North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information after a garage was burgled in Clifton in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The incident took place in Lumley Road at around 1.47am on August 27, 2026, when someone broke into the garage and stole a number of DeWalt screwdrivers.

RECOMMENDED READING:

“We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area around the time of the offence, or who may have relevant CCTV, doorbell, dashcam or other footage, to come forward,” said a spokesperson for the force.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or by making a report on the North Yorkshire Police website.

Please quote reference number 12260167509.

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: 12:00 BST, 28 August 2026 | Updated: 12:00 BST, 28 August 2026

The director of the CIA flew to Moscow to warn Russia they need to cut a deal with Ukraine before their military and economic situation worsens. 

On Tuesday it was reported that John Ratcliffe made a secret flight amid frenzied speculation about why a US military plane landed in Russia. 

Current and former officials have now said Mr Ratcliffe went to deliver the warning to Aleksandr Bortnikov, head of Russia’s FSB intelligence service, but made no threats about potential consequences should Russian president Vladimir Putin ignore the CIA’s assessment.

The CIA has long questioned whether Putin‘s advisers give him the whole truth about the invasion’s trajectory and toll on the country. 

The American agency has also held lines of communication open with both the FSB and Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, for many years. 

Separately, Donald Trump‘s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, have established communication channels with some of Putin’s senior advisers.

Officials told the New York Times that Putin, himself a former intelligence official, would take the warning seriously if it came from the CIA director. 

Before Mr Ratcliffe spoke with his Ukrainian counterparts before he met Bortnikov in Moscow, assuring them he would not be making concessions on behalf of the Ukrainians. 

The flight Ratcliffe made was highly secretive

John Ratcliffe made a secretive flight to Moscow earlier this week and delivered the warning to the FSB

Advertisement

The last year has seen Russia’s advance on Ukrainian territory grind to all but a halt. It was initially believed by many that Russia’s victory over Ukraine was inevitable. 

But Kremlin forces have suffered huge losses, with little to show for it. 

Last month, Mr Ratcliffe warned that the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier was as little as 20 minutes.  

Speaking at the Defence and Innovation Summit in Pennsylvania, the CIA’s director said: ‘That’s because AI-powered drones have gotten to be such specialised, low-cost killing machines.’

AI drones account for more than 80 per cent of destroyed Russian targets, according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

To date, about two million soldiers have been killed, wounded or are missing since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, 1.4 million of them Russian, according to a recent estimate by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.

Neither side releases military casualty data.

Russia’s troops have struggled to advance this year along the 745-mile front line as Ukraine’s drones counter Russia’s numerical advantage in troops. 

A drone attack early on Friday killed one man in Kherson, hours after authorities urged residents to leave as intensifying Russian attacks on the southern Ukrainian city risk cutting power supplies ahead of the long winter.

Russian forces are positioned on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River, which borders the city briefly occupied by Moscow in 2022, making it particularly vulnerable to shelling.

A C-17 Globemaster, believed to be carrying CIA Director John Ratcliffe, lands near Riga, Latvia, August 25, 2026

Further from the front line, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has been particularly targeted this summer

Advertisement

The drone attack early on Friday in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district killed a 61-year-old man who was taken to hospital with a ‘penetrating chest wound’, Yaroslav Shanko, the head of the Kherson city administration, said.

Three others wounded were taken to hospital in the Dniprovsky district.

The attack came after regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin on Thursday urged residents of Kherson, ‘especially families with children and elderly people,’ to ‘please leave’.

Mr Prokudin said there was an ‘extremely difficult security situation’ in the city, which had about 280,000 inhabitants before the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. It was occupied by Russian forces from March to November of that year.

‘The enemy is intensifying its attacks every day on the region’s critical infrastructure,’ he said, adding that on Wednesday ‘Russian forces again attacked Kherson’s district heating plant with glide bombs’.

The facility ‘sustained very serious damage,’ he said, adding that Kherson may find itself ‘without electricity or heating not for hours or days but for a long period’.

Ukrainian stocks of interceptor missiles have also started to dwindle.

‘There is no way to destroy these types of drones or aerial bombs in any region of our country,’ he said.

