The pub, on Stokesley Road, Marton, Middlesbrough, has been closed since July 27 for a revamp.

The renovation work is expected to be completed this month and the aim is to reopen the pub by August 22.

The pub will continue to offer live music, sports events, and in-pub darts.

Greene King, who own the pub, said: “The upgrades are intended to enhance both the interior and exterior of the pub, introducing modern-day comforts for patrons to enjoy.”

The Rudds Arms will also introduce a new function space available for private hire.

The pub is popular with punters and has previously received glowing reviews.

One said: “Had a lovely meal here today.

“We use this pub regularly and the reason being the atmosphere and the team who work there.

“They are fab.

“They are all so friendly and accommodating.

“Well done team Rudd’s.”

The pub is recruiting for both full and part-time positions in the kitchen and bar.

The Rudds Arms has urged customers to browse menus and book ahead for the reopening via the Greene King app.

A police cordon is currently in place in Gorton following the crash

Emergency services have been rushed to Gorton following reports of a car crashing into a house.

Greater Manchester Police have cordoned off Hyde Road in Gorton after the car hit the house at approximately 9:36pm tonight (August 5).

Motorists are being asked to avoid the area where possible due to a number of road closures in place around the area.

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In a statement issued tonight (August 5), GMP said enquiries are ongoing as they try to establish the full circumstances around the collision.

A spokesperson for GMP said: “We are currently responding to reports of a collision involving a car and a house on Hyde Road, Manchester, that occurred at approximately 9:36pm tonight (5 August).

“Emergency services are at the scene and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.

“Road closures are in place so please avoid the area where possible.”

A day out at the beach is the ideal retreat during the summer, and there’s one unspoilt shore with stretches of soft, golden sand and colourful beach huts not far from Cambridge

There’s one pristine beach near Cambridge that I highly recommend visiting – and it’s not Holkham.

Cambridge is home to the scenic River Cam, lined with houseboats, rowers, and picturesque walking routes, along with the sprawling Jesus Green and Parker’s Piece parks. Not to mention the majestic medieval architecture that lines the university city, with King’s College Chapel and the Mathematical Bridge among the most notable landmarks.

Yet despite its picture-postcard setting and city offerings, we sometimes crave a trip to the beach, especially in the summer. Luckily for us, Cambridge is well-positioned and within easy reach of the beautiful Norfolk coastline, with many of its beaches less than two hours away.

One beautiful beach nestled along the Norfolk shore, which is by far my favourite, is Wells-next-the-Sea. The golden, soft-sand beach stretches for miles, and is lined with more than 200 stilted, pastel-coloured beach huts that only add to its unspoilt seaside charm.

Its sweeping beach means it rarely feels overcrowded, with ample space for kids to run around, build sandcastles, kick a ball around, or fly a kite. There’s the opportunity to dip toes into the shallow, although brisk waters, but it’s a must on any visit, and is a haven for strolls along the sand shore, which I love best.

Strikingly, Wells-next-the-Sea is also backed by pine forests, which not only enhance its scenic setting but also offer a welcoming retreat in the shade during those balmy summers. Parts of the beach are also dog-friendly, and I’ll often walk from Wells-next-the-Sea all the way down to its neighbour, Holkham Beach.

Along this route, I’ll often wander along the golden shore, passing the rolling sand dunes at Holkham, before turning around to walk through stretches of the majestic pine forest, which is hard to believe is adjacent to the sandy beach. Back at Wells-next-the-Sea, it’s easy to simply sit and admire the pristine coastline that lies less than a two-hour drive from Cambridge.

While it might just be the most scenic spot for a beach picnic, the Wells Beach Café, located at the end of Beach Road, offers everything from bacon or sausage baps, pasties, pizzas, cake, coffee and, of course, ice cream. And during those colder months, it’s a welcoming sanctuary, where you can warm up with a hot chocolate and grab a puppuccino for the pooch.

After exploring the beach, that’s if you can tear yourself away, the town of Wells-next-the-Sea is equally as inviting. The small seaside town has a population of just over 2,000 residents, and is known for its bustling quayside.

