Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq national tennis player HumamIssam won the singles and doubles titles at the Alanya International tournamentin Turkiye.

Issam told Shafaq News on Sundaythat the singles competition featured 22 players and that he played sevenmatches across the group and knockout stages, defeating a Russian opponentbefore beating Sweden’s runner-up 7-5, 6-3 in the final on hard courts.

He also won the doubles titlealongside a Swedish partner who, according to Issam, ranks second nationally inthe under-16 category.

The multinational tournament is“useful preparation” during the Iraqi player’s training camp in Turkiye, whichhe is funding independently ahead of upcoming Iraq national team qualifiers.

Shafaq News- Madrid/ Barcelona

Real Madrid have integrated six summer signings into Jose Mourinho’s first-team squad, while Barcelona remain active in major incoming and outgoing deals ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Madrid have added Bernardo Silva, Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espi, with all six assigned squad numbers as preseason preparations continue.

⚪️👋🏼 Real Madrid new signings have now all joined Jose Mourinho’s squad.Shirt numbers have been unveiled. ⤵️Carlos Espí 1️⃣9️⃣👕Bernardo Silva 2️⃣0️⃣👕Yan Diomande 2️⃣5️⃣👕Marc Cucurella 1️⃣7️⃣👕Ibrahima Konate 1️⃣6️⃣👕Denzel Dumfries 2️⃣4️⃣👕 pic.twitter.com/aO9FRZMPoD

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2026

Barcelona’s window remains more fluid –Anthony Gordon has joined from Newcastle, while Ronald Araujo is set to move to Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are pursuing Ferran Torres after reaching personal terms with the Spain forward.

🚨🔴🔵 Barcelona expect to receive opening official bid for Ferran Torres from Paris Saint-Germain shortly.Ferran’s camp and PSG informed Barça about the verbal agreement on personal terms. pic.twitter.com/5T4WmJzuK7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2026

The Catalan club are also pushing for Manchester City midfielder Rodri after their opening offer was rejected, with an improved bid expected.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Talabafootball clubs will be without Baghdad’s Al-Madina Stadium for the openingthree rounds of the 2026/27 Iraq Stars League after the venue was handed overout of service and unfit for matches, according to the company that implementedthe project.

Falah Manfi, managing director ofGlobal, told Shafaq News that the Youth and Sports Ministry transferredresponsibility for the stadium to the two clubs without completing thenecessary maintenance or appointing specialist staff to manage the venue, leavingthe pitch and several facilities damaged. The league season begins on August14.

The deterioration is a “neglect ofone of the capital’s leading sports venues,” as proper management could havepreserved the stadium’s condition, Manfi stated.

Read more: Iraq's stadiums "in ruin" as clubs fail upkeep

Shafaq News- Barcelona

Barcelona, Manchester City and Rodri are increasingly confident that the Spain midfielder’s transfer to the Catalan club can be completed, transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Saturday.

Romano stated that Barcelona will submit a higher formal offer after City rejected an opening proposal worth about $52 million, adding that Rodri has informed the English club that he wants the move.

🚨🔵🔴 Barcelona are very confident to get Rodri deal done. No panic after first bid rejected.New official bid will follow and Rodri told Man City with maximum respect that he wants the move.Barça will submit higher proposal. All parties convinced deal can happen soon. pic.twitter.com/QKWKF6u8kL

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2026

Manchester City are seeking at least about $81 million for the 30-year-old, who has one year remaining on his contract. The Guardian reported that City are willing to sell this summer rather than risk losing him without a transfer fee in 2027.

Rodri has also reportedly agreed personal terms with Barcelona, strengthening the club’s position ahead of the next round of negotiations.

The Spain captain joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and led his country to the 2026 World Cup title, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Shafaq News- Rosario

Jorge Messi, the father and longtime representative of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, died at the age of 68 in Rosario on Friday night, Argentine media reported.

Argentine outlets said he died while hospitalized in the city after undergoing treatment for a long illness. His health had drawn attention during the 2026 World Cup, when the Messi family confirmed he was receiving medical treatment and recovering after false reports of his death circulated.

