Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal is in talks over a takeover of Saudi Pro League (SPL) club Al Hilal, according to Bloomberg.

The billionaire is aiming to acquire the 75 per cent majority stake in the team, which is currently owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The remaining 25 per cent of the club is owned by a Saudi non-profit, which is majority funded by Alwaleed.

Private investment

Although talks are at an early stage, a potential deal would come as the latest private investment within the SPL.

In July, Al-Kholood was subject to a full takeover by US investor Ben Harburg, becoming the league’s first club to fall under foreign ownership.

Uli Hoeness blasts recent transfer spending

Member of the Supervisory Board and Honorary President of Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said he is “dumbfounded” by recent transfer fees, during a speech at the DFL general assembly in Berlin.

The 73-year-old, who was presented with the DFL Honorary Award at the event on Tuesday evening, expressed his astonishment at recent transfer activity.

“I can only say I was stunned by what's happened in international football over the last six to eight weeks,” he said.

Current spending is “completely insane”

“I think what's going on is completely insane. If we're not careful, people will eventually ask: ‘Are they still sane?'

“I work for €2,000 to €3,000 net a month, and at the same time, €30, €40, €50 million are being spent on mid-level players.”

UEFA president Ceferin opposes plans for biennial FIFA Club World Cup

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has expressed his opposition to FIFA’s potential plans for a biennial Club World Cup.

During an interview with Politico, the 57-year-old said: “If FIFA organise a Club World Cup every four years, for our organisation and for me personally, it’s perfectly fine. But that’s it.”

Football’s global governing body is considering staging the tournament every two years from 2029. FIFA has also reportedly been contemplating increasing the competition’s number of teams to 48, after expanding it to 32 for this year’s edition.

Players are “dead”

Reflecting on the notion of a biennial Club World Cup, Ceferin told Politico: “The most problematic thing about that is that the players are dead after the season and then have to go and play in this five-week tournament, which is too much.”

In recent months, FIFA has faced backlash over the expanded Club World Cup, due to its impact on player welfare, amid increasingly contested playing calendars. The organisation is embroiled in s longstanding dispute with global players’ union FIFPRO, which filed a lawsuit against FIFA last year.

West Ham fan advisory board issues letter of no confidence over club’s ownership

West Ham United’s fan advisory board has issued a letter of no confidence in the Premier League club’s board.

The letter - addressed to West Ham shareholders David Sullivan, Vanessa Gold, Daniel Kretinsky, and Tripp Smith - was initially sent last Friday, and has since been made public.

The fan advisory board, which comprises 25,000 fans, said in a letter that was signed by 11 supporter groups: “We now have no choice but to issue a 'vote of no confidence' in relation to the board's management of the club.

“Just two years after winning a European trophy and selling our best player [Declan Rice], who had been with us since he was 14, for £105 million, to hear claims of financial distress (a year after the last accounts said there were no PSR issues on the horizon), see an ageing uncompetitive squad, inadequate scouting infrastructure and a derided training facility, is simply unacceptable and in the supporters' eyes incontrovertible evidence of sustained failure on behalf of the executive management.”

Calls for boycott

Meanwhile, West Ham fan group, Hammers United, has called on supporters to boycott the club’s home Premier League fixture against Brentford on 20th October, in protest against its ownership.

The group has also called for the departures of majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
Hammers United chairman Paul Colborne said in a statement: “With Brady and Sullivan at the helm our club is going to die.

“It is in serious decline and dying a slow death as we speak, with thousands of long term, time served fans walking away, another relegation fight beckoning, and another early cup exit. We cannot allow this to happen on our watch.”

DFL re-elects Hans-Joachim Watzke as praesidium spokesman

The DFL has re-elected Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke as praesidium spokesman at its general assembly in Berlin on Wednesday.

Watzke, who stood unopposed in the election, received unanimous approval from all 32 member clubs across the Bundesliga and 2 Bundesliga. He will subsequently remain as the spokesperson for the DFL executive committee and chairman of the DFL’s supervisory board.

Also during the general assembly, Freiburg’s Oliver Leki was elected as Watzke’s first deputy, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Axel Hellmann and Bayern Munich’s Jan-Christian Dreesen both elected for the two executive committee positions. Dreesen was also re-elefted as chairman of the DFL’s licensing committee.

DFL rules out overseas matches

As reported by Reuters, Watzke has ruled out the prospect of staging Bundesliga fixtures overseas, despite the recent efforts of LaLiga and Serie A in bringing games to the US and Australia, respectively.

“As long as I am here in the league responsible, there will be no match abroad, when it comes to competitive matches. Full stop,” Watzke said.

Minimum salaries set to be introduced in WSL & WSL 2

Minimum salaries are set to be introduced in England’s WSL and WSL 2 (formerly the Women’s Championship) for the 2025/26 season.

Holly Murdoch, chief operating officer of WSL Football (previously known as the WPLL), which governs the top two tiers of English Women’s, told BBC Sport: “We feel that's a really positive move.

