FIFA’s president has officially lost the confidence of the football world, with an explosive new UEFA statement turning the screw

Gianni Infantino is facing the likely end of his FIFA presidency after UEFA declared he has “lost the confidence” of the football world following the collapse of his controversial World Cup investment plan.

European football’s governing body launched an extraordinary attack on the FIFA president after he abandoned plans to create a new company to run the commercial and operational aspects of football’s biggest tournaments.

UEFA had threatened to boycott FIFA competitions if the proposal went ahead, with the organisation accusing Infantino of attempting to force through a “shabby, back room, opaque deal”.

Although UEFA welcomed the decision to scrap the plans, it warned that the damage to trust in FIFA’s leadership had already been done.

“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,” UEFA said.

“The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family.”

The explosive statement represents a major blow for Infantino, who has led FIFA since succeeding Sepp Blatter in 2016 and secured re-election unopposed in 2019 and 2023.

The row centred around plans for FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a company designed to oversee the commercial and operational elements of FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.

Infantino proposed selling a 20 per cent stake in the company to private investors, with FIFA confirming that Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner – the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner – was set to lead the investment group.

The FIFA president argued the move would “turbocharge” funding for football development around the world, promising additional money for national associations that backed the proposal.

However, the plans triggered a backlash from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, which represents football nations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Infantino eventually confirmed in the early hours of Saturday that the proposal would not proceed, admitting the plan had “created divisions”.

UEFA, though, insisted the issue went beyond the abandoned proposal and called for a wider review of FIFA’s leadership and decision-making processes.

The governing body also criticised Infantino for failing to deliver on promises of transparency made when he was first elected FIFA president.

“On both these promises, he has failed to deliver,” UEFA said. “The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through was anything but transparent.”

UEFA added that FIFA should use its existing financial reserves, which it says stand at more than five billion US dollars, to invest in grassroots football rather than selling off a stake in its future.

“This is a victory for the whole game,” UEFA said. “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.”

The fallout is set to see Infantino face a challenge at FIFA’s next presidential election in March.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi has been linked with a possible bid and is believed to have support among UEFA circles, although sources close to the Qatari have suggested he is not interested in taking on the role due to his existing commitments.

Another potential rival is CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, who is also a FIFA vice-president.

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The Canadian has emerged as a possible challenger following the backlash against Infantino and the collapse of the FFE project, although no formal challenge has yet been declared.

Pressure has also come from within FIFA itself, with Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigning and describing the proposal as a “bad deal for football”.

FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour also criticised the process, describing FFE as “the project of one person” and accusing the organisation’s leadership of a lack of transparency and good governance.

Infantino now faces the challenge of rebuilding relationships with the confederations and member associations that opposed the plan.

“My intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support,” he said.

A mother who lost seven teeth after she tripped over a pothole in the dark has criticised her ‘shameful’ council for not taking responsibility or paying compensation. 

Business owner Alison Smith, 48, said her life changed forever when she was walking to meet her daughter at night and tripped on a three-inch deep pothole in a dark, unlit area. 

After tripping on the pothole and smashing her face, Ms Smith lost almost all of her front teeth and suffered from bruising. 

In total, she lost seven teeth and now has mobility issues with her left hand meaning she can no longer pull herself up with it. 

The road crater was on a road in Ventnor, in Ms Smith’s hometown on the Isle of Wight.

Shore Road has no pavement and a limited number of streetlights, making it hard to see any potholes at night. 

Ms Smith said her daughter, who was 17 at the time, was left ‘traumatised’ after finding her mother covered in blood. 

She said she was not able to visit her own mother after a brain tumour operation because her injuries were too distressing to see. 

Shocking photographs taken after the accident show Ms Smith’s swollen face and how she lost nearly all of her front teeth

Ms Smith, a café owner, reported her fall to Island Roads, which maintains the roads on the Isle of Wight. But the company just filled the pothole in and said there would be no compensation given to her. 

Ms Smith tripped into the pothole at 7.40pm in January 2025 and has been demanding the council take responsibility since.