Jorge played a central role throughout Lionel Messi’s career, acting as his agent and handling his business affairs off the field. No public statement from Lionel Messi or the family was immediately issued.

Shafaq News- London

Premier League champions Arsenal have missed out on three high-profile summer targets, with Vinicius Junior staying at Real Madrid, Morgan Rogers joining Chelsea and Sandro Tonali moving to Tottenham.

Vinicius became the latest name to fall off Arsenal’s shortlist after extending his Real Madrid contract until 2032. Sky Sports reported that the Gunners had genuine interest in the Brazilian as he entered the final year of his previous deal, although the pursuit had initially not reached club-to-club negotiations.

Morgan Rogers represented Arsenal’s clearest attacking setback. The Aston Villa forward was the club’s “No. 1 attacking target,” but Arsenal declined to meet the price required before Chelsea completed a deal worth about $158 million.

Arsenal had also considered Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, whose future had been monitored before the Gunners moved toward other midfield options. Tottenham ultimately signed the Italy international for about $125 million, with the package potentially rising to $135 million.

Despite the three misses, Arsenal have remained active under sporting director Andrea Berta. The club signed Christos Tzolis for about $46 million, made Piero Hincapie’s move permanent for roughly $47 million and added Illan Meslier on a free transfer. They have also agreed a deal worth about $101 million with Newcastle for Bruno Guimaraes, who underwent a medical in London, although the transfer has yet to be officially announced.

Sky Sports reported that Berta’s recruitment model involves pursuing several options simultaneously before weighing sporting value against financial cost, allowing Arsenal to move between targets rather than commit to one player regardless of price.

Shafaq News- Madrid

Real Madrid signed Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig on Thursday on a seven-year contract running until June 30, 2033, without disclosing the transfer fee.

Diomande joined Leipzig from Leganes in 2025 and delivered 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 matches across all competitions during his only season in Germany.

The 19-year-old scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances, helping Leipzig finish third and qualify for the Champions League before being named the league’s 2025/26 Rookie of the Season.

He also represented Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the first teenager to appear for the country at the tournament.

Shafaq News- Madrid

Real Madrid officially extended Vinicius Junior’s contract until June 30, 2032, the Spanish club announced on Thursday, ending months of uncertainty over the Brazilian forward’s future.

The new six-year agreement replaces his previous contract, which was due to expire in June 2027.

Comunicado Oficial: Vini Jr., renovado hasta 2032.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 6, 2026

Vinicius joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018 and has since become a central figure in the club’s attack.

The 26-year-old has scored in two Champions League final victories, netting the winner against Liverpool in 2022 and adding the second goal against Borussia Dortmund in 2024.

Shafaq News- Barcelona

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has chosen Barcelona and approved the club’s sporting project, Spanish journalist Gerard Romero reported on Thursday.

Romero’s Jijantes outlet stated that the 30-year-old had given Barcelona the green light to pursue his transfer, but neither the player nor the two clubs have announced an agreement or confirmed negotiations.

Barcelona’s interest reportedly intensified after Frenkie de Jong suffered a knee injury, while talks between Rodri and Real Madrid stalled. The Guardian reported that Manchester City could demand about $81 million for the midfielder, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Rodri captained Spain to the 2026 World Cup title and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, two years after claiming the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The midfielder, currently recovering from back surgery, joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and remains under contract until June 2027.

Shafaq News- Trabzon

Trabzonspor signed Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah on a two-year contract on Thursday after he departed from Liverpool.

The 34-year-old joined as a free agent after completing medical examinations in Istanbul. Reuters reported that he will earn about $19.6 million annually, plus performance-related bonuses and a 20% share of merchandise sales carrying his name.

The transfer ends Salah’s nine-year Liverpool career, during which he scored 257 goals in 442 appearances and helped the club win two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish Super Lig last season and will compete in the Europa League playoff round.