“We have so many players who have had to juggle part-time roles while playing football,” she continued, adding that WSL Football had closely collaborated with the Professional Footballers Association (PFA).

Although the minimum salary has not yet been disclosed, BBC Sport forecasts this to be revealed when the WSL and WSL 2’s updater regulations are published later in the season.

An important step

“Being able to ensure all our players can earn a full-time wage from football is very, very important,” added Murdoch. “I would say it's the start as it's a framework we can develop on.”

This comes ahead of the new WSL season, which kicks off on Friday 5th September.

Vitesse win appeal against KNVB after license revoked

Vitesse Arnhem have won their appeal against the Royal Dutch Football association (KNVB), after their license was revoked in May.

This will allow the club to compete in the Netherlands’ third tier - the Keuken Kampioen Divisie - for the 2025/26 season.

In August, a Utrecht court rejected the club’s appeal against the KNVB’s decision. However on Monday, the Arnhem-Leeuwarden court of appeal decided to suspend the KNVB’s ruling, ordering the organisation to “immediately re-admit Vitesse to professional competitions”.

Earlier this year, the club was taken over by a local consortium, the Sterkhouders. In June, the club revealed a step-by-step plan in hope of retaining their license, which was deemed insufficient by the KNVB.

“Relief” for Vitesse

Michel Schaay, chair of the Sterkhouders, said: “This ruling gives us relief and perspective. We are thrilled that the Court recognizes the seriousness of the situation and has suspended the decisions.

“We remain fully committed to Vitesse's future. Now, we must first engage in discussions with the KNVB to ensure that the right decisions are made by Vitesse and its stakeholders.”

US private equity firm Apollo Global Management is set to launch a €4.3 billion sports investment fund, the Financial Times has reported.

The New York-based company, which currently has more than €683 billion in assets under its management, is looking to expand its involvement in sport.

Apollo is looking to make new appointments to lead the company’s strategy, as it prepares to both lend to football clubs and take ownership stakes in them.

Growing activity in football

In July, Apollo held talks with Atletico Madrid over a potential investment that would value the Spanish club at between €2.5 billion and €3 billion.

Last year, the firm also provided a €92.4 million loan for Premier League side Nottingham Forest.
 

Nottingham Forest win legal battle against FA

Nottingham Forest have won their legal battle against the English Football Association (FA), forcing the chair of an appeal panel to step down due to “apparent bias” against the club, as reported by The Times.

Following a 2-0 defeat to Everton in April 2024, Forest faced disciplinary proceedings after posting a statement on X which claimed they had warned referee chiefs prior to the match about the match’s VAR, Stuart Attwell, as he was a supporter of Luton Town, who were also involved in a relegation battle at the time.

Graeme McPherson KC, who was appointed as the chair of the disciplinary panel, rejected the club’s arguments against the fine from the FA, which he labeled as a “somewhat hysterical submission”.

Forest were subsequently handed a £750,000 fine for the post on X. However, lawyers have now found that McPherson’s comment could be received as “unjustified, inappropriate, and personal attack on the club."

Last October, after Forest received a £125,000 fine from the FA for their role in a confrontation with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, McPherson was appointed as the chair of the disciplinary panel, with the club challenging this due to his previous remarks.

FA lose tribunal on McPherson appointment

On 31st July, a Rule K hearing was held at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre, after Forest sought an arbitration hearing.

It was determined that McPherson’s comments were “inappropriate”, with the panel ruling that there had been “apparent bias”. The FA will now have to front the legal costs of the tribunal, which total £105,750 plus VAT
 

FC Barcelona sign €12 million a year sleeve deal with Midea

FC Barcelona have inked a five-year partnership that will designate Midea as the club’s sleeve sponsor from the start of the 2026/27 season, the club have announced.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer will pay the LaLiga champions €12 million annually, or €60 million over the duration of the agreement.

Midea will replace Ambilight on FC Barcelona kits from the next campaign, adding to its existing deals with Manchester City and New York City FC. The company also has an ambassador partnership with Manchester City and Norway star Erling Haaland.

"The power of the Barça brand"

Rafael Yuste, vice president at FC Barcelona, said: “It will be an honour for FC Barcelona to incorporate Midea into the great Barça family starting in the 2026/27 season. Their leadership in smart home solutions and their commitment to research and innovation align perfectly with the spirit of a FC Barcelona that's looking to the future.

“This partnership demonstrates, once again, the power of the Barça brand as a magnet for companies from around the world who see FC Barcelona as the best platform for their projects.”
 

The summer transfer window for Europe’s top five leagues closed yesterday and the Premier League has once again finished far ahead of the rest. This year however the gap has widened dramatically with England’s topflight spending roughly the same as Serie A, the Bundesliga, LaLiga and Ligue 1 combined.

Premier League clubs have set a new all-time record committing a total of around €3.35 billion. This figure surpasses last summer’s outlay of €2.33 billion by a wide margin and cements the league’s position as the dominant financial power in European football. Serie A ranks second with €1.2 billion followed by the Bundesliga at €812 million, LaLiga at €664 million and Ligue 1 with €611 million.

