Uefa has declared it has lost confidence in the Fifa leadership as president Gianni Infantino faces open revolt over his controversial scheme to sell stakes in the World Cup.
Fifa was forced to climb down on the plans to open the World Cup to private equity investors late on Friday night after backlash from multiple football federations including Uefa, which voted to boycott Fifa tournaments in protest, as well as from within the governing body itself.
Infantino’s position remains under serious threat despite the climbdown, with Uefa announcing on Saturday that it had lost confidence in his leadership and slamming the “shabby, back room” deal.
“The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” it said. Concacaf and the AFC also criticised the proposals, pitting a significant number of Fifa’s member associations in direct opposition to the governing body.
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It quoted a speech Infantino made when he came to power a decade ago in a lengthy statement outlining its position.
The statement “welcomed” the decision to cancel the scheme, adding: “The proposal was unanimously rejected by Uefa’s national associations and by many other federations and confederations of all sizes around the world, whose job it is to protect football.
“Uefa thanks all the fans, leagues, clubs, players, individuals, associations and confederations that opposed the scheme, alongside the many Prime Ministers, Heads of State and commentators who have demonstrated to the Fifa President that football is not for sale.”
Uefa’s statement continued: “We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast track timescales, cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game. We must identify those responsible and hold them to account.
“It is right that, in the coming days and weeks, Uefa will work with its associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table. The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is in direct opposition to Infantino (Getty)
“When Gianni Infantino asked for the trust and the votes of Fifa’s Member Associations to elect him as their President in 2016, he said, ‘Of course we have to be transparent. I have been this in the last 15 years of my life in Uefa. You will have to play a part every day in the life of Fifa,’ before telling the assembled stakeholders, ‘The money of Fifa is your money. It’s not the money of the Fifa president. It’s your money. You are the national associations and the money of Fifa has to serve for the development of football and not for anything else.’
“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent.
“And with reserves standing at over $5bn, he has also failed to use associations’ money for the benefit of the game.
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“Uefa will begin work immediately with partners and stakeholders all over the world and right across the game to propose a new way of distributing resources through the existing Fifa Forward programme.
“We must start to use some of that money that is sat idle in Fifa’s bank account to deliver the kick start that the grassroots and the wider game need in each of the 211 countries of Fifa. But we don’t need to sell off the family silver to pay for it.
“This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in Fifa has only just begun.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) scrambles during first-half action against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 14, 2025. McCarthy moved outside the pocket to extend the play as Minnesota searched for rhythm on the road in the early stages of the matchup. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson takes the field before kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 10, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, preparing for his regular-season debut as the franchise’s young signal-caller while fans fill the stadium for an AFC South matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY NETWORK.
3) J.J. McCarthy Will Not Bow: Being defiant in one’s desire to compete is a cherished personality trait, especially in the NFL. Many are leaving Mr. McCarthy for dead. He doesn’t appear to be particularly concerned. Can the kid overcome the odds by stealing back the QB1 job?
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) talks to an official prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
5) Will Fries Could Benefit Most from Vikings’ Commitment to Run Game: The well-paid right guard didn’t live up to expectations last season. A major part of the reason why is due to injury. Yes, he played the full year, but he was coming off a serious injury that robbed him of most of 2024. He has now settled into the Twin Cities and is working with a new coach. Can he explode?
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) gets by Minnesota Vikings guard Will Fries (76) during the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
‘45: Heaton is forced into a save late in the half as Castillo has a go from close range, the first time he’s been called into action since Atletico scored, I think.
That’s almost the last action of the half. United have been much better since going behind but frustrated in their bid for an equaliser.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:46
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Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘43: United are really pushing for an equaliser. Yoro plays a one-two and sets up Shaw, before Dorgu has a pop. They’ve been much the better side.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:43
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Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘39: United have a free-kick; Shaw whips in a great ball from deep and Yoro gets a head to it but the angle is all wrong.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:40
Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘38: Lookman and Yoro get in a tangle as Atletico try to build something, but the Frenchman gets the better of him. The Atletico talisman has been kept very quiet today.