Shafaq News- Madrid/ Lisbon

Calls are growing in Spain and Portugal to review Morocco’s role in co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup, as left-wing parties raise concerns over human rights commitments following a recent migration crisis at Spain’s Ceuta enclave.

The calls emerged after Ceuta, a small Spanish territory in North Africa, was overwhelmed by an estimated 84,000 Moroccans crossing into the city.

Spain’s Sumar coalition filed a non-binding proposal with the Spanish Congress of Deputies, signed by three lawmakers from United Left, a party within the coalition, along with another member of its parliamentary group. The proposal urged the Spanish government to encourage the Spanish Football Federation to use FIFA mechanisms designed to assess compliance with human rights policies.

The proposal also requested an independent and public report within six months examining potential human rights risks in host countries, including an assessment of the Ceuta events and possible additional measures if serious violations are identified.

In Portugal, the Livre Party called on the government and the Portuguese Football Federation to end the country’s partnership with Morocco in hosting the tournament, arguing that recent developments had made the arrangement difficult to maintain.

Livre spokesperson Jorge Pinto noted that the original 2030 World Cup bid featured Spain, Portugal and Ukraine before Morocco replaced Ukraine, arguing that the decision should be reconsidered.

Despite the political appeals, removing Morocco from the hosting arrangement appears unlikely, French broadcaster RMC reported, citing the limited time remaining before the tournament and the continued progress of infrastructure projects linked to the event.

RMC also revealed that Morocco had strengthened its position within FIFA during the recent crisis and that FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s continued leadership of world football’s governing body made the possibility of Morocco losing hosting rights “very unlikely.” The broadcaster added that the developments could even improve Morocco’s chances of securing the World Cup final, which is expected to take place in Spain.

ShafaqNews- Baghdad

Zakho SCenters the 2026-27 Iraq Stars League season as the competition’s most valuableclub, with a squad market value of €7.93 million following an active transferwindow that saw teams strengthen their squads with new local and foreignsignings.

Al-Karmahranks second at €7.73 million, while defending champions Al-Shorta SC sit thirdwith a squad value of €6.53 million. Duhok SC and Erbil SC complete the topfive, with market values of €6.40 million and €6.38 million, respectively.

Al-QuwaAl-Jawiya SC ranks sixth with a squad value of €6.30 million. Al-Zawraa SC andAl-Talaba SC share seventh place at €5.65 million each, followed by Newroz at€5.23 million. Mosul ranks ninth at €4.83 million, while Diyala completes thetop 10 with a market value of €4.25 million.

Furtherdown the rankings, Al-Minaa SC is valued at €4.23 million, followed by Al-Karkhat €4.03 million, Al-Naft at €3.63 million, Al-Gharaf at €3.60 million, NaftMaysan at €3.45 million, Al-Kahrabaa at €3.38 million, Al-Jolan at €2.75million, and Ghaz Al-Shamal at €1.50 million.

KarbalaSC has the lowest market value among the league’s clubs, with its squad valuedat €225,000.

Theincrease in club valuations comes as Iraq’s top-flight teams continue to investin their squads ahead of the new campaign, with several clubs adding local andforeign players in an effort to compete for the league title. Market value,however, remains an indicator of financial strength rather than a guarantee ofsuccess on the pitch.

The2026-27 Iraq Stars League season is scheduled to begin on Aug. 14, 2026, with20 clubs competing for the championship. The new campaign follows a period ofsuccess for several traditional contenders. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya SC won the2025-26 league title, while Al-Shorta SC secured back-to-back championships inthe 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

Al-ZawraaSC remains the most successful club in Iraqi league history with 14 titles.Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya SC and Al-Shorta SC follow with eight championships each,placing them among the most decorated clubs in the country’s football history.

*€1 = IQD1,511.70

ShafaqNews- Baghdad

Iraq willretain Graham Arnold as head coach through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after theAustralian agreed to extend his contract with the national team, the IraqiFootball Association (IFA) confirmed on Wednesday.

