By KATHERINE LAWTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 20:53 BST, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 23:02 BST, 4 August 2026

Parts of London enjoyed a brief period of rain for the first time in six weeks this afternoon as Britain continues to bake in record-breaking heat. 

Gardens, parks and golf courses across the capital have turned into a desert amid temperatures of up to 35C, following one of the driest July months ever recorded. 

While most of today’s rain fell across the north and west of the UK – with 32.4mm recorded at Kinlochewe in Scotland – Southeast England also saw a trace of just under 0.2mm in locations such as Heathrow. 

The level of rainfall was not enough to bring London out of its dry spell, the Environment Agency confirmed, with seven areas across England still in drought. 

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The areas are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands and Wessex. 

London is set to remain dry throughout this week and next, with slightly cooler temperatures of around 23C on the way. 

But rivers are still running low, wildfire risk is increasing and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use. 

Londoners on their commute home from work took to social media today to report their surprise at the brief spot of rain. One woman uploaded a video of herself smiling as she walked through the light shower, captioning the clip: ‘PSA: It is raining in London. Never thought I’d be so happy to see the rain in my life. Hallelujah.’ 

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One woman took to social media to express her joy while walking through the light rain in London today 

Someone captioned their post: ‘I never thought I’d see the day it rains again in London’ 

Another posted a video of a rainy London, saying they ‘love’ the unexpected shower amid a period of drought 

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Another showed rain falling onto a residential street, captioning the post: ‘Well that was unexpected London / 4th August 26.’ 

A third uploaded a photo of a slightly damp patio, writing: ‘Well that was pathetic lasted a few minutes but some rain which has sort of dampened the ground. Nothing measurable, amusing that’s the “wettest” I’ve seen it in six weeks. #London.’ 

Someone reacted to the post: ‘These are unusual times.’ 

The Environment Agency has increased its operational response amid the period of drought by controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwaters.

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Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said: ‘The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.

‘A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.

‘We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.’ 

Millions of Britons are also under hosepipe bans as water companies look to protect reserves. 

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Tiny puddles could be seen on the ground in one clip taken in the capital today 

One person on social media took a video of a grey sky in London, captioning their post: ‘It’s raining!!!’ 

Horse riders on a path beside scorched grass at Richmond Park in south-west London today

A Daily Mail investigation told how one Kent road, just outside London, has been divided by water freedoms, with one half forbidden to use their hosepipes as the other remained free to do so.

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The Met Office said more than half of England was in drought and several counties had seen less than 1mm of rainfall across the whole of July.

Last week it said provisional statistics showed England and Wales were on track to record their driest July in almost 200 years.

Meanwhile, the country as a whole was set for its third driest July on record, seeing just 35 per cent of the rainfall it would usually experience.

The Met Office added the dry conditions had come alongside ‘exceptional warmth’ across the country, with England set for its joint-warmest July for average temperature and Wales on course for its hottest-ever.

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Peterborough City Council agreed to provide a £15 million loan for the construction of the hotel in 2017 – but nearly 10 years later, it is still unfinished

An unfinished hotel in Peterborough has been sold. The Fletton Quays hotel has been sold to Leisure & Co Hotel Ltd, which aims to open the property as Hilton Garden Inn Peterborough in summer 2027.

The council agreed to provide funding for the construction of the Fletton Quays Hilton Hotel in 2017, by way of a loan of up to £15 million to the company developing the hotel.

Administrators Teneo have been in charge of the property since the council took the company previously leading on the development, Fletton Quays Hotel Ltd, into administration in October 2024. Teneo put the site up for sale earlier this year, after the move was approved by Peterborough City Council’s cabinet in September 2025.

The hotel will be managed by Leaf Hospitality, with 160 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, meeting facilities, fitness amenities, and a ninth-floor rooftop terrace with views across the River Nene and Peterborough Cathedral. The hotel is also expected to create around 60 jobs.

Councillor Mohammed Jamil, cabinet member for finance and corporate governance, said: “This is such positive news for the city, and I wish the buyers the very best with their new venture. The sale of this asset is an important step towards resolving a long-standing issue and bringing this prominent riverside site back into productive use.

“This was an issue we inherited from the previous Conservative administration and my priority has always been to secure the best possible outcome for the city and our residents. We considered a number of different options with the administrators and selling the asset best protected the interests of taxpayers and supported the continued regeneration of this important area of the city.

“We now look forward to seeing the new owner bring forward their plans, complete the development and help realise the original ambition for a high-quality hotel that supports jobs, visitors and local growth.”

Paul Barrasford, director, UK Regional Hotels, CBRE, which has provided the council with market advice to support the disposal and marketing of the site, said: “This hotel is a landmark development and will have a significant positive impact on the local community and the wider city of Peterborough. It will boost local business, drive tourism and support the council’s £120 million Fletton Quays regeneration scheme.

“Once complete, the hotel will bring jobs, commerce and investment to the area, as well as providing a high-quality hospitality and leisure venue for the community to enjoy. Having the opportunity to help orchestrate this deal, CBRE has played a vital role in delivering the original vision for Fletton Quays.”

She was last seen shortly after 2.30pm on Tuesday

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Police are ‘increasingly concerned’ for a missing 75-year-old woman.

The woman, named only as Christine, was last seen walking past Tunstall Golf Club in Milnrow shortly after 2.30pm.

