Sports
La Liga Boss Wants FIFA President To Step Down
La Liga president Javier Tebas has called for Fifa president Gianni Infantino to step down, claiming the world governing body is “destroying the football industry”.
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, external, the head of the Spanish league also criticised World Cup hydration breaks, the final’s lengthy half-time interval, the postponement of a suspension for United States striker Folarin Balogun, and the future possibility of a 64-team summer tournament.
When asked if Infantino should quit, Tebas said: “In my opinion, yes, I think his time is up.”
However, he stated that the 56-year-old has the support of national federations, and claimed Fifa’s election system is “rotten at its core”.
“There’s no opposition candidate, nobody wants to stand just to lose,” Tebas said.
“He shouldn’t stay, but the current state of affairs means he won’t leave.”
The head of Spain’s top flight was in the US to see his country win the 2026 World Cup.
“These past few days here in America, I’ve heard many people who are against Infantino, who disagree with what he’s doing,” Tebas said.
“They say it, but then they do nothing. I don’t know what’s worse, the silence or the complicity, because those who stay silent are perfectly aware of the damage football is suffering.”
Infantino is expected to be re-elected for a fourth term at Fifa’s March congress, although Tebas believes Infantino could have been brought down as a consequence of his involvement in the case around Balogun.
The 25-year-old US player escaped a suspension for his side’s last-16 tie with Belgium following an intervention from US President Donald Trump.
“The suspension of the American player’s ban was absolutely serious. They were lucky that Belgium eliminated the USA, because otherwise a case could have arisen that might have cost Infantino his job,” Tebas said.
“Since Belgium won, they managed to bury the matter. But these things are just the tip of the iceberg.”
European football’s governing body Uefa criticised Fifa’s decision at the time, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable”, and the decision was a factor in the organisation’s president Aleksander Ceferin not attending the World Cup final.
Infantino opened the door to a 64-team global tournament during this year’s event, but Tebas argued that “not everything can revolve around the World Cup”.
“Increasing the number of national teams makes no sense. The football industry isn’t just the World Cup,” Tebas said.
“It’s the national competitions that sustain this sport. They are destroying the football industry, which generates tens of thousands of jobs, for an event that lasts 40 days and involves a minority of players.
“Are the best players there? Clearly, but they are also in our leagues. We need fewer international matches and more protection for national football, at all levels. They don’t realise they are making irresponsible decisions.”
Fifa brought in mandatory three-minute hydration breaks for the World Cup, regardless of conditions, for all matches played at stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The governing body said they were brought in as a commitment to player welfare, but critics have pointed to broadcasters using the breaks as a way to cash in with commercials.
Meanwhile pop music giants Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber were among the acts to perform in the World Cup final half-time show, which extended the usual 15-minute half-time break to 27 minutes 22 seconds.
“Fifa arranges things as it pleases, for what it wants, for its own interests, certainly not for football,” said Tebas. “So, if they need a 27-minute half-time break, they’ll have it.
“Hydration breaks are a lie. We have them in La Liga, but only when it’s genuinely hot.
“Here, the pitches in Dallas, Los Angeles, Atlanta had air conditioning; I had to put on a jumper in the stands. It was a lie, a break for advertising.
“It’s proof that we are governed by an institution that does and decides what it wants, when it wants, following only its own interests without considering the rest of football. And in many cases, it acts to the detriment of football.”
Women’s Super League side of Aston Villa have announced the signing of Nigeria international Rofiat Imuran, subject to visa approval.
The club announced on it website that Imuran becomes Villa’s ninth signing of the summer transfer window, joining the club from London City Lionesses.
Predominantly a fullback, Imuran already has some WSL experience, having made 10 appearances in the division last season during her final campaign with London City Lionesses.
The 22-year-old began her senior career with Rivers Angels before moving to France, where she represented Stade de Reims Féminines.
She subsequently made the switch to English football in 2024.
During her two seasons in France, Imuran established herself as an attack-minded modern fullback, scoring seven goals in 27 appearances.
At international level, Imuran was part of the Super Falcons squads for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup and the 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
She featured once during Nigeria’s campaign in Morocco, while she was an unused substitute at the 2023 World Cup.
Before making the step up to the senior national team, Imuran represented the Falconets at the 2022 Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup.
For the 2026-2027 season, the Nigerian defender will wear the number 22 shirt at Aston Villa.
Sports
D’Tigers Trash Cape Verde To Sustain Race For FIBA Basketball 2027 World Cup African Qualifiers.
Nigeria’s road to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup is far from done. If anything, D’Tigers are firmly back on track following a dominant 100-84 win over Cape Verde.
The victory lifts Nigeria to 5-4 and keeps them on track in pursuit of a return to the World Cup with three more qualifying games to play.
“We needed that win to stay in the fight and give ourselves a chance. I told the guys if we get to five wins we are within striking distance of qualifying in the next window,” Nigeria’s coach David Fizdale said.
Caleb Agada netted 26 points, going 8-for-11 from 3-point range, and made 6 assists. Josh Okogie had a near triple double, with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assistscoupled with 4 steals.
Efe Obogidi went 3-fo-4 on 3-pointer and perfect on the line for 11 points while skipper Ike Nwamu contributed 14 points.
Okogie, who was part of the Nigeria team in their last World Cup in 2019, is pleased they are still in the fight to return to the global showpiece despite losing thefirst two games of the window.
“You never feel good after a loss but you never play as bad as you think you played and you never play as good as you think you played. I think this team has done a great job this window.
“Obviously 1-2 is not the result we wanted but at the end of the day we are not completely out of this; we are within striking distance. As long as there is life and just having that nigerian blood we can get this thing done,” Okogie said.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has addressed mounting concerns regarding Lamine Yamal’s recent form and on-pitch demeanour following a demanding summer schedule.
The German tactician moved to reassure supporters after the 19-year-old winger noticeably lacked his trademark smile during the opening weeks of the 2026/27 La Liga campaign.
Yamal recently returned to the Barcelona starting lineup following a brief three-week holiday.
His truncated break followed an intense summer where he represented Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup immediately after recovering from a significant injury earlier in the year.
Flick acknowledged that Yamal struggled to find his rhythm during Barcelona’s season-opening fixtures.
“I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how he is doing,” Flick told reporters on Sunday.
“And of course, look at his situation; he played a World Cup after a huge injury. Now he’s coming back after three weeks holiday, and also the first game maybe was not his best game.”
Despite the slow start, Flick expressed satisfaction with Yamal’s tactical discipline and overall work rate.
The teenager completed the full 90 minutes during Barcelona’s recent 2-0 league victory over Athletic Club on August 27, 2026.
Flick highlighted that extended time on the pitch against the Basque outfit was a crucial step in rebuilding the winger’s match fitness.
“He played 90 minutes against Bilbao, and for him at the moment, it’s also good to have 90 minutes on the pitch,” Flick explained.
The Barcelona manager also dismissed worries surrounding the player’s apparent lack of joy on the pitch.
Flick insisted that Yamal’s mood remains positive behind the scenes at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
“Of course, it’s always good when the players are smiling, but it’s not every day the same day,” Flick stated. “I’m also not smiling every day, it’s like that.”
Flick confirmed he has already witnessed a return to peak form during recent closed-door training sessions.
“We saw him in some situations really on this top level,” Flick concluded. “And now, you couldn’t see this in the training session today, but I saw it and it was excellent.”
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