GhalibAl-Zamili, a member of the IFA board, told Shafaq News that Arnold had acceptedthe terms of the new deal, ending uncertainty over his future. He is expectedto travel to Iraq in the coming weeks to formally sign the contract beforestarting preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Arnold,who replaced Spaniard Jesus Casas as Iraq’s head coach in May 2025, guided thenational team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where it exited in the group stageafter losing all three matches.

Shafaq News- Zakho

Iraqi international defender Akam Hashem reached anagreement to join Zakho SC on a one-year contract ahead of the 2026-2027 IraqStars League season, the club's management told Shafaq News on Monday.

The club said the one-year deal is worth approximately 1.7billion Iraqi dinars ($1.298M), includes a villa and a private car, andprovides Hashem with an 800-million-dinar advance payment. He is scheduled tobe officially unveiled on August 4 before joining the team's training sessions.

On July 11, Zakho entered advanced negotiations with Hashemafter his proposed move to Portuguese club FC Porto collapsed.

Shafaq News- Abu Dhabi

Iraqi jiu-jitsu athlete Muhannad Hassan won the silver medalin the 60 kg category at the World Championship.

Hassan represented Iraq as the country's sole competitor inthe tournament, which concluded in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi.

Shafaq News- Zurich

Speculation is mounting over potential successors to FIFAChaieman Gianni Infantino, media outlets said on Monday.

The speculation reportedly comes after Infantino scrapped aproposal to sell stakes in a company managing FIFA competitions to privateinvestors following opposition from the Union of European Football Associations(UEFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and Confederation of North,Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). The plantriggered criticism over FIFA's governance and decision-making, with severalfootball bodies calling for changes in the organization's leadership.

Infantino still enjoys the backing of a majority of FIFA's211 member associations. However, UEFA along with the AFC and the CONCACAF,have objected his leadership style, with some calling for his resignation.

Five names have emerged as potential candidates to replacehim:

Aleksander Ceferin (58), UEFA president, has positionedhimself as an alternative to Infantino and has criticized lengthy leadershiptenures. His current term at UEFA is nearing its end.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi (52), president of Paris Saint-Germain,chairman of the European Club Association, and a member of UEFA's ExecutiveCommittee. Although he has denied any intention to run, he remains one of theleading names under discussion.

Mattias Grafstrom (45), FIFA's current secretary general anda close ally of Infantino. Media reports suggest he sees an opportunity toenter the presidential race.

Victor Montagliani (60), president of CONCACAF since 2016,has been among the most prominent opponents of Infantino's investmentproposals.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa (60), president of theAFC, previously challenged Infantino in the 2016 FIFA presidential election. Heis regarded as one of the leading Arab candidates after the AFC rejectedInfantino's investment plans and called for a more consultative and greaterrespect for FIFA's institutional governance.

Shafaq News- Madrid

LaLiga has officially registered Bernardo Silva in Real Madrid’s squad for the 2026/27 season, completing the administrative process required for the Portuguese midfielder to play in domestic competition.

Real Madrid announced Silva’s arrival from Manchester City on June 17 on a contract running until June 30, 2028. The 31-year-old joined preseason training under head coach Jose Mourinho on Monday alongside Vinicius Junior and Brahim Diaz, according to the club.

Silva could make his LaLiga debut against Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on August 22. The second-round fixture will be Madrid’s first league match after its opener against Real Sociedad was postponed to August 26 because several players participated in the World Cup.

Silva spent nine seasons with Manchester City, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, and the European Super Cup.

Shafaq News- Zurich

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a potentialleadership challenge as Council members seek an emergency meeting over USnational team player Folarin Balogun’s disciplinary ruling, with the revoltstrengthened by the collapse of his $20 billion tournament investment plan.

The Guardian reported that more than 10 members of FIFA’s37-seat Council had backed demands for an independent review of the decisionthat allowed the US striker to continue playing at the World Cup. Nineteensignatures are required to force an emergency meeting.

The challenge began over the Balogun case but expanded intoa wider dispute over Infantino’s governance after FIFA abandoned its proposedprivate-investment venture amid opposition from UEFA, Concacaf, the AsianFootball Confederation and senior officials inside the organization.