Cars burn as firefighters try to put out a fire following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Friday, August 28, 2026

Last winter, Russia repeatedly targeted Ukrainian power plants, plunging millions of people into cold and darkness

Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 27, 2026

Firefighters work at the site of a warehouse hit by a late evening Russian air strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine, in this handout picture released August 28, 2026

Advertisement

Last winter, Russia repeatedly targeted Ukrainian power plants, plunging millions of people into cold and darkness.

Mr Zelensky warned earlier this month that Ukraine had ‘virtually no intact thermal power plants’.

Russia and Ukraine have for several months been ramping up their long-range strikes, increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure such as logistics warehouses and oil and port facilities.

These attacks are causing a rising number of civilian casualties.

Further from the front line, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv has been particularly targeted this summer.

On Thursday, the capital spent nearly 15 hours under air raid alert due to repeated drone attacks, according to local authorities.

This ‘shows another way Russia is using its weapons to disrupt civilian life’, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in response, warning that Moscow ‘continues to choose terror and war’.

In the face of Russian bombardments, Mr Zelensky has consistently appealed to allies for new air defence systems.

While Ukraine has in recent days received fresh promises of military aid from European countries, including France, it primarily relies on advanced US Patriot systems to protect its airspace.

Deliveries of these missiles have sharply decreased, however, as US stockpiles depleted because of the Middle East war.

Smoke rises at the site of a Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, 28 August 2026

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian strike on a shopping mall in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 27 August 2026

Advertisement

People watch the smoke rising over a logistics centre in Kolpino, outside Saint Petersburg after being hit by Ukrainian drones early on August 23, 2026

Four-and-a-half years after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, negotiations, briefly undertaken with US mediation to end the conflict, are at a standstill.

Russian chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov has nonetheless visited troops fighting on the Ukrainian front to congratulate them on their ‘successes’ in the eastern Donetsk region.

During the visit he said the Russian army was now only a few kilometres from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, cities whose capture is a key objective for the Kremlin.

MINISO launched its latest store at 40 Coney Street, York, drawing crowds from 10am ahead of a 12pm opening.

The global lifestyle and pop culture retailer, founded in China in 2013, is known for its affordable, design-led products and fun, family-friendly shopping experience.

Recommended reading:

It sells homeware, beauty items, stationery, toys, and licensed merchandise featuring characters from Hello Kitty, Disney, Pokémon, and Star Wars.

The store is located in the former Luxe Company premises.

Employees Cailan Hobson, Emmie Rudland and Quinn Holmes joined colleagues in last-minute preparations ahead of the 12pm opening today. 12 staff will be employed in all at the store in Coney Street (Image: Kevin Glenton)

A MINISO spokesperson said the lucky first 200 customers through the doors spending £5 or more would be offered a free goody-bag worth £25.

The grand opening will also feature a display of balloon modelling and visit from PenPen, the company mascot.

Vivian Leadley, who lives near Acomb, queued outside the store with her daughters and grandchildren.

She said: “I’m sure I’ll be spending over a fiver with these three (her grandchildren) to qualify for the goody-bag.”

Vivian Leadley, with her daughter Bethany Richardson and grandchildren Lilly, Meila and Charlie were amongst the first in the queues forming outside MINISO in Coney Street (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The shop is filled with colourful collectables and lifestyle products.

It features cuddly versions of PenPen, one of the brand’s best-selling items, along with its popular blind boxes, “a mystery collectible that keeps the excitement alive until the very moment you open it”.

Nicholas Wallis, franchise area manager, said the new store will employ 12 members of staff and took around four months to prepare.

MINISO opened its new store in Coney Street, York at 12pm today (Friday, August 28) (Image: Kevin Glenton)

He said the team were excited to be bringing their particular brand of pop culture to the city.

The store will open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and 10 to 5.30pm on Sundays.

Miniso has been present in the UK for six years and is focusing on refreshing some of its outlets in 2026.

The retailer aims to create a “fun, family-friendly destination that blends value with entertainment.”

Since launching in 2013, Miniso has grown to more than 6,000 stores globally.

The Girls Aloud legend, 43, has returned as Nivea’s brand ambassador to help launch their new eye serum

This is not a drill! Cheryl is back – and could there be a huge TV comeback on the horizon?

The Girls Aloud legend, 43, has returned as Nivea’s brand ambassador to help launch their new eye serum. It comes after Cheryl withdrew from the spotlight two years ago following the death of ex Liam Payne, the father of her nine-year-old son Bear.