Serie A and the Bundesliga both increased their spending compared to last summer and LaLiga also saw a modest rise. Ligue 1 was the only one of the five to record a slight decline reflecting the ongoing financial challenges facing French clubs.

Liverpool lead the charge

Much of the Premier League’s record-breaking summer has been driven by Liverpool. The club spent €485 million including the most expensive transfer in Premier League history Alexander Isak’s €145 million move from Newcastle United on deadline day. Earlier in the window they also signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for €125 million underlining their ambition to rebuild.

Out of the ten clubs with the highest spending across the Big 5 this summer only two are based outside the Premier League. Bayer Leverkusen are seventh and Atletico Madrid are tenth.
 

RSC Anderlecht chairman offers to resign amid pressure from fans

RSC Anderlecht chairman Wouter Vandenhaute has offered to step down from his position at the Belgian club, according to Belgian media.

This follows fan protests during Anderlecht’s defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise on Sunday in the Pro League. Recently, the club were eliminated from European football contention, after losing their UEFA Conference League qualifier to AEK Athens.

There have also been reports of an internal conflict within the team’s ownership group, with Vandenhaute and the club’s main shareholder Marc Coucke.

With the 63-year-old offering his resignation, Anderlecht’s board of directors will consequently discuss his role as chairman during a meeting on Friday.

Chairman’s statement

In an email, Vandenhaute said: ‘Anderlecht has moved far beyond the current perception surrounding the club. Anderlecht is once again respected in the highest echelons of Belgian football, has strong management, and has all the assets to surprise on the pitch this season.

‘But that will only succeed if the ranks are closed internally first, and the club has never succeeded in doing that since the departure of the Vanden Stock family.

‘If the only way to achieve that is to resign the chairman, I'm happy to oblige. Because no one is above this wonderful club, and certainly not me.’
 

LFP Media and beIN Sports still at odds over ‘€78.5 million a year’ Ligue 1 deal

LFP Media and beIN Sports remain at odds, amid their ongoing dispute regarding their broadcast rights deal, according to L’Équipe.

In July, the Qatari network made a formal complaint over the €78.5 million agreement, citing various broadcasting restrictions. These included not allowing the broadcaster air games featuring the same club in successive weeks, and not showing the same club more than eight times throughout the season.

Last month, beIN Sports withheld €4 million from its €18 million payment due to LFP Media on account of these concerns, and initiated legal action against the organisation.

No agreement reached

During new negotiations last week between the two parties, LFP Media has offered to allow beIN Sports to broadcast the same team in successive weeks, and up to ten times per season.

The network, however, rejected the proposal, deeming the terms insufficient and leading to a breakdown in discussions for the time being.
 

Manchester United women’s players ‘paid for their own flights home’ after Hammarby match

Some Manchester United women’s players paid for their own flights home after their Women’s Champions League qualifier against Hammarby last Saturday, according to reports from UK media.

The club opted against booking a direct flight back from Stockholm after the match. Alternatively, United booked a flight that included a stopover, which would not have arrived in Manchester until 10pm, as reported by The Telegraph. As a result, several players paid for their return flights themselves, in order to return home earlier.

This has provoked further concerns over the club’s commitment to its women’s team since the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as a part owner. Earlier this year, he told the BBC that the men’s team was his “main focus”, adding that they are what “moves the needle” at the club.

“No strong need” for chartered flight, says club

A spokesperson from United said there was “no strong need” to charter a return flight.

The statement continued: “The club paid for a commercial flight back to Manchester for all players and staff, involving a short connection in Copenhagen because there were no direct flights with sufficient seats available. Several of the squad chose not to take this flight, preferring to make their own private travel arrangements to other destinations to maximise time off with friends and family."

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has expressed concern over Ligue 1 clubs’ broadcast revenue, during an interview with L’Équipe.

The 51-year-old, who has served as PSG’s president since 2011 following the club’s takeover by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), said he was “very worried” for French teams.

“There are projects that depend heavily on TV rights. I don't know how they're going to manage,” Al-Khelaifi told L’Équipe: “I’m obviously more worried about clubs that don't have much other income than TV rights. It's going to be very hard, very difficult.”

Earlier this month, the LFP launched its own Ligue 1 OTT platform for the 2025/26 season, following the collapse of the previous domestic rights deal with DAZN, which was terminated earlier this year.

PSG president on Ligue 1+ launch

While stating that he hopes the Ligue 1+ channel “will work”, Al-Khelaifi cited uncertainty on how much revenue clubs will receive.

“The most important thing for me, whether it's a channel or any other system, is how much French clubs will receive,” he said.

“I want this channel to succeed, but there is a lot of uncertainty.”

 

European clubs asked UEFA is they could avoid being drawn against Israeli clubs

Several European football clubs asked UEFA if there would be a process by which they would not be drawn against Israeli teams, The Times has reported.

This comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with UEFA facing calls to ban Israeli teams from its club competitions.

Despite this, no official requests were made according to the UK publication, as this would be in breach of UEFA’s policies.