She said: ‘I was going to meet my daughter who was getting the bus and [the road] is lit but it is quite a dark area where the actual pothole is.

‘My mum was suffering with a brain tumour, and she was having the operation that day.

‘I just tripped on the pothole, and my foot got caught in the pothole, in the lip on the edge, and I fell on my hand and knocked all my teeth out. 

‘My hand now isn’t fully recovered. I can’t lift myself up on it. I went to A&E because I thought I had smashed my cheekbone. 

‘I reported it and had a shameful response. They filled the pothole in within a few days, which says they are liable.’

Ms Smith’s daughter, who is now 19, found her after she had fallen. 

Ms Smith said: ‘I was covered in blood and my mouth was bleeding and [my daughter] thought I had been stabbed or attacked. I was totally disorientated.

Ms Smith tripped into the pothole at 7.40pm in January 2025 and has been demanding the council take responsibility since

The pothole was on a road in Ventnor, in Ms Smith’s hometown on the Isle of Wight

‘She still now worries about me. She is traumatised by it. She gave up work for a while because she was always worrying about me.’

She has now had to get extensive dental work at great expense. She had false teeth put in but could not afford to have dental implants put in because she had not received compensation from the fall. 

Ms Smith said she temporarily had to give up singing with bands such as Ska’d For Life – but is back in voice after learning to cope with false teeth. 

She added that she has a plastic plate on the top and bottom of her mouth, making it difficult to eat. 

It has now become impossible for her to work at the Gaslight café in Sandown, which she owned, because she can’t lift the baking trays and furniture with just one hand. 

She was also forced to stop a regular food delivery package to the community because of the heavy items on the load. 

She said: ‘I’m still so upset about it.

‘Island Roads are saying they’ve done enough and have now filled the pothole in.

Ms Smith said she temporarily had to give up singing with bands such as Ska’d For Life

Ms Smith said her daughter, who was 17 at the time, was left ‘traumatised’ after finding her mother covered in blood 

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‘But if it caused this much injury to me, old people could have died if they had gone flying like I did. 

‘I have considered the “no win no fee” compensation claims, but I have suffered the loss of both my parents in recent years and I have been going through too hard a time. 

‘I just want someone to take responsibility for this.

‘I’ve paid the price, and my daughter, who found me all bloodied after the fall, is still traumatised by it.

‘It’s so unfair. Something that was not my fault has ruined my life, while Island Roads has just filled the holes and resurfaced the whole road and dismissed me.

‘It’s not about money, otherwise I would be pursuing a claim. It is to stop others going through this and for some acknowledgement of the distress this has caused and to stop it happening to others. 

‘I hope they will take responsibility and help me after all this time.’

An Island Roads spokesman said: ‘We have every sympathy for Ms Smith and for the injuries she has sustained as a result of this incident.

‘A claim relating to this matter was received, fully investigated and a formal response was issued to Ms Smith in April 2025.

‘The road was inspected in October 2024 as part of its routine six-monthly inspection and in line with accepted industry practice.

‘No defects were identified that met the threshold for intervention either at that time or during our investigation following the incident. 

‘However, having been brought to our attention, we arranged for the pothole referred to in the claim, along with another nearby pothole, to be repaired as part of our ongoing maintenance programme.

‘Every claim is carefully considered on its individual merits, taking account of available evidence and the legal responsibilities of the highway authority and Island Roads as its service provider. 

‘Having completed our investigation, we concluded that we are unable to accept liability in this case.

‘We appreciate the outcome will be disappointing for Ms Smith, but we have a responsibility to assess all claims consistently.’ 

A total of 38 departures have been impacted by the disruption, with some flights running more than two hours behind schedule.

Delays have affected a range of airlines, including Ryanair, Jet2, and TUI. There are also delays to a mix of destinations such as Nice, Tenerife, and Berlin.

According to data from Flightradar24, the longest delay so far is 156 minutes.