Following her son’s birth in 2017, she decided to focus on Bear rather than her music and TV career. She briefly returned to the stage in 2024 for the Girls Aloud reunion tour and paid tribute to late bandmate Sarah Harding.

In a set of stunning new photos, Cheryl glows as she shows off her figure in a sensual, sleek teal blue maxi dress. Placing a manicured hand on her thigh, the singer sits on a white boulder as she gazes into the camera. In another teaser, she gave a glimpse of her cheeky trademark wink.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Cheryl is set to make a huge comeback after reportedly landing a role on The Voice UK.

The Fight For This Love singer is said to be joining pal will.i.am when filming kicks off in the next few weeks, while Stacey Solomon and Alesha Dixon have been tapped to host.

“Every year producers ask Cheryl to go on the show, and it’s a polite ‘no’ as the timing has never quite been right,” a source claimed.

“This year it’s different. She feels ready to re-enter the spotlight and talks are now in the final stages.

“Things could come crashing down but with three weeks to go until filming kicks off, the production team is working on the assumption she will be doing it.

They added to the Sun : “It helps that long-term friend Will.i.am will be beside her on the panel.”

If Cheryl does join the show, it will mark her return to ITV following her exit from the X Factor in 2015. She first joined the show in 2008, replacing Sharon Osbourne – and quickly became a fan favourite.

Advertisement

In 2011, she briefly switched to the US version of the show but left after just a few weeks of filming. Four years later, she made a bombshell return to the UK series, where she remained for two years.

The show, in which the coaches famously turn around their chairs if they want to pick a singer for their team, has been on ITV since it switched channels from BBC One in 2016.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Birmingham city council is planning to remove British and St George’s flags from lampposts ‘to protect public safety’. 

The council – run by a coalition of the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and independents – launched legal action to ban the flags yesterday. 

If granted an injunction, anyone who erects flags such as the Union Jack near roads without Birmingham Council’s permission could face an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.

It follows a nationwide debate over whether British and St George’s flags should be allowed, with some viewing them as a sign of patriotism while others deem them a display of nationalism aimed at intimidating ethnic minorities. 

A campaign called Raise The Colours resulted in thousands of St George’s crosses being put on lampposts, roundabouts and homes across the UK. 

It was sparked by local disputes in Birmingham after councils took down the flags from public lampposts. 

Birmingham city council yesterday said it was pursuing legal action to stop people raising the flags, after staff tasked with removing them faced harassment and intimidation. 

Jane Baston, a Green councillor and Birmingham’s cabinet member for equalities, communities and social justice, said: ‘The council is taking a lawful, proportionate and evidence-led approach to unauthorised attachments on the highway.

Birmingham city council first sparked outrage in August last year by ordering the removal of British flags from lampposts 

‘This includes pursuing injunctive action based on the evidence gathered to date. Our priority is to protect public safety, staff and contractor welfare, community cohesion and the responsible use of public funds.

‘We ask residents and community groups to support this approach and to ensure any displays are placed only where permission exists.’

The council’s application named Ryan Bridge, co-founder of Operation Raise the Colours, as well as seven others and ‘persons unknown’. 

Last month, Oxfordshire council became the first local authority to gain legal authority to end flag flying from public infrastructure. 

Maintenance staff at Oxfordshire County Council were told to wear face coverings and check their vehicles for trackers when removing the flags after a colleague’s home address was published by campaigners. 

The local authority, which was previously run by the Liberal Democrats but now has no overall control, had brought legal action to stop people raising flags near highways, which it said involved safety risks concerning trespassing and obstruction. 

While some politicians decried the removals, others claimed the increased number being flown was a result of xenophobia or racism.

Oxfordshire County Council said flags had been placed on or near public roads without permission for months, despite a formal legal notice in March and pre-action legal letters sent to individuals in May.

Birmingham city council said it was pursuing legal action to stop people raising the flags, after staff tasked with removing them faced harassment and intimidation

Advertisement

Birmingham city council first sparked outrage in August last year by ordering the removal of British flags from lampposts – while being ‘too scared’ to take down Palestine flags without police protection. 

At the time, they claimed the flags put the lives of pedestrians and motorists ‘at risk’ despite being as much as 25ft off the ground. 

The flags had been strung up by a small, organised group of residents to ‘show Birmingham and the rest of the country how proud we are of our history, freedoms and achievements’. 