The harbourside is where you’ll spot kids crabbing off the jetty, fishermen bringing in their catch of the day, and visitors sitting under the sun while sharing a dish of fish and chips. There are a few independent shops to explore in the town, along with a selection of eateries, and you really won’t have to go far to find a decent chippy or ice cream shop.

Elsewhere, there are coffeehouses such as GROUND and Nelson’s coffee shop, the tearoom, No. 57, and Arthur Howell Bakery. If you’d rather extend your stay in the seaside destination, there are plenty of holiday homes available to book, including cosy cottages, or there’s the option to book a trendy stay at the four-star The Crown Hotel or The Globe Inn.

However long you decide to stay in Wells-next-the-Sea, you certainly won’t be disappointed, with its pristine beach enough to warrant a visit.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Neighbours said they spotted the teen going door-to-door with a large knife on Monday night before police were called at around 10pm

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A teenager who terrorized a neighbourhood while going door-to-door dressed in a creepy clown outfit has been accused of murdering a pensioner.

A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody by police after John Wesley Allen Sr, 76, was stabbed several times in the US state of Illinois. Police were called to a residential neighbourhood in East St. Louis at around 10pm on Monday (August 3), following reports of a body lying at the roadside. The body was later identified as the pensioner, with a coroner later ruling the man had died from multiple stab wounds. A 15-year-old boy was arrested by the Illinois State Police on Tuesday in connection with the elderly man’s death. It has since been revealed the teenager had been spotted in the neighbourhood earlier on Monday, traumatising locals by whispering creepy threats through people’s front doors while dressed as a spooky clown. Ring doorbell footage that has since been posted to social media – which carries a timestamp of around about 9pm, or, about an hour before police were called to the scene – shows a person dressed as a clown approach a home in East St. Louis.

The menacing clown can be seen sauntering up to the front door before leaving the audio message: “I’ve been looking for you.” In other doorbell camera footage obtained by NBC affiliate KSDK, a man can be seen looking into the camera and saying, “I have a gift for you.” Neighbours told the TV station they saw the teen going door-to-door with a large knife on Monday night. Corrine Spry revealed she was sitting on her back porch with her family when she first spotted the clown roaming the neighbourhood, twirling a knife. She watched him roam the area for about 45 minutes before police arrived.

“He was up to no good,” she said. “We’re pretty positive he circled back around in these woods because you could hear the sticks breaking.” Lee Palmer told local news broadcaster First Alert 4 that his mother was at the home alone when the menacing clown appeared on her front porch. The person lingered on the property for several minutes and even went behind the house, Palmer added. “I couldn’t believe it. He was dressed in the clown outfit. That was kind of spooky for her.”

He stated that he feared for his mother’s safety and worried that the masked stranger may have been armed. “He’s going to kill everybody in the house,” Palmer said, explaining his thought process at the time. “Why out of all the houses, why come to this house?” Palmer added: “He was not in the right state of mind to walk on somebody’s porch like that. It’s just unimaginable.” Illinois State Police now say they have arrested a 15-year-old suspect who they believe to have been seen on surveillance video wearing a clown costume.

They have not released details about what led to the killing or what brought the teen to the neighbourhood. Police said in a statement: “Video footage of the suspect dressed in a clown costume has been circulating and ISP is currently working to collect all relevant video.” Investigators have urged anyone with information or more CCTV or other surveillance footage of the clown-clad suspect to contact them.

The popular venue located on Hospital Road is hosting special family-friendly pool party sessions featuring exciting inflatables for children to enjoy in its indoor swimming pool.

Each event, scheduled for August 12 and 26, will feature two one-hour sessions running from 12pm to 1pm and 1pm to 2pm, and promise to provide a fun-filled afternoon of swimming and entertainment during the summer holidays.

Tickets cost £5 per person and children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the event.

Families are encouraged to book early as spaces are limited.

The Thursday letters page is appalled by EA’s plans to lay off developers, as one reader is impressed by Amazon’s Luna streaming service.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Shocking success
I’m not sure I’m shocked at Halo: Campaign Evolved’s failure (I would’ve expected it to do a bit better based on nostalgia, but PlayStation owners have no nostalgia for it, so it seems to have done about as well as the Gears Of War remaster).

However, I am genuinely shocked that the two Black Ops games are doing so well. They’re not even remasters, let alone remakes, they’re just straight ports that have had no work put into them. Again, I assume it’s nostalgia but am I the only one that barely even remembers which ones they were? Apparently so, to tell by the sales.

I tried to remind myself of the campaign by reading Wikipedia and I do remember them now, and I admit they were good ones but is that’s what’s driving the current success? The campaign or the multiplayer? If it’s the campaigns, I could sort of understand because I haven’t played a good one in a modern Call Of Duty for years.

Either way, Activision want to be taking a careful look at what’s going on because they’re in serious danger of their newest game selling less than two that came out 15 years ago.
Trancer

Very predictable
So EA are getting ready to layoff $125 million worth of developers? Isn’t that lovely? Sorry, I mean absolutely disgusting. It was completely predicted long before the deal went through, because what else are you going to do when you’re $20 billion in debt, but the whole thing is awful.

That many people is going to mean whole studios and I don’t see how they continue with anything other than sports games and Battlefield. I used to stick up with EA a bit, when people used to rag on them, but not anymore. They’ve become something else now and too many microtransactions isn’t the half of it.
Zeiss

No access
RE: Halo: Campaign Evolved. I don’t care about any of the issues with Williams or the lack of multiplayer (I only play the campaigns) but the fact I am finding it impossible to sign into my Microsoft Account means it is a game I can’t play on my PlayStation 5.

I have an old Hotmail account but is tied to an old phone, so I can’t use it or I must wait 30 days to renew my security (why?!). I tried to set up a new Hotmail to use for this, but the website is out of action. If I try to create an Xbox account then it won’t let me use a work email, so I am completely stuck.

I am glad the game has been a flop and that I left Microsoft behind a long time ago. I will definitely be giving up on the all-digital future as I can’t be bothered with any of this.
Simon

GC: We had the exact same problem, although we were able to create a new account to play it.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Size isn’t everything
I saw a post on X today that showed and compared every map of every Grand Theft Auto game.

Apparently, according to this post, the map in GTA 6 will be the biggest one in the series, and is estimated as being four times the size of the GTA 5 map. Estimates are close to guessing in my mind, so this entire post might be nonsense to invite attention and clicks, but it got me thinking about the true worth of gaming real estate.

A game can boast a huge game map, but if it’s just empty terrain that’s not much of an asset. One of the best maps I’ve explored in a game was the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3. I don’t know how that map compares size-wise to GTA 5 or 6, but it was seemingly packed with unusual sights and secrets. In other words, within the world of Fallout 3 there was plenty to do.
Michael Veal

GC: Fallout maps tend to be smaller than average but, as you say, packed with much more detail than others. We believe some of the biggest are racing games like The Crew and Fuel, which, as you say, are mostly empty.

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The principle
So this journalist was arguing that if Project Helix had a disc drive and PlayStation 6 didn’t it could get a lot more gamers, but I don’t understand the logic as PlayStation 5 players aren’t going to migrate to Xbox because it has a disc, as they still wouldn’t be able to play there catalogue of disc games on the Xbox ,making it null and void.

I did think that with so many not being able to afford next gen, the only thing to do is have one format so as many can play the next gen of games to get revenue. No more console wars but that’s not going to happen, but may need to if Sony and Microsoft are going survive in the console world.
TWO MACKS

GC: Most people don’t actually care about discs, as the percentage of digital sales shows. What they have got upset at though, is Sony taking away the option.

Next gen gramophone
What gets me about the component crisis is that everyone’s focusing on what it’s going to do to next gen console prices, but the same thing is happening to PC components, phones, and everything else. It’s like we’re heading back into caveman times. We’ll be recording things on VHS next and loading games in from audio tape.

I’m not even sure to what degree I’m exaggerating, because if the PlayStation 6 costs £1,000+ what happens then? A gaming PC is going to be about the same and I’m not paying that. Even if they continue manufacturing the PlayStation 5 to compensate, it’s not like it’s made out of cardboard, they still need components for that, just maybe slightly less.

I don’t see where all this is going but I have a nasty feeling none of it is going to be good. To think that gaming would come to this: games too expensive and time consuming to make, consoles too expensive to buy, and everyone who’s any good at making them is laid off the minute the boss’s Christmas bonus is in danger.

All I can say is thank goodness for indie gaming because if it wasn’t for that I genuinely think I’d be giving up on video games after all this.
Eckard

Better than Ultimate
After reading about Indiana Jones And The Great Circle being available in Luna, I decided to give it a try to see how it performs. Was a very pleasant surprise to find the Luna version of the game contains the Order Of Giants DLC as standard.

The performance is excellent too and seemed better than Xbox Ultimate, which I have previously tried. I do have very good internet though.
Deskiryu

GC: Xbox’s streaming service is surprisingly poor, considering their situation.

New old hardware
Long time reader, not wrote in for a while. Great interview recently regarding the new Spectrum. Always enjoy reading your interviews, just a shame since Covid you don’t get to do the amount you used to. Really enjoyed the recent Reader’s Features of late. Big well done to those who worked up the courage to do a piece of their own.

This Speccy coverage got me thinking. There’s been loads of negativity for quite some time now around PlayStation and Xbox, and also Nintendo at times. I’m curious to know why you covered the Spectrum but haven’t yet done any articles on the brand new Neo Geo AES+ that was announced several months ago, an old mythical legendary console that most of us probably only dreamed of owning back then.

It’s now remade and at a price which is much more affordable and we get to experience these classic games today easily on modern TVs without having to remortgage. (I am aware of Arcade Archives on PlayStation , Switch or Xbox) but I want the real thing.

Secondly, ModRetro has just released the M64 a modern day N64 that plays original games with the promise of new ones to come, along with remasters, overclocking, and other options that weren’t on the original hardware. Apparently their newly designed trident N64 pad is meant to be absolutely superb. An important factor here is both are physical, which is just awesome especially on the back of Sony’s nonsense.

For me, these two consoles are highly positive and I’m super excited for both to come out. I’ve actually recently sold my PlayStation 5 to fund getting both. Do you plan to cover them as I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to hear your thoughts on them. So I’d just like to know why it appears both have just been completely skipped over.

Apologies if I’m wrong here but there has been no mention of either by yourselves. We could do with more positivity and also more news that doesn’t involve Sony/Microsoft or rumours. Apologies if it sounds I’m complaining, that’s not the intention. I’m just curious, that’s all.

Keep up the good work GC.
Ricardo (Bertie1)

GC: Interviews are barely a thing now, for any publisher, but we try where we can. We do have a couple coming up for games from big publishers though, so maybe there’s some hope that things will improve. As for the Neo Geo AES+, we think we were short-staffed when it was announced, so never got round to it. We have been in contact with Plaion though and will definitely be covering it in the future. The M64, we’ve never heard of till now.

Inbox also-rans
What the best games to start with for seniors?
Jay Van Housen

GC: That’s a complicated question. We’d need to know their level of experience with games and general interests, at the very least.

Excited to know that 007 First Light will be at Gamescom. My decision to make the Switch 2 my only current gen console is paying off.
Swede

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New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

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MORE: Games Inbox: Will single-player video games go extinct?

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Anything that increases mankind’s knowledge is welcome, so the data generated by the impact will understandably be eagerly examined.

But should there be any other intelligent life anywhere else in the universe, they might also examine this incident to see what they could learn about mankind.

They would immediately see that this strange creature has filled the atmosphere of its own planet, Earth, with noxious fumes and saturated its oceans with undecayable plastic. It has even covered its beaches in the beautiful North East with millions of nurdles (and that’s without looking at whatever the water companies are pumping out today).

Not content with that, this creature is now filling up the orbit around its Earth with rubbish. The European Space Agency estimates that there are 54,000 pieces of debris larger than 10cms spinning around Earth and there are 140m fragments – in total, we’ve left about 15,800 tonnes (the equivalent of 40 jumbo jets) up there.

So an outer space life form would conclude that this man is negligently untidy.

Looking carefully, this life form would see plumes of smoke rising from the European wildfires which show how man has harmed his own planet so badly that it is now burning beneath his feet and then, not content with that, it would see that this hideous creature is now turning on its harmless neighbour, the Moon, firing junk into it as if it were some giant space pinball game.

And this intelligent life form would conclude that man is an arrogant so-and-so who is not as intelligent as he thinks he is.

A new study found many Scottish teenagers are preparing for a future where AI plays a bigger role

More than half of Scottish teenagers are actively looking to learn skills they believe artificial intelligence (AI) cannot replace, according to new research. Findings suggest young people are already adapting their career ambitions to a rapidly changing job market.

A survey of more than 500 secondary school pupils aged between 13 and 18 found that 55 per cent are seeking to develop skills they believe AI will never be able to replicate. Meanwhile 60 per cent said they are excited to learn skills that work alongside the technology.

The study, commissioned by Glasgow Kelvin College to mark National Opportunity Day 2026, also found that AI is already influencing career decisions, with half (50 per cent) of respondents saying it has made them rethink their future job aspirations.

More than half (53 per cent) said their school had encouraged them to use AI because of the opportunities it offers, which shows just how quickly the technology has become embedded in school education.

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Results show AI is now a routine part of everyday life for Scottish teenagers. Half of those surveyed said they pay for a premium AI service, while 58 per cent believe they know when to use AI and when they should challenge themselves without it.

The research also found that almost two-thirds (63 per cent) question what they see online more often because of the rise of AI, while 56 per cent believe they are good at spotting AI-generated images, writing and social media content.

Artificial intelligence is also being used frequently by young people. More than nine in 10 (92 per cent) said they use AI at least two or three times a week, while just one per cent said they never use it. Half use the technology at least once a day, including nine per cent who said they use AI three or more times daily.

When asked how they use AI, almost a third (32 per cent) said they rely on it to find information or answer everyday questions. Around 29 per cent use it for homework, while 28 per cent use it to explain topics they do not understand.

Others use AI to revise for exams (26 per cent), generate creative ideas (24 per cent), for entertainment (22 per cent), writing emails or messages (21 per cent) and coding or computer programming (20 per cent).

Despite embracing the technology, many teenagers believe practical people focused careers will remain the safest from AI.

Plumber topped the list of careers respondents considered to be “AI-proof”, chosen by 31 per cent of those surveyed, followed by electrician and hairdresser or barber (30 per cent), nurse (29 per cent), mechanic and social worker (27 per cent).

Chef and engineer were both selected by 26 per cent, while teacher and joiner each received 23 per cent. Meanwhile just 1.7 per cent believed no career would be safe from AI.

However, research shows that there is mixed feeling within young people about the future. More than half (54 per cent) believe AI will create opportunities for their careers, while 55 per cent said they know it will affect their future but are not worried about it. Although there is still concern among young Scots.

More than half (56 per cent) of Scottish teens said they worry about AI’s impact on their career prospects, with the same per cent of people believing it could make finding a job more difficult.

Robin Ashton, Vice Principal of Curriculum and Quality Enhancement at Glasgow Kelvin College, said the findings show teenagers are thinking carefully about how AI will shape their futures.

He said: “What stands out from these findings is just how switched on young people are to AI and the impact it is likely to have on their future. They aren’t simply using the technology, many are already thinking about where it can help them, where they need to rely on their own abilities and, importantly, which human skills are likely to become more valuable as AI develops.

“There is sometimes a tendency to talk about young people as though AI is something happening to them, but these findings paint a more nuanced picture. This is a generation growing up with technology and learning how to navigate it.

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges young people themselves recognise the risks of becoming over-reliant on AI and are concerned about what it could mean for employment – but they are also questioning what they see online, thinking about when AI is useful and considering how their own skills will need to evolve.”

Ashton continued: “That is where colleges have an increasingly important role to play. Glasgow Kelvin College gives people the opportunity to develop the practical, technical and interpersonal skills employers need, while also learning how emerging technologies can complement those skills.