Potential demonstrations

Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, who will feature in this season’s Europe League, could reportedly pose significant challenges regarding security and potential demonstrations.

Last November’s Europa League matchup between Tel Aviv and Ajax resulted in fan violence and riots in Amsterdam, with supporters of the Israeli side reportedly clashing with Pro-Palestinian protestors.

 

Brighton CEO Paul Barber acquires stake in club

Brighton CEO Paul Barber has acquired a 1.5 per cent stake in the Premier League club.

Barber, who first joined Brighton in 2012 when they competed in the Championship, has now become the club’s second largest shareholder after chairman Tony Bloom.

Earlier this year, Brighton reported a profit of £73.3 million for the 2023/24 season, after delivering a Premier League record profit of £122.8 million for the previous season.

A “major driving force” in the club’s success

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said: “Paul is a major driving force at the club, he has been integral to our incredible progress since his arrival in the summer of 2012 and we would like him to remain with us for many seasons to come.

“He has already committed to the club until at least 2030, and we wanted to offer him this opportunity to further commit, and also to recognise his level of service and loyalty to the club.”

 

MLS shatters transfer record with $366 million spent in 2025

MLS teams spent $336 million on transfers during the 2025 calendar year, shattering the US elite league’s previous record.

This eclipses the previous record of $188 million, which was set during 2024, marking a 75 per cent annual increase.

Clubs broke the MLS transfer record on three occasions this year, most recently when Son Heung-Min’s signed for LAFC in a reported $26.5 million deal from Tottenham Hotspur.

Cash for player trades

The significant rise in transfer spending comes after the implementation of cash for player trades for 2025.

Through this, MLS clubs are able to sign players from other teams within the league for cash only, as opposed to non-cash assets such as players or draft picks in previous years.

West Ham United are in advanced talks with US private equity fund Monarch Collective over a potential investment in the club’s women’s team, according to The Guardian.

Monarch is interested in acquiring a 49 per cent stake in a deal that would value the team at around £55 million. This would add to the US fund’s previous investments into the NWSL’s San Diego Wave and Boston Legacy.

If a deal is reached, the WSL side’s current owners - David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky, and the David Gold family - would retain a controlling interest in the team.

US investment in the WSL

Earlier this year, WSL champions Chelsea became the first English women’s team to receive US investment, when the team sold a ten per cent, reported £20 million stake to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, which valued it at £245 million.

Elsewhere in the top tier of English women’s football, Aston Villa have reportedly held discussions with prospective US investors over a ten per cent stake in their women’s team, which was sold to the club’s V Sports ownership group in June.
 

Olympique de Marseille receive €94.5 million capital increase

Olympique de Marseille owner Frank McCourt has raised a capital increase of €94.5 million for the French club at its general meeting on 27th June, according to French publication Sportune.

The fresh funding enabled Marseille’s share capital to increase from €80.3 million to €174.8 million, and is intended to help offset the club’s debt.

Marseille now have a total share count of 17.48 billion, following the issuance of 9.45 billion new shares after the capital increase.

US businessman McCourt first acquired the club in 2016 for a reported €45 million. However, since his arrival, Marseille have made cumulative losses of more than €500 million.

Marseille’s financial situation

According to Sportune, the club made a net loss of €60 million for the 2024/25 financial year, which ended on 30th June.

The club’s revenue meanwhile saw a 37 per cent decrease to €181.66 million, primarily due to their absence from the Champions League.
 

Serie A defends plans for overseas game after criticism

Serie A has defended its plans to stage an overseas match in Australia, following criticism from European Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef.

The Italian top flight is aiming to bring this season’s AC Milan vs Como 1907 matchup to Perth, marking the league’s first overseas fixture. Last month, the Italian Football Association (FIGC) approved proposals for the game to be held at the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium next February, which are now pending final approval.

However, in a series of posts shared to X on Wednesday, Micallef condemned the notion of a match outside of Europe, stating that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ by the proposals.

He said: ‘To me it’s clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe.

‘Moving competitions abroad isn’t innovation, it’s betrayal.’

League ‘astonished’ by criticism

In response, Serie A said it was ‘astonished’ by Micallef’s comments in a statement also shared on the social media platform.

The statement read: ‘Taking a match abroad does not mean exporting the championship, but rather introducing new audiences to the excellence of Italian football, strengthening the competitiveness of the system and generating resources that have a positive impact on the entire movement.'

‘Serie A will continue to work to combine local roots with international openness, fully aware of its role in promoting Italian football.’
 

Renovation of Napoli’s Maradona Stadium to take up to 740 days

The renovation of the third tier of Napoli’s Maradona Stadium could take up to 740 days to complete, according to Italian media.

In a document shared by Il Mattino, the Naples City Council’s Transport Commission told the Sports Building Service and Infrastructure Department of Palazzo San Giacomo: ‘240 days are needed for the execution of the works and over 500 to complete the bureaucratic procedures.’

With a capacity of 54,726, the Maradona Stadium is the fourth largest venue in Italy, with the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, hopeful of the city staging matches during the UEFA Euro 2032 championships, which will be held in Italy in Turkey.