Balogun Ruling

Balogun was sent off during the United States’ round-of-32victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 and faced a one-match suspensionfor the last-16 tie against Belgium.

US President Donald Trump later confirmed that he contactedInfantino and asked FIFA to review the case. The FIFA Disciplinary Committeesubsequently found Balogun guilty but placed his one-match ban on a one-yearprobationary period, allowing him to play against Belgium.

FIFA maintained that the committee acted independently andthat Infantino had no role in its ruling. Council members are neverthelessdemanding an external review and could reportedly seek his resignation if herefuses.

The Norwegian Football Federation also questioned theprocess, while a complaint submitted to the International Olympic Committeealleged that Infantino’s relationship with Trump breached political-neutralityrequirements.

Investment Fallout

Pressure increased after FIFA abandoned FIFA ForwardEnterprise, which would have sold private investors minority stakes in acompany managing the commercial and operational business of the World Cup andother tournaments.

The plan collapsed within days after UEFA’s 55 associationsunanimously rejected it, Concacaf opposed the process and the AFC demandedgreater legal, financial and governance scrutiny.

Resistance also reached FIFA’s leadership. Senior adviserCarlos Cordeiro resigned and described the proposal as a poor deal forfootball, while Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour accused FIFA’s leadershipof misleading staff.

UEFA subsequently stated that FIFA’s current leadership hadlost its confidence, declared that “no option should be off the table” anddemanded accountability for the failed venture. It did not formally call forInfantino’s resignation.

Paths To A Challenge

An emergency Council meeting would not automatically removeInfantino but could compel him to answer questions over the Balogun decisionand the wider governance crisis.

An Extraordinary FIFA Congress could be triggered byrequests from 43 of the organization’s 211 member associations. Infantino couldalso face a rival in the presidential election scheduled for March 18, 2027,with the nomination deadline set for November 18.

Concacaf President Victor Montagliani and AFC PresidentSheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, who narrowly lost to Infantino in 2016,have been discussed as potential challengers, although neither has declared acandidacy.

Infantino remains strongly positioned. The Guardian reportedthat he had received more than 200 letters supporting his re-election, whilethe Confederation of African Football, Conmebol and the Qatar FootballAssociation continue to back him.

Shafaq News

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha is traveling to Chile with his agent to complete a move to Colo-Colo after a delayed arrival raised doubts over the transfer.

Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that the agreement was confirmed, with Vozinha only having to pass a medical examination and sign the final documents before the Chilean club announces the deal.

Colo-Colo President Anibal Mosa had confirmed an agreement with the free agent in July. Vozinha’s agent, Bernardo Vasconcelos, later attributed the postponed journey to personal matters and dismissed reports of an offer from Morocco’s RS Berkane as “unfounded speculation.”

World Cup Rise

Vozinha, whose full name is Josimar Jose Evora Dias, emerged as one of Cape Verde’s leading players during the country’s first World Cup appearance. He helped his nation hold eventual champions Spain to a goalless draw in the group stage and take eventual runners-up Argentina into extra time in the Round of 32.

The goalkeeper entered the tournament without a club after leaving Portuguese second-tier side Chaves, but his performances earned him a place in FIFA’s fan-selected World Cup team and attracted international attention.

Mosa acknowledged that Colo-Colo considered both Vozinha’s displays and his increased commercial profile when pursuing the signing.

Reuters reported that the proposed deal includes an initial six-month contract with an option for another year.

Colo-Colo are also seeking permission for the goalkeeper to wear “Vozinha” on his shirt because Chilean competition rules generally require players to display a legal surname rather than a nickname.

Shafaq News- Madrid/ London

Arsenal are reportedly prepared to make ViniciusJunior their highest-paid player if his Real Madrid contract talks collapse,although the Brazilian is currently expected to remain in Spain.

The Athletic reported that Arsenal have approved thefinancial commitment required for a potential move and would exceed theirexisting wage structure to sign the 26-year-old.

