High-profile current and former players – including a representative from a Fifa advisory body – believe that “change is necessary” in the governing body’s leadership as pressure builds on its president Gianni Infantino.

Mikael Silvestre, the former Manchester United defender who forms part of Fifa’s Players’ Voice Panel, published a statement calling for reform at the top of Fifa on his X account on Monday, writing above it: “Enough is enough!”

The identical message was shared on social media platforms by other high-profile players, including England’s double European champion Lucy Bronze and France’s 1998 World Cup-winning midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

Infantino is facing calls to resign from his Uefa counterpart Aleksander Ceferin following a controversial proposal to sell stakes in a company created to run the World Cup to private investors.

Players have now started contributing their voices to the ongoing debate. The widely-shared statement declared that players “share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world”.

It added: “Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa’s current leadership.

“For too long we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.

“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football.”

Silvestre’s intervention is notable as it effectively comes from inside the Fifa structure, with the Players’ Voice Panel operating as a 16-member committee established by the governing body to monitor and advise on anti-racism initiatives.

The statement continued: “Recent events have made silence impossible. Enough is enough.

“We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport.”

Uefa president Ceferin has ruled himself out of standing against Infantino for the Fifa role, but told The Rest Is Politics podcast that the Swiss official has two options.

“One option is that he realises that he doesn’t have the support, and that’s not only a political support of the ones who vote, but the political support of football community, the political support of fans, the political support of the players, former players, coaches.

“And the second option that he goes to to the elections in March, but in that case, I think he will have a candidate against him. I don’t know yet who.”

The current president of Concacaf, Victor Montagliani, has been highlighted by some commentators as a potential opposition candidate. Concacaf is the regional confederation representing member nations from North and Central America plus the Caribbean. Montagliani is also a Fifa vice-president.

Concacaf joined Uefa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in opposing Infantino’s private investor proposal, with its presidents describing it as a “deception” in an open letter published earlier this month.

Infantino was present in the Caribbean over the weekend to attend a youth football tournament taking place in the Dominican Republic.

The Houston Texans reportedly signed wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones on Friday. 

The addition of both veterans comes on the day Houston placed second-year WR Jayden Higgins on season-ending injured reserve after tearing his ACL in Tuesday’s practice. 

Shepard and Jones will provide a boost to what was already a thin receiving corps even before the Higgins injury. Shepard is entering his 10th NFL season, and will be joining his third team. He spent the last two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the eight before that with the New York Giants. 

Shepard peaked in his third NFL season when he hauled in 66 catches for 872 yards and four touchdowns. 

Jones, on the other hand, is entering his ninth NFL season for his fifth team. He suited up for the Arizona Cardinals for the last two seasons. Jones also had his best season for the Texans’ AFC South rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he had 82 catches for 823 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

Shepard and Jones join Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson in the Texans’ receiving room. 

Higgins, though, was primed for a second-year breakout. After being selected with the second pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Higgins had 525 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. He had received praise from Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley. 

Texans WR Jayden Higgins had 32 catches for 404 yards and five touchdowns over the last 10 games of 2025. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

“He’s put in work. He’s so much more comfortable — I thought he was comfortable last year by season’s end. The familiarity with the details and nuances of the offense, he’s playing clean. He can play all over,” Caley said last week. “He doesn’t have any limitations, he really doesn’t.”

Instead, it will be a lost season for Higgins. As he recovers, the Texans will try to make up for his loss with the help of Shepard and Jones. 

A group of FIFA legends, including Robert Pires and Juan Sebastian Veron, have declared that “enough is enough,” citing how soccer has abandoned its core values under Gianni Infantino’s leadership in an explosive statement. The Swiss FIFA President has faced intense scrutiny following a contentious World Cup in North America, compounded by plans to auction shares of the tournament to the highest bidder.

Just weeks ago, Infantino unveiled a scheme dubbed the FIFA Forward Enterprise, which was swiftly condemned by fans of the beautiful game, as well as continental governing bodies. UEFA even threatened to boycott FIFA tournaments should Infantino’s vision come to fruition.

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Consequently, the FFE was scrapped entirely, with Infantino scrambling to repair fractured relationships across the globe. Now, a collection of soccer greats have pledged to make a difference, refusing to remain silent as the game loses its meaning, as per The Mirror.

In a statement shared across social media, a group of players wrote: “As players, football has given us everything, and we have given our lives to it. Between us, we have played on its greatest stages and worn our national shirts with pride.

“But we know that none of our achievements would’ve been possible without the fans, whose passion and commitment is the foundation of this game. We share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world.

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“Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under FIFA’s current leadership. For too long, we’ve seen major decisions taken without players being consulted or considered, and without any regard for the fans who sustain the sport.

“Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football. Recent events have made silence impossible. Enough is enough.