Despite being given a duration of more than two years, infrastructure Councillor Edoardo Cosenza reassures that ‘the works will last much less’. However, in order for the project to begin, the municipality and club will need to strike an agreement for the city to host matches during Euro 2032.

Criticism of Italian football’s infrastructure

Earlier this week, Serie A president Ezio Simonelli raised concerns over the current state of Italian football stadiums ahead of Euro 2032, which could lead to the country’s removal as a co-host of the tournament.

During an interview with Italian radio station Radio Rai 1, he said Italy’s stadiums are “in a comatose state” with the Exception of Udine, Bergamo and Turin.

Former FC Barcelona and Inter Milan star Samuel Eto’o is facing legal action for a range of alleged offences during his tenure as the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

These include allegations of corruption and match fixing, as well as the diversion of $1.5 million in funds from friendly matches, and electoral manipulation.

A coalition of Cameroonian players has filed a lawsuit with the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education of Cameroon (MINSEP), the FIFA Ethics Committee, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and is being represented by international lawyer Emmanuel Nsahlai.

The case also claims electoral manipulation, and silencing of opposition, after a decade-long suspension was handed to Executive Committee member Guibai Gatama.

Eto’o, who has served as the president of the FECAFOOT since 2021, was previously given a 22-month suspended sentence in Spain, after pleading guilty to a £3.2 million tax fraud during his time at FC Barcelona.

“Rescuing the governance of Cameroonian football”

“This is not an attack on Samuel Eto'o as a player. His football career is untouchable,” Nsahlai said.

“This is about rescuing the governance of Cameroonian football so that it represents the values of excellence, integrity, and fair play that he himself championed on the field. My duty, as a lawyer and a Cameroonian, is to fight for a federation that serves the people, the players, and the future of the sport.”
 

John Textor set for Sheffield Wednesday takeover talks

US businessman and former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is set for takeover talks with Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri, according to The Guardian.

The Thai businessman, who has owned the Championship club since 2015, is under fire from supporters and was the subject of protests during Sheffield Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match against Leeds United on Tuesday, when thousands of the team’s fans refused to attend.

Recently, the club has been embroiled in controversy, after failing to pay players on time for three successive months between May and July. This resulted in multiple player contract terminations at their own behest, as well as the departure of former manager Danny Rohl.

Wednesday are also under a transfer embargo from the EFL, which will remain in place until 2027.

Chansiri seeking £100 million

The Yorkshire club have set an asking price of £100 million, however it is unclear as to whether Textor is prepared to meet this.

Earlier this month, The Guardian reported that Textor had teamed up with football financier Keith Harris in his bid to take over Wednesday, but he has ultimately decided against involving Harris in the deal.
 

Bill Foley set to add Croatian club to growing ownership portfolio

AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is set to acquire Croatian club HNK Rijeka, according to Croatian media.

If confirmed, this would see Rijeka join the ownership portfolio of the US businessman’s Black Knight Football Club, which includes the aforementioned Bournemouth, alongside Auckland, Portuguese club Moreirense, Scottish side Hibernian, and Ligue 1’s Lorient.

Rijeka, who are reigning Croatian champions, are owned by businessman Samir Miskovic.

Unclear ownership structure

It is currently unclear whether Foley will acquire Miskovic’s 70 per cent majority stake, or if he will become a co-owner of Rijeka.

The takeover could be complete within the next two weeks.
 

Indian FA facing suspension by FIFA and AFC

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is facing a suspension from both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) if it fails to adopt a new constitution by 30th October, according to Indian media.

In a letter addressed to IAFF president Kalyan Chaubey on Wednesday, FIFA and the AFC expressed a “profound concern” over the federation’s failure to finalise its new constitution.

The two governing bodies cited a “continued failure to finalise and implement the revised Constitution of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), a matter that has remained under consideration since proceedings before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in 2017.”

In the event of suspension, all national and club teams would be unable to compete in international competitions, which would hinder India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

Second suspension in two years

If implemented, a potential ban would be the second given to the IAFF within the last three years. In 2022, the organisation was suspended by FIFA for third-party interference, after it was run temporarily by a Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Supreme Court.

This was however overturned days later, when the IAFF opted to hold elections.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Fabio Paratici for him to resume an official role as Sporting Director, with the Italian expected to be in place no later than 1 October, according to talkSPORT.

The 53-year-old stepped down in April 2023 after FIFA extended his 30-month ban from Italian football to a worldwide suspension. The sanction followed Juventus, his former club, being found guilty of false accounting – a case which led to multiple executives receiving bans and the Serie A side suffering a 15-point deduction.

FIFA later reduced Paratici’s suspension, allowing him to return to work earlier than anticipated. Over the summer, he has already been operating as a consultant at Spurs, maintaining close contact with chairman Daniel Levy, CEO Vinai Venkatesham, and technical director Johan Lange.

Recruitment back under Paratici’s control

Paratici will now formally return as Sporting Director, once again taking charge of recruitment. During his first spell at the club between 2021 and 2023, he oversaw the signings of Cristian Romero – now club captain – along with Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie.