In a statement published yesterday, Raise The Colours said: ‘We have become aware of a Birmingham city council post referring to a High Court injunction application concerning unauthorised highway attachments, including flags, banners and signage. 

‘We were not in dialogue with Birmingham city council prior to this. We only became aware after members of the public alerted us to the Council’s Facebook post and after the matter was mentioned on TalkTV.

‘We believe public funds would be better spent on core services such as refuse collections, safer streets and supporting local communities. 

‘We are seeking clarity and will respond through a proper legal process if required. 

‘We ask everyone not to speculate and to allow the facts to be established through proper channels. We will update people when we are able to do so.’  

Pot 1 involves some of Europe’s biggest names, even if they aren’t at the level of years gone by with all three Premier League sides finding themselves in Pot 3.

Pot 1: Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Juventus, AC Milan, Lyon, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiakos, Real Sociedad, Marseille

Pot 2: Ferencvaros, Viktoria Plzen, Union Saint-Gilloise, Dinamo Zagreb, Red Bull Salzburg, Celtic, Sparta Prague, Rennes, Anderlecht

Pot 3: Sturm Graz, Lech Poznan, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Celje, Jagiellonia Bialystok, Omonia, Celta Vigo

Pot 4: Hoffenheim, Besiktas, Torreense, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, NEC Nijmegen, OFI Crete, Lillestrom, Aarat-Armenia, Levski Sofia

By ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER and ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Updated: 11:25 BST, 28 August 2026

Nepali authorities have said a dammed lake over the border in Tibet has broken its banks, two days after a flash flood swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa region on Wednesday.

Nepal is facing what officials have described as ‘devastation beyond imagination’ after a ‘tsunami from the sky’ battered the area following a glacier collapse.

The rushing waters, reportedly reaching up to 650ft high, have left more than 1,500 people missing and at least 538 dead. 

This includes 33 missing British nationals, with a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Surrey among those feared missing.

Advertisement

Mass helicopter rescue operations were stopped on Friday morning, according to Reuters, and locals were forced to rush up a hill to reach higher ground after waters overflowed the dammed lake. 

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has since reported rescue operations on the Tibet side of the border are ‘continuing as normal’. 

Narendra Pariyar, the most senior bureaucrat of the district, previously said the level of water the river is ‘rising’.

The lake is located approximately 10km (six miles) from Gyirong port, the border crossing with Nepal that was engulfed by mud and floodwater, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Advertisement

Nepali and Chinese authorities urged people in potentially affected areas to move to safer ground. 

China‘s Ministry of Water Resources said on Thursday that the lake held around two million cubic meters (70 million cubic feet) of water and was expected to receive another three million cubic meters (106 million cubic feet) over the next three days.

Dammed lake BREAKS ITS BANKS, sparking fears of second tsunami

Nepali authorities have said a dammed lake over the border in Tibet has broken its banks, two days after a flash flood hit the region.

Helicopter rescue operations have now been stopped, according to Reuters, and locals have been witnessed rushing up a hill to reach higher ground.

Advertisement

‘Information has been received that a water dam has burst again on the Tibetan side,’ police said in a statement.

‘All security personnel, rescue workers, and the general public deployed in rescue and relief operations are requested to remain alert and immediately move to a safe location/report the incident.’

Narendra Pariyar, the most senior bureaucrat of the district, said on Friday: ‘We can see that the level of water in the river is rising,’ he said, adding that it is unclear how high the water level is at present.

Earlier this morning, rescue operations in the area were suspended after the lake began to overflow.

Advertisement

Nepali and Chinese authorities had warned of further flooding from the lake that formed upstream after Wednesday’s disaster and was already overflowing.

Share

PICTURED: Stranded children rescued by a rescue helicopter in Nuwakot

Share

Breaking:Death toll rises to 538

Nepalese authorities have now confirmed that 538 people died due to Wednesday’s flash floods.

This is an update from the previous death toll of 489 given a few hours ago.

Share

WATCH: Video believed to show moment landslide strikes in Nepal

A video has emerged believed to show the moment a massive landslide plummeted into Nepal, causing a devastating flood to sweep through Nepal’s Rasuwa region.