No personal terms have been agreed, and Sky Sportsacknowledged that Arsenal have neither opened club-to-club talks nor submitteda formal offer. Their interest remains conditional on Vinicius becomingavailable.

The winger has entered the final year of his RealMadrid contract, which expires in June 2027, but negotiations over an extensionhave yet to produce a confirmed agreement. Sky Sports explained on Wednesdaythat Vinicius had decided to stay beyond the current transfer window and thatMadrid had no intention of selling him, with the club still confident ofsecuring a renewal.

Vinicius Deal to Reshape Arsenal Wages

Any future transfer would require Arsenal to offer asalary well above their current ceiling.

Sky Sports estimated that matching Vinicius’ netearnings in Spain could cost Arsenal approximately $670,000 per week beforetax. Goal separately said his renewal demands could approach $35 millionannually through salary, bonuses and a signing payment.

Neither Vinicius nor Real Madrid has publiclyconfirmed the figures.

Shafaq News- London

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared toreturn to competition immediately after resolving his anti-doping appealthrough an agreement with the Football Association and the World Anti-DopingAgency.

The FA confirmed that Mudryk accepted two anti-dopingrule violations and a period of ineligibility equal to the suspension alreadyserved by July 30. The settlement makes him eligible to play again but does notoverturn the original finding.

The case began after an out-of-competition test onOctober 22, 2024, detected a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibitedsubstance. Mudryk was provisionally suspended in December and charged in May2025 with the presence and use or attempted use of the substance.

An independent Regulatory Commission found the chargesproven in January 2026 and imposed a four-year ban, which Mudryk appealed tothe Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The FA stated that WADA later revised its minimumreporting levels. Although the change is not retroactive, the concentrationdetected in Mudryk’s sample would not be reported under the current standardand would therefore not produce an anti-doping violation.

That technical change and the wider circumstances ledMudryk, the FA and WADA to settle the appeal under the World Anti-Doping Code.

Mudryk maintained throughout the proceedings that hehad never knowingly or intentionally taken a banned substance.

“I am grateful that this process has reached aconclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can nowlook ahead to my future.”

Chelsea welcomed the resolution and affirmed that itwould help the 25-year-old regain full fitness and rejoin the first-team squad.Mudryk has not played competitively since November 2024.

Shafaq News- London

Chelsea have been fined $13.4 million and handed a suspended two-window player-registration ban after admitting 74 historical breaches of Football Association rules governing agents, intermediaries and third-party investment in players.

The ban is suspended through June 30, 2027, allowing Chelsea to continue signing and registering senior players. It would cover two complete and consecutive transfer windows if activated.

An independent Regulatory Commission initially imposed the fine and a suspended six-point Premier League deduction. Chelsea appealed the sporting sanction, and the FA Appeal Board removed the points penalty after finding insufficient evidence that the club had gained an actual sporting advantage and ruling the deduction excessive.

The board replaced it with the suspended registration ban, which the FA may seek to activate in full or in part if Chelsea commit the same or a similar breach during the suspension period. An independent commission would first have to establish any new violation.

Chelsea Admit Historical Breaches

The case covered 44 transactions involving 32 players between July 2009 and August 2022, with most violations occurring from the 2010–11 to 2015–16 seasons. Eighteen players were minors, while 24 transactions involved those players.

The breaches included using or paying unauthorized agents and unregistered intermediaries, concealing or misrepresenting transactions, violating third-party investment rules and making improper payments connected to the registration of some minors.

The original commission described the conduct of those controlling and managing Chelsea at the time as showing a “shameful and arrogant disregard” for football’s rules.

All but two transactions occurred during Roman Abramovich’s ownership. The remaining cases, in July and August 2022, followed the club’s sale, but the FA accepted that the current owners had no knowledge of them.

Chelsea’s prospective owners identified potential regulatory violations during due diligence before completing the 2022 takeover and reported them to the FA, Premier League, UEFA and FIFA.

The club admitted all 74 breaches and provided extensive documentation. The FA described Chelsea’s cooperation as exceptional and acknowledged that much of the misconduct might not otherwise have emerged.