Earlier this year, Paratici was also linked with AC Milan’s sporting director vacancy, holding several meetings before the club appointed Igli Tare instead.

Brazilian forward Ribeiro terminates contract, looks to capitalise on Diarra’s legal victory against FIFA

Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa has terminated his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns, and is taking his legal case against the South African club to the FIFA Football Tribunal, according to a report from BBC Sport.

The 26-year-old is being represented by Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, who says that although the Sundowns received an offer “well above the player’s valuation” from Qatar SC, the club prevented a transfer from materialising after repeatedly asking the Qatari side to increase the fee.

Last week, former France footballer Lassana Diarra revealed he was seeking £56 million from FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), after winning his case against football’s global governing body last October, when the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that FIFA’s rules were in breach of EU laws.

Ribeiro’s case bolstered by Diarra’s victory

Following the outcome of the Diarra case, FIFA amended its transfer regulations in December, with Ribeiro hoping to capitalise on this, following his collapsed move to Qatar.

He said in a statement: “Following the Diarra ruling by the CJEU, there is no doubt that the dispute between me and my former club will not prevent me from continuing my career with peace of mind.

“Indeed, following its own regulations, FIFA will see to it that the international transfer certificate be immediately delivered upon request by my future employer.”

Chelsea and Liverpool at odds over Rio Ngumoha compensation

Chelsea and Liverpool have yet to agree on compensation for Rio Ngumoha, who signed for the Premier League champions in July 2024, The Telegraph has reported.

Later this week, the 16-year-old will be eligible to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 on Friday.

Earlier this week, Ngumoha made his debut for Liverpool, scoring the winning goal in the club’s 3-2 win against Newcastle United.

Chelsea want deal to act as a ‘deterrent’

The two clubs remain at odds regarding a fee, with no agreement reached since his move to Anfield from Chelsea’s academy last summer.

Chelsea are holding out for a higher fee, in order to deter clubs from targeting their academy players in the future.

Orlegi Sports to invest €11 million into Sporting Gijon to help promotion push

Orlegi Sports is set to invest €11 million into Spanish club Sporting Gijon through a participating loan, as reported by 2Playbook.

The loan is set to be approved during an extraordinary general meeting on 26th September.

The fresh funding is intended to help bolster Gijon’s playing squad, as the club eyes a return to LaLiga.

Gijon’s owners

In 2022, the Mexican group acquired a 73 per cent majority stake in the Spanish club, which joined its roster of football teams that includes Brazilian club Santos Laguna.

The new investment into Gijon comes after Orlegi Sports put Mexican side Atlas FC up for sale last month, due to Liga MX’s clampdown on multi-club ownership.

FC Köln not seeking legal action against FIFA after all

German club FC Köln will not seek legal action or compensation from FIFA, as reported by Kicker.

In 2023, the Bundesliga club received a two-window transfer ban from FIFA, which was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

This came after Köln were found guilty of encouraging youth player Jaka Cuber Potocnik to breach his contract in order to sign for them, with the club unable to register new players for the duration of 2024 in light of the ban.

Considered legal case

The transfer embargo was lifted early following a new ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) last December, two months after Lassana Diarra’s legal victory against FIFA prompted changes to the organisation’s transfer regulations.

Köln did consider taking legal action, but ultimately decided against it, as chances of a legal victory appeared unlikely.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Fabio Paratici for him to resume an official role as Sporting Director, with the Italian expected to be in place no later than 1 October, according to talkSPORT.

The 53-year-old stepped down in April 2023 after FIFA extended his 30-month ban from Italian football to a worldwide suspension. The sanction followed Juventus, his former club, being found guilty of false accounting – a case which led to multiple executives receiving bans and the Serie A side suffering a 15-point deduction.

FIFA later reduced Paratici’s suspension, allowing him to return to work earlier than anticipated. Over the summer, he has already been operating as a consultant at Spurs, maintaining close contact with chairman Daniel Levy, CEO Vinai Venkatesham, and technical director Johan Lange.

Recruitment back under Paratici’s control

Paratici will now formally return as Sporting Director, once again taking charge of recruitment. During his first spell at the club between 2021 and 2023, he oversaw the signings of Cristian Romero – now club captain – along with Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and Destiny Udogie.

Earlier this year, Paratici was also linked with AC Milan’s sporting director vacancy, holding several meetings before the club appointed Igli Tare instead.

Brazilian forward Ribeiro terminates contract, looks to capitalise on Diarra’s legal victory against FIFA

Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa has terminated his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns, and is taking his legal case against the South African club to the FIFA Football Tribunal, according to a report from BBC Sport.

The 26-year-old is being represented by Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, who says that although the Sundowns received an offer “well above the player’s valuation” from Qatar SC, the club prevented a transfer from materialising after repeatedly asking the Qatari side to increase the fee.

Last week, former France footballer Lassana Diarra revealed he was seeking £56 million from FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), after winning his case against football’s global governing body last October, when the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that FIFA’s rules were in breach of EU laws.