Affected flights include TUI’s 6.05am departure to Alicante, which left at 7.27am, and Ryanair’s 6.10am flight to Tenerife, which departed at 6.51am.

TUI’s Palma de Mallorca flight was delayed by more than two and a half hours, departing at 8.46am instead of 6.10am.

Jet2’s flight to Nice was also heavily delayed, departing at 8.45am, two and a half hours later than its scheduled 6.15am take-off.

Other routes affected include Rome, Corfu, Mahon, and Dusseldorf.

The full list of delayed flights (over 20 minutes) is as follows:

• TUI flight BY2620 to Alicante, scheduled for 06:05, departed at 07:27 with a delay of 82 minutes.
• Ryanair flight FR1249 to Tenerife, scheduled for 06:10, departed at 06:51 with a delay of 41 minutes.
• TUI flight BY2668 to Palma de Mallorca, scheduled for 06:10, departed at 08:46 with a delay of 156 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS833 to Nice, scheduled for 06:15, departed at 08:45 with a delay of 150 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS875 to Faro, scheduled for 06:45, departed at 08:04 with a delay of 79 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS987 to Rome FCO, scheduled for 06:55, departed at 07:36 with a delay of 41 minutes.
• easyJet flight U22061 to Corfu, scheduled for 06:55, departed at 07:42 with a delay of 47 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS879 to Alicante, scheduled for 07:00, departed at 08:41 with a delay of 101 minutes.
• TUI flight BY2608 to Mahon, scheduled for 07:00, departed at 08:15 with a delay of 75 minutes.
• Eurowings flight EW9341 to Dusseldorf, scheduled for 08:00, departed at 08:55 with a delay of 55 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS803 to Barcelona, scheduled for 08:00, departed at 08:53 with a delay of 53 minutes.
• SWISS flight LX391 to Zurich, scheduled for 08:55, estimated to depart at 09:25 with a delay of 30 minutes.
• Turkish Airlines flight TK1994 to Istanbul, scheduled for 10:40, estimated to depart at 11:05 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Ryanair flight FR1145 to Berlin, scheduled for 11:50, estimated to depart at 12:15 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• SunExpress flight XQ835 to Izmir, scheduled for 11:50, estimated to depart at 12:15 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Pegasus Airlines flight PC1180 to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, scheduled for 11:55, estimated to depart at 12:20 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS985 to Verona, scheduled for 12:35, estimated to depart at 13:00 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS939 to Innsbruck, scheduled for 12:35, estimated to depart at 13:00 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Kuwait Airways flight KU114 to Kuwait City, scheduled for 13:00, estimated to depart at 13:25 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Ryanair UK flight RK8624 to Tangier, scheduled for 13:05, estimated to depart at 13:30 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• TUI flight BY2644 to Chania, scheduled for 13:55, estimated to depart at 14:20 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• easyJet flight U22269 to Pafos, scheduled for 13:55, estimated to depart at 14:23 with a delay of 28 minutes.
• EgyptAir flight MS782 to Cairo, scheduled for 14:30, estimated to depart at 14:55 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS937 to Pafos, scheduled for 15:15, estimated to depart at 15:40 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS943 to Larnaca, scheduled for 15:35, estimated to depart at 16:00 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS851 to Funchal, scheduled for 15:55, estimated to depart at 16:20 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS1067 to Jerez, scheduled for 15:55, estimated to depart at 16:20 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• TUI flight BY212 to Dalaman, scheduled for 16:00, estimated to depart at 16:25 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS1041 to Rhodes, scheduled for 16:05, estimated to depart at 16:30 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS907 to Heraklion, scheduled for 16:10, estimated to depart at 16:35 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS909 to Fuerteventura, scheduled for 16:20, estimated to depart at 16:45 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS931 to Malta, scheduled for 16:20, estimated to depart at 16:45 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS983 to Bodrum, scheduled for 16:25, estimated to depart at 16:50 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS1007 to Antalya, scheduled for 16:30, estimated to depart at 16:55 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Jet2 flight LS813 to Kos, scheduled for 16:45, estimated to depart at 17:10 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• TUI flight BY2658 to Rhodes, scheduled for 16:50, estimated to depart at 17:15 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Ryanair flight FR4096 to Riga, scheduled for 17:25, estimated to depart at 17:50 with a delay of 25 minutes.
• Ryanair flight FR6838 to Prague, scheduled for 18:45, estimated to depart at 19:10 with a delay of 25 minutes.

Migrants who flooded into Spain‘s North African territory have urged Moroccans to stay at home, as tens of thousands of people have been voluntarily returning to their country. 

Ceuta’s president put the number of migrants who crossed into Spain at 60,000, which was equivalent to 70 per cent of the territory’s population. 

But most of them soon went back, the Spanish government said, after the sudden arrival of so many people sparked a humanitarian crisis, with at least 67 migrants perishing on the journey. 

Speaking to Spanish newspaper El País, one Moroccan man admitted he had made a mistake crossing into Ceuta. 

‘I honestly don’t know why I came. I am going back, it’s that simple,’ he said as he waited to cross the border. 

‘What we did here is nothing good nor anything fun. People are dying here. I beg you, please, for those who haven’t come yet, don’t. Don’t do it.’

Some migrants swam several miles through the sea and faced down authorities who tried to turn them back with water cannons, tear gas and warning shots. 

Some drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint. 

A 500-meter-long (1,640 feet) pneumatic barrier is deployed in the water by a Spanish Guardia Civil boat near the border post to reinforce security following illegal crossings from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on August 1, 2026

According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, 48,000 migrants have already returned to Morocco

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Spain deployed its armed forces and additional police to restore order in Ceuta, which sits on the Strait of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and has been a Spanish possession since 1580. 

On the Moroccan side of the border, security forces clashed with migrants. 

The chaos also had ripple effects abroad, with Italy and France pledging to tighten controls on arrivals from Spain.

‘The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable,’ Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas told journalists.

Meanwhile, Spanish authorities have begun installing massive containment barriers in a bid to halt the arrival of more migrants from Morocco. 

The 500-meter-long inflatable is a ‘temporary’ solution, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday after visiting Ceuta. 

He condemned the massive influx of migrants as a ‘violation of Spain’s territorial integrity’ and blamed human smugglers for the crisis, saying they ‘deceive so many young people and ultimately lead many of them to their deaths,’ whether in the ocean or in the city.

According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, 48,000 migrants have already returned to Morocco.  

Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a ‘serious humanitarian crisis,’ saying thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were left sleeping in parks and on sidewalks, while others roamed the streets aimlessly. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the images from Ceuta were ‘unacceptable.’

Spanish authorities are installing massive containment barriers in a bid to halt the arrival of more migrants from Morocco

Spanish soldiers watch migrants sitting on the pavement prior to escorting them back to Morocco, in Spain’s north Africa’s Ceuta enclave on August 1, 2026

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Supermarket employees (L) try to turn away a group of migrants attempting to enter the store in Spain’s north Africa’s Ceuta enclave on August 1, 2026

Spain deployed its armed forces and additional police to restore order in Ceuta

A migrant hides in a tunnel at the Tarajal beach, after mass crossings of migrants on foot and by sea from Morocco into Spanish territory, in Ceuta

A migrant lies on the ground next to Spanish security personnel in Ceuta, Spain, August 1, 2026

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lmost all of the thousands of migrants who entered Spain’s enclave of Ceuta in North Africa had left today, officials said

Migrants run from Spanish police officers after crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday, July 31, 2026

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the images from Ceuta were ‘unacceptable’

Spanish army soldiers and Guardia Civil officers stand guard on a littered beach as migrants return to Morocco

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Spanish soldiers find a migrant hiding in a tunnel at the Tarajal beach

‘We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules,’ she said Friday in an online statement. 

‘Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.’

US President Donald Trump also condemned the situation. 

‘You know I saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people,’ he said.

Morocco’s ambassador to Spain said the situation in Ceuta had unfolded against Morocco’s wishes.

‘We have always prioritised legal, orderly and safe migration for all,’ Karima Benyaich said. She did not comment on what prompted the migrants to cross into Ceuta.

Sanchez has since sent a letter to Brussels to complain about the attitude of some EU countries towards the Ceuta migration crisis, El País reports. 

In the letter, the Prime Minister maintained that Spain managed to reestablish border control, provide humanitarian assistance, return ‘virtually all’ of the migrants who entered irregularly, and prevent unauthorised movements to other European countries in less than 48 hours.

He emphasised that these actions were carried out in coordination with Morocco and with ‘very little support’ from other member states. 

Sánchez also recalled that Spain has supported other European partners during previous migration crises, citing the reception of migrants who arrived in Eastern Europe via Belarus in 2021 and on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2023. 

In his letter, he criticised some governments for proposing Spain’s temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area.

He also appealed to Von der Leyen’s leadership to guarantee a ‘swift, effective and coordinated’ response from the European Union and called for an urgent meeting with all 27 member states. 

To reach Ceuta, on the northern African coast, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about three miles to reach Spanish territory.

Others attempt the crossing from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.

Authorities in Ceuta and Madrid have linked the border surge to a recent decision by the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence.

Sánchez said migrant smugglers misinterpreted the ruling.

The interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling ‘spread like wildfire over the past few hours through the networks of human trafficking organisations,’ triggering the surge, Sánchez said.

Morocco’s ambassador to Spain said the situation in Ceuta had unfolded against Morocco’s wishes

Spanish soldiers rescue an injured migrant at the beach

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Cleaning workers clean a beach in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta

CAuthorities in Ceuta and Madrid have linked the border surge to a recent decision by the Spanish Supreme Court

In the tumult, Italy temporarily suspended its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain

A Spanish soldier gestures to migrants on their way to the border to Morocco

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Cleaning workers collect belongings left behind by migrants who crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta

Migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, the other Spanish territory at the tip of North Africa

A Spanish soldier controls a group of migrants on their way back towards the Moroccan border, following their illegal crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta

Earlier this year, his government moved to give residency and work permits to hundreds of thousands of migrants already living in the country without permission.

Sánchez, a Socialist, argued that it would be good for the economy and the demographics of an ageing Spain. Migrants who entered irregularly after January 1 this year were not included.

His critics jumped at the opportunity to attack his policy, saying it encouraged more migrants to come.

‘Sánchez allows Spain to be invaded through Ceuta,’ Spanish conservative politician Isabel Díaz Ayuso wrote on X.

The US expressed its support for ‘the people of Spain, and all Europeans, against this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights.’

In a post on X, the State Department added that ‘this unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe.’

Sánchez on Friday defended his migration policy and distanced it from the events in Ceuta.

In the tumult, Italy temporarily suspended its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, reimposing border controls for air and sea. 

The Interior Ministry said the decision amounted to a ‘closure’ of the borders, but experts said it was merely a resumption of border controls. The agreement allows travellers to fly between the two countries without presenting passports.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France would also strengthen border checks with Spain.

Spanish soldiers sit in a military vehicle as police officers and soldiers escort a big group of migrants to the border to take them out of Spain

Migrants rest on a path near the sea after mass crossings of migrants on foot and by sea from Morocco into Spanish territory

Migrants wait to board coaches as the Moroccan authorities transfer some back to their hometowns after they left Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta

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Migrants pass through a broken fence as they leave Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta towards the Moroccan town of Fnideq

Migrants look for their belongings after crossing into Ceuta by sea

Migrants wade through the water near the border with Morocco as they attempt to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta

A migrant uses plastic bottles to keep afloat as he tries to enter Ceuta by sea 

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A migrant uses a float to cross into Ceuta

Young men who returned from Spain gather at the Bab Sebta border crossing near Fnideq, Morocco, 31 July 2026

Migrants rest after crossing into Ceuta 

Migrants arrive on Tarajal beach in Ceuta 

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The crisis in Ceuta ‘has nothing to do with the regularisation of migrants adopted by the Government of Spain, as is being falsely claimed by some,’ the Spanish government said in a statement late Thursday after Meloni’s announcement.

Migrants from Morocco also attempted to cross into Melilla, the other Spanish territory at the tip of North Africa.

There was widespread chaos in Bni Nsar, the Moroccan town bordering the Spanish territory, where migrants clashed with police, throwing rocks and setting police vehicles ablaze, according to local media and rights groups. 

They reported injuries among security forces and the arrest of dozens of people attempting to cross.

Like Ceuta, Melilla is a self-governing Spanish city. Many Moroccans consider both cities to be occupied territory.

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 23:09 BST, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 11:01 BST, 1 August 2026

Labour‘s Bev Craig has beaten off Reform UK with a two-thirds majority to become Greater Manchester’s first female mayor.

Voters headed to the polls on Thursday to choose who would replace Andy Burnham as their new regional mayor.

Ms Craig stormed to victory with 309,525 votes (66.3 per cent) against Reform UK’s Sian Astley, who secured 157,178 votes (33.7 per cent) following a second round count. 

Moments after she was announced as the new mayor, Ms Craig said she was ‘honoured, humbled and ready to serve the three million people that live across this fantastic city region’. 

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She said: ‘I will be a greater mayor for everyone. We have to move away from divisive politics that try to pit neighbour against neighbour, and we’ll work together.’

Ms Craig added that she wanted to ‘build’ a city where ‘everyone feels welcome and everyone has a chance to succeed’.

The biggest by-election in UK history – of more than two million voters – was triggered when Mr Burnham resigned from the mayoralty earlier this year so that he could oust Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Prior to her election, Ms Craig served as a deputy mayor in Greater Manchester with a portfolio covering the economy, business and ‘inclusive growth’.

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She became leader of Manchester City Council in December 2021, succeeding the long-serving Sir Richard Leese in the post.

Originally from Northern Ireland, the 41-year-old moved to Greater Manchester aged 18. She is noted for being the city’s first female council leader and its first LGBT leader.

Labour’s Bev Craig has beaten off Reform UK with a two-thirds majority to become Greater Manchester’s new mayor

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Ms Craig closed her eyes in delight as her name was declared at the mayoral election

Reform UK’s candidate Sian Astley looked apprehensive ahead of the winner being declared

Ms Craig stood next to Green Party candidate Geraldine Coggins as the votes were read out

Join the discussion

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How will having Greater Manchester’s first female and LGBT mayor change the city’s future?

The cost of the contest is expected to run into the millions of pounds, with the 2024 mayoral election in Greater Manchester – won by Mr Burnham – costing the taxpayer £4.7million.

That contest saw Mr Burnham re-elected with 63 per cent of the vote under the ‘first past the post’ system, in which the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner.

He also received the most votes in each of Greater Manchester’s 10 local authority areas.

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For Thursday’s by-election, voting changed back to the ‘supplementary vote’ (SV) system used in the mayoral elections in 2017 and 2021.

Following the first count, there was no candidate who won more than 50 per cent of the first-choice votes, resulting in a second round. 

In 2021, the last time Manchester was contested under the SV system, Mr Burnham won in the first round with 67 per cent of first preference votes.

This is breaking news, more follows.

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UEFA have called for shamed FIFA president Gianni Infantino to go after he scrapped the ‘shabby, back-room deal’ to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Pressure is mounting on the under-fire boss after his controversial plan to sell a £3.1 billion stake in football’s most coveted tournament to a group of private investors led by Josh Kushner – an extended relation of US President Donald Trump – collapsed on Friday night.

The scheme, which received wholesale opposition from football nations around the world, has seen scrutiny on Infantino’s presidency intensify.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, led the charge against Infantino’s plot and, in a lengthy statement released on Saturday morning, declared they had lost trust in his leadership.

UEFA said: ‘UEFA welcomes FIFA’s decision to withdraw its plan to sell a stake in its competitions – including the World Cup – into private hands.

‘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.

Gianni Infantino waves goodbye to his unilateral plans for private investment in FIFA with his presidency in jeopardy 

Carlos Cordeiro (left) quit as an advisor to Gianni Infantino (centre) on Friday

‘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,’ the UEFA statement continued.

‘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.

‘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 was anything but transparent.

‘And with reserves standing at over $5bn, he has also failed to use associations’ money for the benefit of the game.

‘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.’

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Infantino abandoned his proposals to inject private equity into the operational and commercial aspects of FIFA tournaments.

His humiliating backtrack came thanks to the heroics of UEFA, CONCACAF, the AFC and two members of the FIFA hierarchy, who all took a stand against his divisive plans 

The AFC, Asia’s governing body, were the third and final confederation to reject Gianni Infantino’s proposal. Their resistance made it clear he did not have the support to proceed, as opposing nations rose to a staggering 135 – 64 per cent of the FIFA membership.

The commendation followed CONCACAF’s rejection on Thursday and came after UEFA announced a boycott of FIFA competitions. New Zealand Football also objected to the plans, despite the OFC delaying a continent-wide response.

Infantino said: ‘The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed.

‘And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.

‘Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

‘Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

‘Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, and particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.’

The statement marked an embarrassing U-turn, less than 24 hours after he attempted to clarify his plans – blaming the media for misconstruing them.

One international football insider told Daily Mail Sport: ‘UEFA’s response is at the nuclear button end of the spectrum, which is impressive. We thought Infantino would survive the Trump refereeing intervention – but he has overreached this time.’

The proposal reached a terminal stage when Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to Gianni Infantino, announced his resignation from FIFA – becoming the first internal dissident.

Six hours later, FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour turned against the president – risking his job by criticising the plans and calling on nations to dethrone Infantino. Lamour admitted FIFA Forward Enterprise was the brainchild of ‘one person’ as he landed a critical blow to the FIFA president.

Infantino had hoped to create a new enterprise with significant investment from Joshua Kushner – brother of Jared, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Meanwhile, investment bank J.P. Morgan were advising on potential investors.

Democratic senator Ron Wyden, who leads an investigation into Jared Kushner, said on Friday: ‘Soccer fans around the world are rightfully outraged by this scheme from Infantino and Joshua Kushner to turn the World Cup into just another commodity for private equity to buy up.

‘It seems clear from the global backlash that this corrupt plan is unlikely to succeed, but it is just one of dozens of shady deals by Trump’s family and close associates to get rich from the presidency.’

A significant number of FIFA members raised concerns from the initial leak of the plan, questioning how such thorough ideas could be developed unilaterally without prior consultation.

Despite FIFA maintaining throughout that there would be a proper consultation period, there were major questions about how that could be achieved when potential investors were already lined up.

UEFA accused FIFA of trying to bribe members with a £30million ($40m) incentive to approve Infantino’s plan, with a September 19 deadline to respond to the offer.

Alongside UEFA’s protest, sources told the Daily Mail Sport that CONCACAF nations believe he is losing or has already lost their confidence.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham believes Infantino’s position is untenable and he is not alone.

Speaking to reporters in Sheffield on Friday, Burnham said: ‘This was an outrageous suggestion. The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation.’

With the controversy surrounding Infantino, member nations could still trigger a vote of no confidence. The threshold to initiate the process is 46 FIFA member associations.

UEFA nations maintain that all options remain on the table as they attempt to oust Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term in next year’s elections.

Sepp Blatter, Infantino’s predecessor, took to social media to renew his attacks on his successor by writing on Friday evening: ‘FIFA is not a private equity fund. It is an association with statutes, regulations, and a fiduciary responsibility to protect the global game.

‘If you sell football’s crown jewels to private investors, you also sell part of the game – especially its soul. Money matters, but it must never become everything.’

Spurs have made a more extension summer schedule thus far, and are unbeaten in three friendly fixtures, having beat MK Dons, Auckland FC and Sydney FC over the past fortnight. Highly-rated young midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett will be hoping for more minutes, but both James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes has been ruled out through injury. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.

Uefa says it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s Fifa leadership as the fallout from the scrapped controversial investment plan intensifies.

On Saturday, Infantino said Fifa would no longer proceed with the proposal to sell stakes in the governing body’s competitions to private investors.

Uefa – which governs European football – had earlier voted to boycott World Cups if the plans went ahead, and other governing bodies also voiced their opposition.

In a lengthy statement on Saturday, Uefa said it welcomed the decision to withdraw the plan, describing it as “a victory for the whole game”.

It also accused Infantino of failing to deliver on promises, quoting a speech he gave when campaigning to become Fifa president in 2016.

“The current Fifa leadership has not only lost Uefa’s confidence but also that of many other members of the football family,” the statement read.

“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.’

“He told the assembled stakeholders: ‘The money of Fifa is your money. It’s not the money of the Fifa president. 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.”

Freely viewers now have more options to explore as the new channels have gone live on the platform.

The streaming service, which delivers live TV over broadband without the need for an aerial or satellite dish, has added its biggest single batch of channels since Warner Bros. Discovery brought its free-to-air portfolio across at the start of the year.

New content includes a mix of true crime, police shows, medical documentaries, made-for-TV thrillers, and a dedicated channel for children.

What is Freely?

Freely is operated by Everyone TV, the same organisation behind Freeview and Freesat.

It brings together channels from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and others in a single guide, with built-in seven-day catch-up.

According to Everyone TV, the platform reached two million monthly active users in July.

This figure doubled from around one million in December and 500,000 in September.

Freely launched in April 2024 and was initially only available on smart TVs from brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sharp.

In November 2025, the first standalone Freely box was released, expanding access to more households.

Freely adds 11 new channels to TV guide

Here are the 11 new channels added:

• 5Cops – Channel 69
• 5Police Interceptors – Channel 70
• 5Movies – Channel 77
• 5A&E – Channel 84
• 5Crime – Channel 85
• 5Medical – Channel 107
• 5Yorkshire Vet – Channel 108
• 5Bargain-Loving Brits – Channel 118
• 5Trucking Hell – Channel 119
• 5History – Channel 128
• Milkshake! – Channel 360

5Movies, 5Medical, 5Yorkshire Vet, 5History and Milkshake! are exclusive to Freely at launch, with them unavailable on Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media and others.

However, all 11 channels are available on 5 Streaming, the broadcaster’s own service.

There have been 11 new channels added to the Freely guide in the new update (Image: Getty Images)

The channels were already available on Freely devices through the 5 app; however, they are now in the Freely EPG (electronic programme guide).

Virgin and Samsung TVs get new free channels

The addition of the new Freely channels is not the only new ones UK TVs have received in recent months.

Virgin TV recently launched two brand-new 24/7 channels, 8 out of 10 Cats (150) and Pointless (251).

Both are available to stream to all Virgin TV360 and Stream customers, directly from their set-top box.

Millions of Samsung smart TVs have also received a free upgrade recently.

The new offerings are part of Samsung TV Plus, a free streaming service integrated into Samsung smart TVs and selected Galaxy devices.

Wrestling enthusiasts can now enjoy Wrestling Legends TV, a channel dedicated to WWE programming and behind-the-scenes content, accessible on channel 4613.

Eurovision Sport was launched on channel 4611, providing Olympic sports coverage, highlights, and documentaries at no extra cost.

Additionally, fans of Korean dramas can tune into new channels from Series K on channels 4254 and 4259, offering a variety of box sets and shows.

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Football supporters were not left out, as a Bundesliga channel is currently showing live matches and highlights on channel 4003 during a promotional period.

Samsung’s free streaming service is available on all Samsung Smart TVs from 2016 onwards and Samsung Galaxy Devices: Mobile & Tablet – Android 11.0 or higher.

You can watch free TV without a Samsung account, but creating one unlocks extra features.

What is your favourite TV channel to watch? Let us know in the comments.