after Kieran McKenna’s decision to take a break, and Newcastle United begin the post-Eddie Howe era with Matthias Jaissle in charge.
Surprise packages?
Roberto De Zerbi’s successful rescue mission at Tottenham Hotspur has been rewarded with one of the biggest spending sprees in the club’s history.
Whether the likes of 100 million pounds Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali and Netherlands center-back Jan Paul van Hecke can turn a side that finished 17th in the last two seasons into challengers for Europe remains to be seen.
Of the promoted clubs, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City will be worth watching as they return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years.
Six Arab football federations backed Gianni Infantino on Thursday, giving the FIFA president a show of support as opposition to his leadership grows following the collapse of a controversial private investment plan involving the World Cup.
The federations of Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan said they had “full support” and “confidence” in Infantino and praised his efforts to expand the global reach of the sport.
“We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,” the federations said in a joint statement.
The statement also praised Infantino for advancing football in different regions and strengthening its role in bringing communities together.
The endorsement came as Infantino faces his most serious challenge to his leadership since becoming FIFA president in 2016. He is seeking a fourth term at next year’s FIFA Congress in Morocco and had appeared certain to win re-election unopposed before the dispute over the investment proposal triggered a backlash across several confederations.
Four of the six Arab federation presidents who signed the statement are members of the FIFA Council: Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egypt’s Hany Abo Rida, Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya. The other signatories were Lebanese Football Association president Hashem Haidar and Sudan Football Association president Moatasem Gafar.
Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup, while Qatar staged the 2022 tournament.
The latest support contrasts sharply with the growing opposition from several of FIFA’s regional confederations.
UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, have called for greater scrutiny of Infantino’s leadership after FIFA withdrew its plan to bring private investment into the commercial rights of its competitions.
The proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise, would have involved selling a 20% stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors. FIFA had estimated that the plan could raise about $4.2 billion.
The proposal also included a $20 million payment to each member association during the next funding cycle, with that amount potentially doubling for federations that agreed to participate.
The plan was withdrawn after widespread criticism, including an open letter from UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF that described the proposal as a “fundamental breach of trust” and accused FIFA of “deception.”
FIFA subsequently apologized to its 211 member associations for the way the proposal had been handled and said its leadership retained full support for Infantino.
But the fallout has continued.
The Football Association of Ireland said Thursday it had withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election, citing concerns over governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.
England and Wales had already withdrawn their backing, while Northern Ireland said it supported UEFA’s position.
New Zealand Football became the latest national federation to break ranks with its regional confederation, announcing Friday that it had withdrawn its support for Infantino and was calling for an independent review of the abandoned investment plan.
“We’ve called for an independent review specifically because what we don’t want to see is a sort of in-house quick washover of this,” New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell told Reuters.
“An independent review is something else that has been called for by other confederations that will help restore some of the trust.”
New Zealand, the only Oceania Football Confederation member to qualify for this year’s World Cup, said the review should examine how the investment proposal was developed, who was involved and how decisions were overseen.
Pragnell also said the review should examine the proposed involvement of Thrive Capital, a U.S. investment firm with family ties to President Donald Trump, in the venture.
“I think the scope needs to be considered really carefully, but what’s most important is that all confederations should agree on the scope, and it needs to get underway with urgency,” Pragnell said.
The Oceania Football Confederation, however, stopped short of criticizing Infantino personally.
The OFC welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon the proposal and said the organization should use the review to identify any changes needed while recognizing what it described as significant progress in developing football across the region during Infantino’s tenure.
The split highlights the increasingly complicated battle for support ahead of the FIFA presidential election.
The three confederations opposing or questioning Infantino represent 136 of FIFA’s 211 member associations, giving them significant influence over the March election. At the same time, Infantino retains powerful allies.
The Confederation of African Football’s executive committee unanimously reaffirmed its support for him, although that decision does not guarantee that all 54 African federations will vote as a bloc.
Several Arab federations have also continued to publicly back the FIFA president, while Infantino’s official Instagram account has previously featured letters of support from Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar and Lebanon’s latest endorsement puts them at odds with the AFC, whose leadership has joined UEFA and CONCACAF in demanding greater scrutiny of FIFA’s handling of the investment proposal.
Australia, another AFC member, has also called for an independent review without publicly taking a position on whether Infantino should remain FIFA president.
FIFA has set Nov. 18 as the deadline for candidates to enter the presidential race.
Infantino, who succeeded Sepp Blatter in 2016, has been widely expected to secure a fourth term. The growing number of federations withdrawing their support, however, has transformed what once appeared to be a routine re-election campaign into an increasingly contested fight over FIFA’s leadership, governance and financial direction.
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