Ribeiro’s case bolstered by Diarra’s victory

Following the outcome of the Diarra case, FIFA amended its transfer regulations in December, with Ribeiro hoping to capitalise on this, following his collapsed move to Qatar.

He said in a statement: “Following the Diarra ruling by the CJEU, there is no doubt that the dispute between me and my former club will not prevent me from continuing my career with peace of mind.

“Indeed, following its own regulations, FIFA will see to it that the international transfer certificate be immediately delivered upon request by my future employer.”

Chelsea and Liverpool at odds over Rio Ngumoha compensation

Chelsea and Liverpool have yet to agree on compensation for Rio Ngumoha, who signed for the Premier League champions in July 2024, The Telegraph has reported.

Later this week, the 16-year-old will be eligible to sign his first professional contract when he turns 17 on Friday.

Earlier this week, Ngumoha made his debut for Liverpool, scoring the winning goal in the club’s 3-2 win against Newcastle United.

Chelsea want deal to act as a ‘deterrent’

The two clubs remain at odds regarding a fee, with no agreement reached since his move to Anfield from Chelsea’s academy last summer.

Chelsea are holding out for a higher fee, in order to deter clubs from targeting their academy players in the future.

Orlegi Sports to invest €11 million into Sporting Gijon to help promotion push

Orlegi Sports is set to invest €11 million into Spanish club Sporting Gijon through a participating loan, as reported by 2Playbook.

The loan is set to be approved during an extraordinary general meeting on 26th September.

The fresh funding is intended to help bolster Gijon’s playing squad, as the club eyes a return to LaLiga.

Gijon’s owners

In 2022, the Mexican group acquired a 73 per cent majority stake in the Spanish club, which joined its roster of football teams that includes Brazilian club Santos Laguna.

The new investment into Gijon comes after Orlegi Sports put Mexican side Atlas FC up for sale last month, due to Liga MX’s clampdown on multi-club ownership.

FC Köln not seeking legal action against FIFA after all

German club FC Köln will not seek legal action or compensation from FIFA, as reported by Kicker.

In 2023, the Bundesliga club received a two-window transfer ban from FIFA, which was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

This came after Köln were found guilty of encouraging youth player Jaka Cuber Potocnik to breach his contract in order to sign for them, with the club unable to register new players for the duration of 2024 in light of the ban.

Considered legal case

The transfer embargo was lifted early following a new ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) last December, two months after Lassana Diarra’s legal victory against FIFA prompted changes to the organisation’s transfer regulations.

Köln did consider taking legal action, but ultimately decided against it, as chances of a legal victory appeared unlikely.

Serie A president Ezio Simonelli has revealed LaLiga was “opposed” to closing the summer transfer window before the new season kicks off, in a wide-ranging interview on Italian radio.

According to Simonelli, four of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues supported the notion, with the exception of the Spanish top flight, despite Serie A, the Premier League, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 all being in favour.

Speaking to Radio Rai 1, he said: “We tried to close the transfer window before the start of the season. I personally went to London to meet with Premier League CEO Richard Master. England, Germany, and France agreed, but Spain opposed it.”

He continued: “Since the leagues are interconnected, if we don't make a decision together, it can't be done. We would run the risk of losing a player without being able to replace him. We're working on it; we hope to convince [LaLiga president Javier Tebas] next year, a very intelligent but also very difficult person.”

Italian stadiums in a “comatose state”

Also during the interview, the 67-year-old revealed he is “worried” about the state of Italy’s stadiums ahead of the UEFA Euro 2032 championships, which could jeopardise the country’s status as a co-host of the tournament alongside Turkey.

Conceding that there is a “risk” of Italy being removed as a host, Simonelli said: “Our stadiums are in a comatose state, I'm worried. Revocation of the candidacy for Euro 2032? There's a risk.”

He added: “Udine is an example of excellence; its Bluenergy Stadium has made us look great. It's a shame, however, that beyond Udine, Bergamo, and Turin, the rest of our stadiums are in a comatose state.”

Premier League clubs to miss out on £100 million in sponsorship revenue from betting deals

Premier League clubs are set to miss out on a combined £100 million in revenue from betting sponsors from the start of next season, The Athletic has reported.

From the 2026/27 campaign, teams will be unable to sign front-of-shirt deals with gambling companies, as part of a clampdown on betting sponsorship within football.

At present, 11 of the Premier League’s 20 clubs have a principal partnership with a betting company. Namely, these, include Aston Villa, West Ham United, Everton, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Bournemouth, Burnley and Sunderland.

Value could be halved

The number of teams with betting shirt sponsors has increased from eight in 2023, when clubs first agreed to the new regulations.

Despite the ban, gambling firms will still be able to receive promotion on kit sleeves, as well as on training apparel, and in stadiums. However, The Athletic forecasts that the valuation of some betting deals in the Premier League could be halved over the next year.

Next FIFA Club World Cup to take place in summer 2029 as Qatar loses out

FIFA has informed continental confederations that the next Club World Cup will take place in summer 2029, as reported by The Guardian.