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Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:39
Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘34: Heaven launches a ball in and there’s chaos in the box as a United player sends it wide, while Le Normand and Maguire practice a bit of wrestling at the far post. Wrong sport, boys.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:34
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Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘29: Immaculate by Shea Lacey, who whips a high cross across the face of goal but Mbeumo’s header glances wide! United are threatening.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:30
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Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘27: Carlos Martin flings himself to the ground under little provocation twice in quick succession, but the second time it doesn’t work out. United have a free-kick on the left of the box. Mount and Shaw stand over it.
Mount’s delivery is repelled by Ruggeri.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:27
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Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘23: Dorgu speeds down the left onto a through-ball and cuts back at the byline but it’s straight into Oblak’s arms and the flag goes up anyway.
Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:23
Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘21: Ruggeri just about keeps the ball in down the left channel but United turn it over again quickly. They’ve responded positively to going behind.
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Flo Clifford1 August 2026 14:21
SAVE! Man Utd 0-1 Atletico Madrid
‘17: Mount feints a run-up, Amad strikes it and goes low through the wall – it nearly goes through Oblak’s feet after a deflection as the keeper gets down low, and sat down on the turf he manages to keep it out, but only just!
Ajax and Real Betis have made contact with AZ Alkmaar about Troy Parrott, in a deal that could go beyond £25m. All of Fulham, Como and PSV Eindhoven are meanwhile surveying how it develops, with a view to potentially trying to hijack any deal.
Parrott has had another sensational season with AZ, with one of many peaks the five goals against Portugal and Hungary in November’s international break, that took Ireland into a World Cup play-off.
That has seen a series of clubs take interest in his progress, with the five above – from four different countries – currently the most keen. Parrott himself is open to another transfer abroad, given how beneficial the move to the Netherlands has been for his career.
Betis are especially keen but the challenge is about securing the right deal.
AZ have long wanted a package that comes to around £25m, with many in football seeing that as a great price for a 24-year-old with a high ceiling and still considerable potential to grow.
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Parrott joined AZ from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2024 having been sent out on loan spells to five different clubs during his time with Spurs including Millwall and Preston North End.
He made the switch to the Eredivise in a £6.7m move scoring 14 goals in 30 league appearances in his first season with AZ. He bettered that last year with 16 goals from 28 league appearances and has netted 33 times from 61 games for the club.
Roberto de Zerbi says Tottenham “don’t know” whether forward Richarlison will stay at the club as he “sometimes” wants to leave.
The Brazil international, 29, scored a last-minute winner as 10-man Spurs beat Chelsea 2-1 in a high-profile friendly in Sydney.
After the match, De Zerbi was asked whether Richarlison – who has entered the final year of his contract – would leave this summer.
“I don’t know because I like him as a player and as a guy,” De Zerbi said at Accor Stadium. “He’s unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do.”
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When pressed on whether Richarlison wants to leave, he added: “I don’t know. I didn’t understand well because sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He’s a lovely guy.”
The Italian coach was keen to point out Richarlison’s professionalism and impact in a chaotic campaign that saw Spurs battle relegation, scoring 12 goals.
“For me, he’s still an important player because it’s not easy to find another striker like Richarlison,” he said. “Richarlison scores goals. He knows the way. With any new striker, we don’t know.
“He scored 12 goals last season, not because of luck but because he knows how to score.
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“All of us love him, the team-mates, the club and the staff because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can’t say anything about him on the pitch.”
The situation comes in the context of Spurs’ record-breaking £237m transfer window, which is set to continue with the pursuit of two more attackers.
One is understood to be Manchester City‘s Savinho, while Liverpool‘s Cody Gakpo has also been linked.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is set to return to action after his doping case was resolved, bringing an end to a chapter that has kept him out of competitive football since late 2024.
The Football Association (FA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Mudryk reached an agreement during his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing the Ukrainian international to resume his career with immediate effect.
Mudryk had initially received a four-year ban after testing positive for meldonium in October 2024. However, the sanction was effectively reduced to the period he had already served following changes to WADA’s technical guidance.
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Under the current standards, the concentration of meldonium found in his sample would no longer be considered a doping violation.
Although the settlement allows him to return, Mudryk accepted that he had committed anti-doping rule violations as part of the agreement. Throughout the process, however, he maintained that he had never knowingly taken a banned substance.