“We call on all stakeholders to step forward and help reshape the future of our sport. This is a call that unites us all, from the grassroots to the top of the game.

To listen to the latest episode of ‘All Out Soccer’ – CLICK HERE

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“There are good people within FIFA who want to rebuild trust, but a new era requires a structural change: a real, direct say for players and fans in how football is run. Those who step onto the pitch and those who sit in the stands deserve a genuine voice to help reshape football’s future together.

“The football community has been quiet for too long. For the fans, for the players, and for the good of the game, we will be silent no more.”

This comes as FIFA prepares for a presidential election scheduled for March 2027. While UEFA has emerged as one of Infantino’s most vocal critics in recent times, their President, Aleksander Ceferin, has confirmed he will not be putting his name forward for the position.

Speaking on The Rest is Politics, he said: “I’m not interested because of two reasons. One reason is that I love UEFA and I love working here, and I think that at a certain point, it’s time to also enjoy life a bit.

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“The second point is, my credibility is much, much higher if I’m not interested in the position.”

A display of superior staying prowess saw the mare Foire De Trone emerge victorious at Royal Randwick on Saturday, potentially earning her a spot in the upcoming The Metropolitan.

Foire De Trone finished with more vigour than the favoured Le Troisir to claim the Andrew Wisemantel Handicap, a 2400-metre contest.

The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper was competing in its sixth run of the winter campaign, and while the $750,000 Group 1 The Metropolitan is slated for Royal Randwick on October 3, the mare has been given a chance to progress towards the major spring staying event.

“We have been spacing her runs but it is a long way to the ‘Metrop’,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. “But we will see how she comes through today’s race but her coat is still ‘wintry’ so there is improvement to come.”

Foire De Trone ($8.50), whose moniker originates from a historic French travelling fair, was guided by jockey Ethan Brown to a narrow victory by a long head over Le Troisir ($2.30 favourite). Golden Century ($17) secured third place, a further two lengths behind.

Gerard-Dubord mentioned that Foire De Trone was coming off a win on a very heavy track at Sandown at her last start and she once again showcased her exceptional stamina to get the better of Le Troisir.

“She does hit a flat spot and Ethan was very mindful of that,” Gerard-Dubord stated. “That is why he got her moving a bit sooner rather than later and I think that was the difference between winning and losing.”

Earlier in the Randwick race card, punters who supported the favourite were successful when Clear Proof won the Midway Handicap (1200m).

Clear Proof ($3.60 favourite), despite a slow start and covering extra ground without cover for a significant part of the race, proved too strong for Isawyou ($3.90), winning by a half neck margin. Call Me Sassy ($11) finished third, just over a length off the winner.

Trainer John Thompson noted that Clear Proof possessed ability but needed gelding to improve his race-day resolve.

“He has to be ridden up on pace, if he gets back in the field he loses concentration,” Thompson explained. “The plan was to lead today but that went out the window when he missed the kick so he has done a good job to win.”

The mare’s performance was a highlight for those following the Australian betting sites.

Get the latest racing betting markets for The Metropolitan.

FILE – South Africa’s boxer Zolani Tete celebrates his victory over Omar Andres Narvaez after their WBO Bantamweight Championship of the World bout in Belfast, Northern Ireland, April 21, 2018. (Brian Lawless/PA via AP, File)

JOHANNESBURG — Four suspects in the killing of former world champion boxer Zolani Tete were arrested, South African police said Monday.

Tete was in his car outside his home last week when men wearing balaclavas opened fire, police said. A woman who was in the vehicle was injured and has since been hospitalized.

READ: After taking Zolani Tete’s WBO title, Casimero eyes sweep of bantam belts

The shooting took place at Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, according to the police. Tete was arriving at his residence and waiting for the gate to open when he was ambushed by two armed suspects.

Police said one of the suspects arrested two days ago was expected to appear in court on Monday, while the other three would appear on a later date.

Tete held the World Boxing Federation flyweight title from 2007 to 2008 and the World Boxing Organization bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019.

Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi has completed a permanent move to Bundesliga club Hamburger SV from French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.

The Nigeria international will wear the No. 9 shirt as he looks to help Hamburg stay in the Bundesliga following their promotion to Germany’s top flight.

Moffi spent the second half of last season on loan at Portuguese club Porto, where he scored twice in 15 competitive appearances.

The 27-year-old joined Nice in January 2023 and scored 24 goals in 72 appearances for the French club. He has also scored six goals in 23 senior appearances for Nigeria.

Hamburg will begin their Bundesliga campaign away to Borussia Dortmund after their DFB-Pokal first-round match against Verl.

The move gives Moffi the chance to make his mark in Germany, with several records within his reach.