This dampens Qatar’s hopes of hosting the next edition of the tournament, with the Gulf state previously holding talks over staging the competition according to reports in June.

Football’s global governing body is also likely to expand the tournament once more, this time increasing to 48 teams.

Future Club World Cup plans

The most recent Club World Cup, which took place earlier this summer, comprised 32 teams for the first time, up from seven teams in previous editions.

Earlier this month, The Guardian also revealed that FIFA was considering switching the competition to a biennial format, which could take effect from 2029.

Borussia Dortmund president Dr Reinhold Lunow will step down from his role in November, the Bundesliga club announced.

The 72-year-old, who was set to run for the next presidency at Dortmund, has now renounced his candidacy and left the race.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, who announced his candidacy earlier this month, is now the only remaining candidate to become the club's next president, with the election set to take place at the team’s general meeting in November.

Lunow has served as the German side’s president since taking over from Reinhard Rauball in 2022.

Decision followed “detailed discussions” with Watzke

In a statement, Lunow said: “I initially felt that it was necessary to run for re-election.

“In detailed discussions with Hans-Joachim Watzke, who has expressed an interest in the presidency, I received his promise that he would take the above points into account if he were elected club president.

“On the basis of this pledge, I feel confident that my concerns will be addressed and can hand over my duties with a clear conscience.”

 

Premier League scores record US audience for opening weekend of 2025/26

The opening Premier League weekend of the 2025/26 season generated an average of 850,000 viewers across six matches on NBC platforms, setting a US viewership record for the opening fixture round.

According to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics data, last weekend’s viewership marks a four per cent increase on the previous record of 820,000 viewers, which was set in 2024.

Comcast-owned NBC has been the longtime home of the English top flight in the US, since first acquiring rights to the league in 2013. Under the current agreement, signed in 2022, the network is reportedly paying $450 million annually for Premier League rights.

United vs Arsenal opener reaches 2 million

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s matchup against Arsenal reached an average audience of 2 million, the highest ever for an opening weekend game in the US.

The game delivered the second largest ever audience for a Premier League fixture in North America, behind Manchester City’s clash with Arsenal in March 2024, which posted an average viewership of 2.1 million.

 

Bayern Munich sign ‘€65 million a year’ extension with Deutsche Telekom until 2032

Bayern Munich have inked an extension of the club’s longstanding main shirt partnership with Deutsche Telekom, which will run until 2032.

The renewal is worth €65 million per season according to mediareports, marking an increase of 30 per cent on their current contract, which is reportedly worth around €50 million per year.

The longstanding partnership, which dates back to 2002, also includes brand visibility throughout the club’s Allianz Arena home, as well as youth football and esports activations, and naming rights to friendly matches.

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “The ‘T’ on our chest symbolises tradition, team spirit and numerous shared titles. This partnership is one of the most enduring in the Bundesliga and a prime example of credibility in professional sport.

“It has given us stability for over 20 years; we share values such as cooperation, growth and innovative spirit, and we are very much looking forward to continuing to bring these values to life in the future.”

Emirates interest

Deutsche Telekom managed to fend off significant interest from UAE airline Emirates in becoming the new shirt sponsor of the Bundesliga champions.

Earlier this month, Bayern confirmed a reported €5 million a year deal with Emirates, which will also run until 2032.

The Premier League’s transfer spending has reached a record £2.37 billion for this summer’s window, following Leeds United’s signing of Noah Okafor from AC Milan.

This eclipses the previous record of £2.36 billion, which was set in 2023, with ten days yet to come until the end of the window.

Several Premier League teams have broken their club transfer records this summer, including Brentford, Burnley, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, and Liverpool.

Wirtz transfer could set new record

The transfer of German international Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool could set a new Premier League transfer record, if add-ons are met.

As reported by BBC Sport, the deal included £100 million, plus a further £16 million in add-ons, which if realised would take the fee beyond the current record of £107 million, when Enzo Fernandez signed for Chelsea in 2023.

LFP Media dismisses reports of Canal+ distribution deal, threatens legal action

LFP Media has dismissed reports of a distribution agreement for the new Ligue 1+ channel with Canal+, and are threatening the broadcaster with legal action, as reported by L’Équipe.

Earlier this week, L’Équipe claimed that a proposed deal between the two parties had fallen through, with the network refusing to back down from a longstanding legal dispute, in which it is seeking €600 million in compensation from LFP.

In a letter addressed to Canal+ president Maxime Saada, LFP Media’s head of legal affairs, Douglas Lowenstein refuted the notion that any such deal was ever in place.

This comes after last week’s successful launch of the new over-the-top (OTT) platform, which garnered more than 600,000 subscriptions during the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 season.

‘Distortions of the reality of the facts’

In response to recent reports, Lowenstein cited ‘a large number of errors, inaccuracies, and distortions of the reality of the facts, of our exchanges, and of the course of the discussions that took place’.

The letter also threatens Canal+ with legal action if the broadcaster continues to suggest that a distribution agreement for Ligue 1+ ever existed.