The footage is believed to have been captured by a tourist flying a drone over the landscape

Share

Nepal declines foreign ‘search-and-rescue’ assistance

Nepal declined foreign assistance for search-and-rescue operations, its foreign ministry said.

This follows the offer of help from several countries, including the UK.

Advertisement

Saying Nepal was managing the rescue efforts, a spokesman added: ‘The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation. For now we don’t require such help.’

It comes as hundreds of foreign nationals are still missing.

The Kathmandu Post reported that India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had asked the government to allow their search-and-rescue teams to assist in the operation.

Share

Rasuwa only accessible by helicopter after becoming ‘totally disconnected’

Nepal’s Rasuwa district has become ‘physically totally disconnected’ after flooding swept through and destroyed the region, according to authorities.

‘We have not been able to get there, it takes time for us to assess the scale of the damage,’ Bikram Timilsina, the country’s information minister, told the BBC.

Advertisement

‘Only by helicopter have we been able to rescue people.’

Share

Red Cross: ‘Risk’ of second tsunami is high

A Red Cross official in Nepal has warned of a second tsunami, saying: ‘We are very concerned about risk of secondary flood’.

‘We believe that at least 93,000 people have been affected and are in great need,’ they added.

Share

Missing family of four from Surrey were ‘in Nepal for pilgrimage to celebrate son’s A-levels’

The missing family of four from Cobham, Surrey, were reportedly on a pilgrimage in Nepal after they landed from the UK on Tuesday.

It is understood the trip came after their son ‘got amazing grades at A levels’ and their daughter celebrated her 13th birthday.

A neighbour told The Times: ‘The son got amazing grades at A levels so as part of that they wanted to pay their homage to God.

Advertisement

‘As a family they were always on the go and the husband was always travelling around the world to places as far away as Australia.’

The family visited India every year for a family holiday, it was reported, but this year chose to visit Nepal to go on a pilgrimage.

The mother and daughter is believed to have British citizenship while the father and son have Irish citizenship.

Share

Rescue operations resume in Nepal

Search and rescue operations have resumed in Nepal after they were halted over fears of second tsunami, an army spokesman said.

Share

Authorities ‘struggle to store and identify’ bodies of victims

Nepal’s authorities said they are faced with a growing challenge to identify the bodies of victims taken downstream by the floods – and then house them.

Some bodies were found more than 320km (200 miles) away from their homes, local outlet The Kathmandu Post reported.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, bodies are being sent to neighbouring districts as morgues in Nuwakot, Dhading and Nawalparasi are running out of space.

Share

China offers aid as President Xi Jinping sends condolences to Nepal

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered Beijing’s help in Nepal’s rescue operations on Friday, state media said, after deadly flooding at their shared border.

‘China is willing to actively assist Nepal in its rescue efforts and provide support and aid to the best of its ability,’ President Xi said in a condolence message to Nepal’s president, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The Chinese embassy in Nepal has also deployed a team to assist with rescue efforts, according to Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming.

‘China stands firmly with Nepal at this difficult time,’ Mr Zhang told Nepal’s state-run NTV World. ‘We have been working closely with the Nepali side and supporting each other in responding to the disaster’.

Advertisement

Share

Breaking:Five killed and 558 missing in Tibet

Five people have died in Tibet due to flash floods and landslides on Wednesday.

Chinese state media said 558 people are currently missing in the region.

Share

Andy Burnham has vowed to “put the cowboys out of business” as he announced a crackdown on rogue builders accused of leaving households facing shoddy work, unfinished projects and hefty losses.

The Prime Minister said families would have new ways to find trusted tradespeople and protect their money from unscrupulous operators.

The move comes after Citizens Advice revealed that home renovations were among its biggest sources of complaints, with more than one in four adults reporting problems with their most recent project.

Complaints include poor-quality work and builders disappearing before jobs are finished.

From September, businesses will be able to sign up to a Government-backed approved code showing they meet standards covering customer service, transparency and dispute resolution.

A new payment system launching next week will also allow customers to link payments to project milestones, meaning money can be released as work is completed rather than handing over large sums upfront.

Burnham said: “Cowboy builders don’t just rip people off. They leave families with months of stress, the disruption of unfinished work, and that horrible feeling of being taken advantage of. Not only that, but they give the vast majority of decent, hardworking tradespeople a bad name.”

He added: “So we’re putting the cowboys out of business. These changes mean you’ll now have the option to make sure your money is held safely and released bit by bit as the work gets done.”