Records Moffi Can Target at Hamburg

Most goals by a Nigerian in one Bundesliga season

Moffi can target Taiwo Awoniyi’s record of 15 Bundesliga goals in a season. The Nigerian striker scored 15 times in 31 games for Union Berlin in the 2021/22 campaign.

Moffi would need 16 goals to set a new Nigerian record.

Most Bundesliga goals by a Nigerian

Jonathan Akpoborie holds the record for the most Bundesliga goals by a Nigerian, with 61 goals in 144 appearances for Hansa Rostock, Stuttgart and Wolfsburg.

Moffi has yet to score in the Bundesliga, meaning he would need 62 goals to break the record. It is a long-term target that would require several successful seasons in Germany.

Most Bundesliga goals by an African player in one season

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang holds the African record with 31 Bundesliga goals for Borussia Dortmund in the 2016/17 season.

Moffi would need 32 goals to break the record. While that would be a huge challenge, a strong first season could put him on the path towards becoming one of Africa’s leading scorers in the league.

Most Bundesliga goals by an African player

Aubameyang also holds the African career record with 98 Bundesliga goals.

Moffi would need 99 goals to move ahead of him. That would require a long and successful career in Germany.

Most goals by an HSV player in a Bundesliga season

Hamburg legend Uwe Seeler holds the club’s record for most Bundesliga goals in a single season. He scored 30 goals in 30 matches during the 1963/64 campaign.

Moffi would need 31 goals to break the record.

Most Bundesliga goals by an HSV player

Seeler also holds Hamburg’s record for most Bundesliga goals, having scored 137 times for the club.

Breaking that record would require Moffi to remain at Hamburg for many years and maintain a high scoring rate.

Most Bundesliga goals in a season by an HSV foreign player

Former England star Kevin Keegan scored 17 Bundesliga goals for Hamburg during the 1978/79 season.

Moffi would need 18 goals to beat Keegan’s record for the most goals by a foreign HSV player in a Bundesliga season.

For Moffi, the immediate priority will be to settle quickly in Germany, score goals and help Hamburg avoid relegation.

If he can stay fit and find his scoring form, the Nigerian striker could begin his Bundesliga career by challenging some of Hamburg’s long-standing records.

A visionary captain and an even better leader, Imran Khan is widely considered Pakistan’s greatest-ever cricketer. In 1992, he led Pakistan to its first Cricket World Cup title at the age of 39, becoming the oldest captain to lift the coveted trophy. Fast forward to 2026, and Imran is currently in prison. After serving as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, the 73-year-old received multiple prison terms following his removal from office.

Amid concerns over his health, several former cricketers and Imran’s associates have written to the Pakistan government, urging it to ensure proper medical treatment for the legendary all-rounder.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, former India batter Wasim Jaffer said that if he had to pick an Asia Test XI, he would choose Imran Khan as the captain of the side. He also named Sachin Tendulkar as the vice-captain.

However, Jaffer grabbed the spotlight by picking Rishabh Pant ahead of the legendary MS Dhoni as the wicketkeeper in his team.

“For a Test match, my captain would be Imran Khan. My vice-captain would be Sachin Tendulkar. MS? I think my team would not even have MS Dhoni. For me, Rishabh Pant would get into the team,” said Jaffer.

Jaffer also backed the appeal by 22 former international cricket captains to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking proper medical treatment for Imran.

“Giving him better treatment is basic; he’s a source of pride for Pakistan. He won them the World Cup; he was a great player, captain, and leader. He could have easily gone and settled in England or somewhere else, but he stayed and fought to improve things for his country. It’s the right initiative. He was a fantastic cricketer and a role model. Even today, the players from the 90s rate him as one of the best leaders in world cricket. The way he bowled, batted, and led his team was exceptional. He was an Oxford Blue, an educated man, and he’s done so much for his country,” he added.

Jaffer also recalled his only meeting with Imran, praising him for his work as Pakistan’s prime minister.

“I got to meet him in 2006, and we also visited his cancer hospital, the Shaukat Khanum Hospital. It’s an amazing facility where poor people get treatment for free or at very low cost. He’s done so much for Pakistan… He was a great leader, a visionary. It’s just Pakistan’s misfortune that he was not the Prime Minister for a long time,” said Imran.

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McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain wins the Formula One Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort , Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands  — Lando Norris had a clear message for his Formula 1 rivals after a spectacular race-winning pass on standings leader Kimi Antonelli. Write off his title defense at your peril.

“This fight is still on,” Norris said over team radio after winning the Dutch Grand Prix for back-to-back F1 victories and a trophy presented by the King of the Netherlands.

Norris asked his McLaren team to “just keep bringing upgrades (to the car), just keep bringing performance please” as he eyes an 83-point gap to Antonelli.