Reacting to the decision, the 25-year-old expressed relief that the case had finally come to an end.
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“After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded, and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect.”
He added:
“This has been the most difficult period of my career. As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.”
Chelsea also welcomed the outcome, reaffirming their support for the winger.
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“Chelsea Football Club is pleased that this matter has now reached a conclusion which allows Mykhailo to return to football with immediate effect.”
Mudryk is now expected to rejoin Chelsea’s first-team squad as preparations continue for the new Premier League season. His return also gives manager Xabi Alonso another attacking option after nearly two years away from competitive football.
Few things are more frustrating than walking off the green with a three-putt. But you don’t need to rebuild your stroke or spend hundreds on the latest training aid to avoid these scorecard killers. More often than not, becoming a better putter comes down to building better habits.
That’s exactly what GOLF Top 100 Teacher David Armitage says more amateurs need to focus on if they want to cut these score-killers out of their rounds. According to Armitage, the best putters all share three simple habits that improve distance control, produce a more reliable stroke and reduce their chances of three-putting.
Want to start taking strokes off your score? Below are the three habits you can use to never three-putt again.
1. Slow down before setting up
According to Armitage, one of the biggest mistakes amateurs make on the greens is rushing through the process — or not having a process at all.
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“We’ve got to try and educate ourselves,” Armitage says. “I think a lot of people skip that step.”
That doesn’t mean spending minutes dissecting every putt. Armitage notes that some golfers fall into the opposite trap, overanalyzing the read and second-guessing themselves.
The goal is to find the middle ground: a consistent pre-putt routine that helps you read the green, commit to your line and step over the ball with confidence.
2. Let your stroke control distance
One of the biggest mistakes amateurs make is creating speed with their hands and accelerating through impact. Instead, Armitage wants golfers to maintain a consistent tempo and control distance by changing the length of their stroke.
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He compares the putting motion to a pendulum: the rhythm stays the same, but the length of the stroke changes depending on the putt. On slower greens, make a longer stroke. On faster greens, shorten it — but avoid the instinct to accelerate or decelerate.
That consistency gives you a repeatable system for distance control, no matter the length of the putt.
3. Practice the putts that save strokes
Most golfers spend their time on the practice green trying to make short putts. While those are important, Armitage believes long-range putts are where amateurs have a bigger opportunity to improve.
“Amateurs … definitely don’t practice their long putting enough,” he says. “And I think it’s a place where they could definitely get better very quickly.”
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To improve distance control, Armitage recommends trying ladder drills or hitting putts toward the fringe. Both of those drills are designed to help golfers develop a feel for speed while maintaining the same tempo and adjusting only the length of their stroke.
Remember, the goal isn’t to make every long putt — it’s to leave yourself a manageable second putt and eliminate costly three-putts.
Three-putts don’t have to be a part of your game. By slowing down your routine, developing a consistent tempo and practicing longer putts, you can eliminate costly mistakes and lower your scores.
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: Franco Baresi looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 15, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Football is mourning the loss of one of its greatest-ever defenders after AC Milan and Italy legend Franco Baresi passed away at the age of 66.
Baresi is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders in football history. He spent his entire 20-year playing career at AC Milan, becoming the heart of one of the most successful teams the game has ever seen.
He made 719 appearances for the Rossoneri, won six Serie A titles, three European Cups/UEFA Champions League trophies, four Italian Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. His loyalty to Milan was so profound that the club retired his iconic No. 6 shirt following his retirement in 1997.
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On the international stage, Baresi earned 81 caps for Italy and was part of the squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He later captained the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup final, cementing his place among the country’s greatest footballers.
Renowned for his intelligence, composure and exceptional reading of the game, Baresi redefined the role of the modern sweeper. Despite not being the tallest defender, his anticipation, leadership and technical ability made him one of the most respected figures in world football.
Franco Baresi leaves behind a legacy that will forever be etched into the history of AC Milan, Italian football and the sport itself. Rest Well Franco
Even against Stevenson, though, the Mexican fought at a relentless pace and proved that he represents a hard night’s work for any fighter.
Roach, on the other hand, has been accused of lacking a degree of urgency, or rather believing he is comfortably ahead on the judges’ scorecards when, really, the fight remains in the balance.
This appeared to be the case in his last outing, against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, whose sheer aggression and work rate saw him come away with a 12-round draw in December.
Manchester United continue their pre-season tour of Scandinavia as they take on fellow European heavyweights Atletico Madrid in Stockholm.
United bounced back from their surprise opening defeat to Wrexham with a rampant 5-0 win over Norwegian outfit Rosenborg.
They now face their biggest test of pre-season so far, with Atletico coming into the clash off their 4-1 triumph of their LaLiga rivals Getafe, which saw Ademola Lookman bag a brace.
It kicks off a run of exciting friendlies for Michael Carrick’s side, who will also face Paris Saint-Germain, fierce rivals Leeds and AC Milan before their Premier League curtain-raiser at Hull City.
Here’s everything you need to know.
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When is Man United vs Atletico Madrid?
Manchester United’s pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid kicks off at 2pm BST on Saturday 1 August at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
How can I watch it?
Fans can watch the match on MUTV, with an annual subscription costing £29.99.
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Team news
Man United are without Benjamin Sesko along with Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt due to injury, but there is a boost in the form of Amad Diallo’s return. New boy Andrey Santos starts again but there is no debut yet for Youri Tielemans, who has finally arrived at Carrington off the back of the World Cup.
Atletico are without their Argentine and Spanish stars that featured in the World Cup final – all those other than Marcos Llorente, who is already back for the squad despite his involvement for La Roja.
Confirmed line-ups
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Man United XI: Heaton; Yoro, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Mount, Santos; Amad, Lacey, Dorgu; Mbeumo
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Dominguez, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Vargas, Castillo, Ortiz; Lookman, Martin.
A contestant uses a video game controller in a Super Smash Brothers Nintendo Wii Tournament at the Manteca Branch Library in downtown Manteca on jul. 10. 2008.
T1 and the Dallas Fuel both swept two Group A lower-bracket matches on Friday and advanced to the playoffs at the Overwatch Champions Series Midseason Championship in Paris.
Also moving on were Twisted Minds, ZETA DIVISION, Geekay Esports and Spacestation.
The $1 million tournament is part of the Esports World Cup.
The 16-team event began with a double-elimination group stage. All group-stage matches were best-of-three, and the top four teams from both groups made the single-elimination playoffs.
Playoff matches will be best-of-five until the grand final on Sunday, which will be best-of-seven.
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The championship team will earn $400,000 and 1,000 Esports World Cup club points.
On Friday, T1 downed 9z Team in the Group A lower-bracket quarterfinals, prevailing 2-1 on Samoa Control and 3-0 on New Junk City Flashpoint. T1 then defeated Team Falcons 2-1 on Samoa Control and 1-0 on Shambali Monastery Escort.
In the other Group A lower-bracket quarterfinal, the Fuel squeezed past Team Liquid 2-1 on Nepal Control and 3-2 on New Junk City Flashpoint. Dallas moved on to dump Virtus.pro 2-0 on Nepal Control and 3-1 on New Junk City Flashpoint.
Earlier, Twisted Minds swept Virtus.pro in an Group A upper-bracket semifinal.
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In a Group B upper-bracket semifinal, ZETA DIVISION prevailed 2-1 over Geekay Esports. The Group B lower-bracket semifinals saw Geekay Esports oust JD Gaming 2-0 and Spacestation slip past VARREL 2-1.
The Saturday quarterfinal matchups:
–Twisted Minds vs. Geekay Esports
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–Weibo Gaming vs. Spacestation
–ZETA DIVISION vs. Dallas Fuel
–Crazy Raccoon vs. T1
Overwatch Champions Series Midseason Championship prize pool, with money and Esports World Cup club points
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1. $400,000, 1,000
2. $180,000, 750
3. $100,000, 500
4. $60,000, 300
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5-8. $35,000, 200
9-12. $20,000, no points — Team Falcons, Virtus.pro, JD Gaming, VARREL
13-16. $10,000, no points — 9z Team, Team Liquid, Team Secret, AG.AL International
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