The Appeal Board cited the self-reporting, cooperation, previous ownership’s responsibility and absence of proven sporting advantage when removing the points deduction.

The $13.4 million fine was not appealed and will be invested in grassroots football. The FA’s investigation into possible individual misconduct remains open.

The FA ruling is separate from sanctions imposed by the Premier League in March over related historical financial and academy breaches. Chelsea accepted fines totaling $14.3 million after the league found that undisclosed payments had been made between 2011 and 2018 by third parties associated with the club to players, unregistered agents and others for Chelsea’s benefit.

The Premier League imposed a one-year first-team registration ban suspended for two years and an immediate nine-month restriction on registering certain academy players from Premier League and English Football League clubs.

It also determined that Chelsea would not have breached the Profitability and Sustainability Rules had the payments been properly included in the club’s historical accounts.

Chelsea therefore remain free to recruit senior players but carry separate suspended first-team registration bans from the FA and Premier League. The narrower academy restriction remains active.

Shafaq News

FIFA abandoned its proposed $20 billion tournament company after opposition from UEFA, Concacaf, the Asian Football Confederation, and senior officials inside the governing body.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would not proceed, stating that the project had created divisions incompatible with its original objective.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions,” Infantino explained, adding that FIFA would instead seek broader agreement on expanding football-development funding.

FFE would have placed FIFA’s commercial and tournament operations inside a new subsidiary and sold private investors non-controlling stakes totaling about 20%, raising up to $4.2 billion. FIFA argued that the model would increase development funding for its 211 member associations, but the proposal faced rapid resistance over governance, transparency and private ownership of tournament revenues.

UEFA’s 55 associations unanimously rejected the project and announced that their national teams would boycott FIFA competitions until it was withdrawn. Concacaf also opposed the plan, while the AFC expressed solidarity with the two confederations and called for greater scrutiny.

Inside FIFA, Infantino’s adviser Carlos Cordeiro also resigned, describing the proposal as a poor deal for football, while Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour accused the organization’s leadership of misleading staff over the project.

Shafaq News

Opposition to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposed $20billion tournament venture spread inside the governing body on Friday, withChief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour accusing its leadership of deceivingemployees and senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigning in protest.

Lamour described FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) as the“project of one person” and argued that staff had been misled over plans tobring private investors into the commercial and operational business of theWorld Cup and other FIFA competitions.

“Our mission is to serve football, not to serve the personalinterests of a person who, unfortunately, believes he embodies FIFA when he issupposed to be at its service,” Lamour wrote in a statement shared with theAssociated Press.

Cordeiro, a former US Soccer Federation president and FIFAsenior adviser for global strategy and governance, resigned immediately,stating that he had not helped prepare the proposal and opposed it“unequivocally.”

He described the project as “a bad deal” for FIFA’s memberassociations and football’s long-term future, questioning why the governingbody would permanently sell part of its tournament business to raise $4.2billion despite holding substantial reserves, carrying no debt and generatingabout $15 billion between 2022 and 2026.

FIFA Defends Tournament Company

FIFA stated that it would continue consulting its 211 memberassociations and blamed what it described as inaccurate reporting fordisrupting the process.

“Nobody is selling football,” the governing body declared,affirming that the project would not proceed without majority support from itsmembers.

Under the proposal, FFE would combine FIFA’s tournamentoperations and commercial activities in a subsidiary valued at about $20billion. Private investors could acquire non-controlling stakes totaling up to20%, generating as much as $4.2 billion, while FIFA would retain control oversporting regulations, competition formats and governance.

Reuters reported that Thrive Eternal, an investment vehiclelinked to Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, was expected to lead the proposedinvestor group.

FIFA argues that the model would expand football-developmentfunding. Infantino has asked associations to respond by September 19 andoffered a package potentially worth up to $40 million per member throughincreased FIFA Forward allocations and optional one-off project capital.

Confederations Reject the Proposal

UEFA’s 55 associations unanimously rejected FFE and agreedthat their national teams would boycott FIFA competitions while the proposalremained active.

Concacaf, which represents 41 associations, also opposed theproject, citing inadequate consultation, procedural concerns and the compresseddecision-making timetable, but did not join UEFA’s boycott.

The 47-member Asian Football Confederation expressedsolidarity with UEFA and Concacaf, questioned whether the plan remained viablewithout support from three of FIFA’s six confederations and stopped short ofannouncing a boycott.

The three confederations contain 143 of FIFA’s 211associations, although each federation retains its own vote and is notautomatically bound by its confederation’s position.

Shafaq News- Milan

AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi passed away on Friday at the age of 66, prompting tributes across football for the defender who spent his entire professional career with the Rossoneri and captained them through one of the club’s greatest eras.

Milan confirmed his death, stating that the club’s history was “in tears” and that Baresi’s example and integrity would remain part of its identity alongside his retired No. 6 shirt. The club did not announce a cause of death.

United in remembrance ❤️In Perth, Rúben Amorim, his staff and the entire team observed a minute of silence in memory of Franco Baresi ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Btbhv017tM

— AC Milan (@acmilan) July 31, 2026

Baresi underwent surgery in August 2025 to remove a pulmonary nodule and later received immunotherapy treatment, according to Milan. He remained the club’s honorary vice-president and appeared publicly in February as a torchbearer during the Milano Cortina Winter Games.

Maldini Leads Football Tributes

Former teammate Paolo Maldini described Baresi as the greatest player he had played alongside and credited his former captain with teaching him leadership, loyalty and perseverance.

“You protected me when I was a child, guided me as a young man, and inspired me as an adult,” Maldini wrote, adding, “We will miss you, Captain.”

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni remembered Baresi as one of the country’s greatest sporting champions and an example of seriousness, loyalty and dedication. The Italian Football Federation also mourned his death, with President Giovanni Malagl describing him as a legend who entered the hearts of millions and announcing that Italy would commemorate him at forthcoming matches.

Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, Napoli and Real Madrid were among the clubs issuing condolences, while former Inter captain Javier Zanetti hailed him as an icon, captain and legend.

Official Statement: Passing of Franco Baresi

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 31, 2026

Twenty Years with AC Milan

Born in Travagliato on May 8, 1960, Baresi entered Milan’s first team during the 1977–78 season and remained with the club until retiring in 1997.

He made a club-record 719 official appearances and won six Serie A titles, three European Cups or Champions Leagues, two Intercontinental Cups and four Italian Super Cups.

Baresi stayed with Milan through two relegations to Serie B in the early 1980s and helped the club return to the top flight on both occasions. He later captained the Rossoneri for 15 seasons and became the defensive leader of the teams built by Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.

Alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti, he anchored a back line renowned for coordinated pressing, a high defensive line and the offside trap. Milan won successive European Cups in 1989 and 1990, added the Champions League in 1994 and completed a 58-match unbeaten Serie A run under Capello.

Baresi finished second to teammate Marco van Basten in the 1989 Ballon d’Or, an unusually high placing for a defender.

Meanwhile, he earned 81 caps for Italy and scored once. He was part of the squad that won the 1982 World Cup, helped Italy finish third in 1990 and captained the team to the 1994 final.

His performance against Brazil in the 1994 final became one of the defining moments of his career. Returning 25 days after knee surgery, he played the full 120 minutes and helped Italy hold Brazil to a goalless draw before the shootout.

Baresi missed Italy’s opening penalty, with Brazil winning 3–2, but his recovery and display in Pasadena reinforced his reputation as one of football’s greatest defenders.

Milan Retires Baresi’s No. 6

Baresi retired in 1997 after 20 seasons with Milan, which withdrew his No. 6 shirt and made him the first player in club history to receive the distinction. He later remained closely connected to the Rossoneri as honorary vice-president.

His career linked Milan’s relegation and recovery in the early 1980s with its rise to European dominance under Sacchi and Capello. Beyond the trophies, Baresi became a symbol of loyalty and helped redefine the sweeper as a defender who could organize the back line, regain possession and begin attacks.