The Prime Minister said the measures were part of his Government’s series of “everyday fixes” aimed at tackling problems facing households.

He said: “It’s the latest in our series of everyday fixes to give people room to breathe and make Britain fairer. We’ve taken on subscription traps, fake discounts, and now we’re coming for the cowboy builders. Enough is enough.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the changes would “protect consumers, support reputable traders” and help prevent home improvements from “turning into a nightmare”.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (Image: Yui Mok)

Bailiffs face tougher rules

The Government also announced tougher regulation of private bailiffs in England and Wales amid concerns about people in debt being subjected to intimidating tactics.

The reforms will introduce mandatory independent oversight, with bailiffs required to be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board – or work for an accredited firm – to obtain the certificate needed to operate.

Ministers said the changes were designed to improve professional standards and prevent enforcement agents from pressuring people into repayment arrangements they cannot afford.

Courts minister Sarah Sackman said: “Bailiffs have an important job to do, but with that responsibility must come high standards. When someone is already struggling with debt, the last thing they should face is intimidating behaviour, unfair treatment or being pushed into excessive repayment arrangements they cannot afford.”

She added: “That’s why we’re strengthening the rules. All private bailiffs will have to meet proper, professional standards and will be subject to independent oversight – giving people greater protection and somewhere to turn when things go wrong.”

The Government will also examine whether the wider consumer protection system could be made easier to navigate, including how Citizens Advice and Trading Standards work with regulators, enforcement bodies and redress schemes.

Recommended reading:

But the plans have faced criticism from opposition parties.

Andrew Griffith, shadow business and trade secretary, said: “We all want to see action to stop rogue traders, but this announcement looks like the sort of government initiative that risks the unintended consequence of piling more paperwork onto the majority of businesses who already do the right thing.”

He said ministers should instead “beef up” law enforcement and introduce tougher sentences for those who defraud customers.

The period of time Argentina’s players and coaching staff will be banned has been shortened by FIFA following the disgraceful scenes that unfolded after the World Cup final

FIFA has granted a request to reduce the duration of Argentina’s punishment following their disgraceful conduct during the World Cup final.

Leandro Paredes received a hefty 10-game ban for his post-match behaviour, which included kicking Eric Garcia and pushing Gavi to the ground as Spain celebrated their 1-0 win after extra-time. Paredes, 32, was also handed a £66,500 fine.

Argentina stars Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, along with coach Roberto Ayala, also received bans and fines. Molina was handed a seven-game suspension while Almada and Ayala were banned for one and three games for their involvement, respectively.

Their suspensions were initially set to apply only to competitive fixtures and not friendlies. That presented a significant problem given that Argentina won’t feature in a competitive fixture until the 2028 Copa America. But FIFA have now approved the Argentine FA’s (AFA) request to permit the bans to be served in Class A friendlies.

Argentina currently have no fixtures scheduled, though there is room for six matches before the end of the year. European nations, for instance, will play four matches during the newly merged September and October international break before playing another two games in the November window.

That means Almada and Ayala could return to their respective roles as early as October. Molina, meanwhile, would have one remaining game to serve in 2027, most likely in March. As for Paredes, he would still have to miss four more matches — potentially two in March and a further two in June.

The AFA, however, remains hopeful of reducing the length of the bans imposed on its players. The federation was also hit with a £237,000 fine relating to multiple incidents during the World Cup and must stage their next home fixture at half capacity.

Argentina’s players brandished a banner reading ‘The Falklands are Argentine’ following their 2-1 semi-final victory over England. The display led to the AFA being found guilty of “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.”

The federation was also held accountable for discrimination and racist abuse carried out by Argentina supporters. In a statement released on Thursday, the AFA said: “The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has formally requested FIFA to allow the sanctions imposed on its players during the 2026 World Cup final, and on the association itself, to be served in Class A friendly matches and/or official matches, whichever comes first.

“Based on the AFA’s submission, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has deemed the request approved in accordance with current regulations. Nevertheless, the AFA, in defence of its rights and those of its players, is awaiting the written justification for the decisions in order to file the corresponding appeals with FIFA’s Appeals Committee, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) potentially as the final recourse.”

Countdown to Kickoff: The Essential 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£51

£35

Advertisement

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.

This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions.