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Fifa condemns ‘concerted and ongoing effort’ to weaken Infantino
Fifa on Saturday condemned “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the world game’s governing body and its president Gianni Infantino as the controversy over his now shelved private investment plan rumbles on.
Infantino has faced calls to resign and was also subject to allegations from a British newspaper on Friday that he paid off a lover while at European governing body Uefa. newssport.cv
“Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning Fifa and its president,” said the Fifa statement.
Infantino served as secretary general of European football’s governing body from 2009 to 2016.
According to The Telegraph newspaper, the Italian-Swiss lawyer previously used his influence to secure a promotion for a Uefa employee with whom he was in an intimate relationship.
The newspaper added – without revealing its sources – that the same employee received a “six-figure sum” upon her departure in addition to the payment of tuition fees for a business school amounting to around £45 000 ($60 700).
When contacted by AFP, Uefa acknowledged that “a departure payment was made to the individual in question” at that time, “coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school”.
Growing pressure
In Saturday’s statement on social media, Fifa insisted it “welcomes legitimate scrutiny”.
“But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, Fifa will challenge it directly and vigorously,” it added.
Infantino, who is standing for re-election next March, has been embroiled in a crisis since the announcement late last month of his controversial – and ultimately abandoned – plan to open up the World Cup to private investors.
He faces opposition in particular from Uefa, which on Thursday stood by its threat to boycott the World Cups, deeming the mere withdrawal of the controversial plan to be insufficient.
Fifa said on Saturday it “will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the Fifa president that is inconsistent with Fifa’s statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework”.
The statement added: “Those who do not have the support of Fifa’s member associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa’s established democratic processes.”
Mofokeng Marks Royale Union Debut with Stunning First Goal
Bafana Bafana star Relebohile Mofokeng scored his first goal for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in their 5-1 thrashing of Westerlo in his Belgian Pro League debut.
Mofokeng came off the bench in the 60th minute, replacing Promise David, and made an immediate impact by scoring his first goal for the club just four minutes after his introduction to give his side a 3-1 lead.
The South African saw out the rest of the match as his side secured a comfortable 5-1 victory in their Belgian Pro League opener.
WATCH: Mofokeng scored his first goal for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
🇿🇦 Relebohile Mofokeng scores on his Belgium Pro League debut!!!
Westerlo 1️⃣-3️⃣ USG
pic.twitter.com/Cg5GtUGcW7— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) August 8, 2026
Image: Royale Union Saint-Gilloise/X
The post Mofokeng Marks Royale Union Debut with Stunning First Goal appeared first on SportsClub.
Kenya thrash Central Africa Republic to resurrect Afrobasket Under 18 title hopes
NAIROBI, Kenya, August 9, 2026 – Kenya thrashed the Central African Republic (CAR) 74-36 in their second tie at the AfroBasket Under 18 Championships in Treichville, Ivory Coast on Saturday evening.
Scholastica Wileka Maburu led the way with a double-double, sinking 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
Joining her in the double-digits club was Joyce Wangui who came away with 18 points, 11 rebounds five assists, as did Rihanna Mercy Nyalando (18 points, six rebounds and three assists).
Vanissa Dokowane Wanrema was the only player to record double digits for the losers, sinking 13 points, including one three pointer, two free throws and four two-pointers.
The huge win was the perfect atonement for Esther Butali’s side who had lost 84-57 to Uganda in their first match on Thursday.
They will be hoping for another positive result when they return to the court against the hosts on Monday night.
Messi misses Miami defeat after death of father
MIAMI, United States, August 9, 2026 – Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup defeat by Monterrey on Saturday night after the death of his father, as his team-mates led tributes before and during the match.
Jorge Messi died on Saturday at the age of 68 following a long illness.
Jorge, who had also been the Argentina forward’s agent since he was 14, passed away in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.
Miami paid tribute to Messi’s father with a minute’s silence before kick-off, while players wore black armbands and Jorge’s name was displayed on the big screens at Nu Stadium.
The club added a black ribbon to their social media profile pictures, and in a statement said: “Our hearts are with our captain, Leo, and the entire Messi family.”
Messi’s Argentina team-mate Rodrigo de Paul celebrated scoring the opening goal of the 2-1 defeat by taking off his shirt to reveal Messi’s.
Fans held up handmade signs offering their support to Messi and paying tribute to his father.
Miami striker Luis Suarez, who missed the match through suspension, wrote on Instagram that Jorge will continue to watch over his son “with pride, as he always did”.
Messi’s former club Barcelona observed a moment of silence before their 1-0 friendly win against Nottingham Forest in Udine, Italy.
In 2000, Jorge accompanied his 13-year-old son to Catalonia and played a key role in persuading the club to sign him.
Barcelona thanked Jorge “for his commitment to our club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career”.
Fans left flags and flowers outside Messi’s childhood home in Rosario, while Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate both held periods of silence before their matches.
The Argentine Football Association said it “deeply mourns with sadness and sorrow the passing of Jorge Messi, father of our captain and emblem, Lionel Messi”.
It added: “From here, we stand in solidarity with the entire family during this difficult time and send the most heartfelt, warm and affectionate embrace.”
Paris St-Germain, for whom Messi played between 2021 and 2023 after leaving Barcelona, said: “The club sends its full support to Leo, his family and loved ones in this painful ordeal. May he rest in peace.”
Foot : la Fifa dénonce "un effort concerté et continu" pour affaiblir Infantino
La Fédération internationale de football a dénoncé "un effort concerté et continu de certains pour affaiblir la Fifa et son président" Gianni Infantino, samedi dans un communiqué. "Des informations publiées récemment comportaient des affirmations non étayées et des allégations manifestement fausses concernant la Fifa et son président. Les spéculations et les insinuations ne doivent pas être présentées comme des faits et la répétition d'une allégation ne la rend pas vraie", poursuit l'instance, sans préciser lesquelles.