“National Opportunity Day is about encouraging people to look at the opportunities available to them and think differently about where their talents could take them. As the world of work changes, having the confidence and skills to adapt will become more important than ever.”

National Opportunity Day was created by Glasgow Kelvin College to showcase the range of education, training and career opportunities available to people of all ages.

Originally launched to “recognise that opportunity does not follow a single path – and that education, skills and progression should be accessible at every stage of life.”

The campaign now aims to encourage people to consider different pathways into education and employment as the workplace continues to evolve alongside advances in AI.

Five people were killed and nine others injured in a bomb blast at the exclusive restaurant over the weekend, including 53-year-old Lt-Gen Igor Yerusalimov

A burial has secretly taken place for one of Russian President Vladimr Putin’s top commanders, according to reports.

Five people were killed in a bomb blast at an exclusive Moscow restaurant over the weekend, including 53-year-old Lt-Gen Igor Yerusalimov.

High-ranking military officials, politicians and bureaucrats were inside the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Saturday, August 1 when the home-made device detonated during the 55th birthday party of senior commander Col-Gen Alexander Chayko, head of Russian Aerospace Forces.

Yerusalimov was at the front of the restaurant when a female courier was stopped by a security operative as she carried a “gift” for Chayko. It is being reported that she was likely used as a “suicide bomber” without her knowledge.

Both the woman and the security officer were killed in the blast. Nine others were wounded.

Chayko, who was the commander of Russian forces on the Kyiv front during the Bucha Massacre when troops committed mass rapes and tortures, is believed to have been unhurt.

Ukraine designated Chayko a wanted “war criminal” over his alleged role in the 2022 attacks.

His daughter Maria, 25, was seriously wounded with a “traumatic brain injury” in the explosion, while his son-in-law, Daniil Peredriy, 27, was killed from wounds in the blast, according to sources.

The Kremlin did not share the names of the other victims.

Yerusalimov was the most senior victim of the incident at the £85,000 party.

He was twice promoted by Putin, according to Telegram channel VKCh-OGPU, which is closely linked to law enforcement.

His high-security burial took place at Troekurovskoye cemetery.

Yerusalimov’s death is the latest in more than a dozen Russian generals killed since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued his first public apology since announcing and later withdrawing the controversial World Cup investment scheme

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino has issued an apology for the “mistakes made” in the controversial proposal to sell the World Cup.

Infantino has put his name to a letter, together with FIFA’s Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, in his first public expression of regret since announcing and subsequently abandoning the widely criticised World Cup investment scheme.

The Swiss official’s proposal was rejected by three continental confederations before its withdrawal and prompted UEFA to threaten a boycott of FIFA competitions until it was scrapped.

The letter states “We acknowledge that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media.

“We sincerely apologise for these errors and commit to them not happening again,” it reads.

“With this in mind, we will conduct a necessary review, and a report will be presented to the FIFA Council at its next scheduled meeting.”

Despite calls for Infantino to resign as FIFA president, the letter continues by stating that Grafstrom and FIFA’s Management Board “reaffirm their full support” for the chief.

The letter has been published following a meeting with FIFA board members in Morocco on Wednesday.

Mattias Grafstrom, the secretary general mentioned in the statement, is believed to have sent an email to staff on Tuesday in which he characterised Infantino’s proposal to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) to oversee FIFA competitions and sell a 20 per cent stake to private investors as “sad and reproachable”.

Wednesday night’s statement painted a more unified picture in the wake of the Rabat summit.

The document states that following the gathering they hope to “help restore confidence in the organisation” and “continue to develop the game around the world”.

It goes on to say that following the withdrawal of the plan, the organisation will “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity”.

Infantino was pictured smiling at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in the aftermath of the emergency board meeting.

The letter pushes back against any suggestion of wrongdoing, asserting that the plan broke no rules, in what appears to be a bid to shore up Infantino’s position as president amid widespread calls for his resignation.

The emergency talks were triggered as his presidency came under increasing threat, with both UEFA and CONCACAF — the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean — calling for Infantino to stand down.

For the president to be removed from office, 106 nations would need to vote in favour of such a motion.