READ: F1: Lando Norris clinches pole for Dutch Grand Prix

First Kimi then Lewis…

Precision passing from Lando propelled him to the front 💪#F1 #DutchGP pic.twitter.com/iIQveikrjM

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 23, 2026

Max Verstappen nearly reeled in a similarly vast lead last year as Norris held on by just two points. Now the British driver is the hunter.

“There’s still plenty of things we can do better and need to do better if we’re going to fight for a championship,” Norris added.

Norris seizes chance

Norris started on pole but was overtaken by Antonelli’s Mercedes at a restart after the race was stopped for a heavy crash by home hero Verstappen, who was unhurt, shortly after the start.

Norris reeled in Antonelli before passing him around the outside of the first corner in a daring move on lap 54 of 72, then took the lead from Ferrari’s Hamilton before the lap was over.

The defending champion held on with old tires to take the win. “This fight is still on,” he said over team radio.

“The move (to pass Antonelli) was good. I knew I was not going to get many chances. Every lap I spent behind him my chances got lower and lower,” Norris said. “Well played from my part…I probably had one chance.”

READ: F1: McLaren boss glad of ‘harmony’ between Norris, Piastri

Antonelli was second after his Mercedes teammate George Russell was ordered to move out of his way, following a failed gamble on a tire change by Antonelli. Russell clung on to finish third ahead of Hamilton.

Antonelli’s standings lead grew to 59 points over Russell and Hamilton, who are now level. Norris moved ahead of Charles Leclerc for fourth.

Antonelli, Russell question Mercedes strategy

There was tension at Mercedes as both Antonelli and Russell criticized the team’s decisions over the radio.

Antonelli called his team’s strategy “too risky” when the team congratulated him on second place, while Russell earlier seemed to object to being asked to give way to his teammate.

“Is he fighting for the win? Or is he planning to catch Norris?” Russell questioned, at a point where Norris was far ahead of both.

Russell relented after the race and said he felt Mercedes had made the right decision to avoid the two battling for position as Hamilton closed in behind.

Antonelli “would have overtaken anyway so it was the right decision,” said Russell, who won the sprint race Saturday. “It’s been a strong weekend overall so I’ll take the positives.”

Verstappen’s big crash, Hülkenberg’s big save

There was a half-hour delay after Verstappen slammed into the wall on a damp first lap, stopping the race and ensuring a nightmare end to his last home race in the Netherlands for the foreseeable future.

READ: F1: Max Verstappen signs new Red Bull contract until 2030

Just a couple of seconds later, there would have been another huge collision if not for lightning reactions by Nico Hülkenberg. As his Audi teammate Gabriel Bortoleto span across the track, the German swerved around him through a cloud of tire smoke.

“It was crazy with Gabi, I almost T-boned him,” Hülkenberg said over team radio.

The Dutch Grand Prix is dropping off the schedule after this season and the many orange-clad Dutch fans who turned up to support Verstappen instead saw Norris and his orange McLaren take the win.

Verstappen said he simply misjudged his speed on the damp track after pre-race rain.

Charles Leclerc was fifth on another disappointing day for Ferrari ahead of its home race in Italy in two weeks’ time. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri was sixth after running in the top three early on, and Liam Lawson salvaged seventh for Red Bull after being called in to replace the injured Isack Hadjar.

Hulkenberg was eighth for Audi, with Fernando Alonso ninth in the best result of an otherwise-disastrous 2026 for Aston Martin. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten.

A WWE legend made a return after 221 days and this happened at TNA Lockdown. This was a huge comeback and the fans would have been shocked at what they saw.

The legend in question is none other than Candice Michelle. Michelle is one of the most well known female stars of all time. She had a memorable time during her stint in WWE before she left in 2009. After all those years, in 2026, she signed up with TNA Wrestling to work as a producer and agent.

She was last seen as a part of the audience for the premiere episode of TNA Impact on January 15th, 2026. She has since been working backstage until last night where she showed up to speak with the panel at TNA Lockdown.

Candice admitted that she was happy to be back and that she couldn’t wait for all the stars to be involved in the show.

WWE legend Candice Michelle reveals what is missing in women’s wrestling

Candice Michelle was one of the main trailblazers in the 2000s who helped WWE gain more fans. Thanks to her natural ability to reel fans in, she was seen as an integral part of the locker room.

She recently sat down for an interview with TMZ Sports’ Inside The Ring when she revealed what is missing in today’s era of women’s wrestling. She said:

“I think what we are missing is a little bit more of the femininity. What I mean by that is we have pushed so hard, ‘Oh, women are equal to men,’ like we get equal time, equal pay, and yeah, there is a part of that. But like by the end of the day I want the men to be a little bit more masculine.”

It will be interesting to see if anyone in the wrestling world will pay heed to what Candice has to say and make changes where necessary.