She is believed to be wearing a red jumper and cropped trousers.

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Christine is described as white, around 5’2 and having a small build.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Can you help police find missing Christine? Christine was last seen walking past Tunshill Golf Club in Milnrow at around 2:42pm on 04/08/26.

“Officers are becoming increasingly concerned for Christine’s welfare and want to ensure she is safe and well.“Anyone with information about Christine’s whereabouts is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8643, quoting log number 2933-040826.”

Sharif Ahmadzai allegedly sent texts from a burner phone pretending to be a jihadist after murdering Edinburgh Christian charity worker Elisabeth Jane Ross in Athens on July 15.

The Afghan migrant accused of killing a Scots woman found dead in a suitcase in Greece reportedly texted his wife posing as an unnamed jihadist following her death.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was found dead inside a suitcase in a derelict building in Athens on July 18 after vanishing days earlier. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of the Christian charity worker, from Edinburgh.

It has now been alleged by Greek outlet Proto Thema, that the professional boxer bought and used a burner phone to send messages to Elisabeth’s friends, his wife, Alaina Hall, and even himself. In the messages he allegedly claimed to be an unnamed jihadist who had killed Elisabeth because of her Christian faith.

Ahmadzai is also accused of texting Elisabeth’s friends and family using her own phone before switching off the device.

This comes after we reported that Sharif Ahmadzai had planned to leave Greece and make his was to the UK. In a video published a number of years ago by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Ahmadazi’s story is told through a cartoon.

The video reveals his father was killed while working as a commander in the national army, while his mother and siblings died in a suicide bombing. It details his journey being smuggled into Greece through Iran and Turkey and being housed at a migrant camp on Lesbos.

Ahmadazi, whose words from the camp are being voiced by an actor, says: “I have an aunt in the United Kingdom. She told me, ‘I can take full responsibility of you, if someone helps you get to the UK’. But, if I can’t get there, I don’t know what will happen to me.”

Cops investigating the motive behind the killing are understood to be looking at a number of options – including that she may have rejected his advances. Ahmadzi is married to US citizen Alaina Hall, 28, and converted to Christianity.

The couple set up a ministry for refugees in Athens called Love Every Nation Athens and went on to have a child together. It’s said that the couple knew Ms Ross through their missionary work.

Cops confirmed they had a key to the flat she was staying in as it was owned by their charity. Ahmadzai is believed to have informed cops that he found Ms Ross already dead in her bathroom.

Police launched a probe into the Afghan-national after it is understood his US wife reported her husband’s suspicious behaviour on July 30.

She allegedly woke up and noticed he wasn’t at home on the evening of July 15 and checked his shared location which showed him at Ms Ross’s apartment. He allegedly admitted using her bank cards to withdraw cash and also used her phone to send messages to relatives and friends, pretending to be her.

Ahmadzai’s wife grew even more suspicious when it was announced Ms Ross’s body had been found and left the family home with their baby to stay in a hotel. Ahmadzai gave her €2,550 and a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro but she handed them over to police believing they were bought with Ms Ross’s money.

Detectives raided the family home on August 1 and found a black metal replica Glock-style pistol and a black military-style knife, sources say.

Chilling CCTV footage showed the horror moment he allegedly drags the suitcase containing the missionary’s body through the streets of Athens. He was later seen on camera without the suitcase.

Ahmadzai, who is due to appear in court tomorrow, also spouted his loathing of Christian aid workers in a string of hate-filled online posts in the weeks before the incident.

He had written a memoir called From Hell to Home about his experiences in camps and shared a page from the book on his social media with a chapter entitled “corrupt NGOs”.

In a Facebook post outlining his views on the subject in May, he wrote: “Shame on corruption dressed like charity. Shame on business wearing the name of Christ.”

Ahmadzai had regularly told his online followers of his disdain for NGOs, repeatedly referring to one experience in a refugee camp in Lesvos, where he furiously slammed charity volunteers and spoke of “karma”.

Ms Ross had been a regular visitor to Greece over the past seven years, where she volunteered with NGOs helping refugees, homeless people and other vulnerable groups. She arrived in Athens on June 26 and the last confirmed sign her alive was recorded at 9.41pm on July 15, when she called a close pal.

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Rivals actor Danny Dyer made his views on King Charles III clear during an episode of his podcast, years after joking that the pair were “related”.

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Danny Dyer has never been one to mince his words, as a resurfaced clip from his podcast has reminded fans this week. Appearing alongside his daughter Dani Dyer on their Live and Let Dyers podcast, the actor launched into a tirade about the monarchy, urging King Charles III to “sell some of his palaces” in order to address the homelessness crisis.

He fumed: “Why don’t you sell one of your palaces? I’m sure he lives in a f*****g 25-bedroom f*****g palace. Why don’t you give some rooms to some of the homeless? And why don’t you sell some of your palaces to raise some money to f*****g end homelessness.”

While Charles has no influence over government policy and many royal residences are not his personal possessions, he has been actively engaged in efforts to combat homelessness for decades, both prior to and since ascending to the throne.

During the podcast, Danny, 49, also took aim at the cost of Charles’ Coronation, which was held in May 2023. “I’m still not over the fact that Prince Charles threw a £250 million party for himself when he had a crown put on his f*****g nut and there’s old ladies dying,” he continued.

Official Government figures reveal that taxpayers contributed £72 million towards the ceremony. Reports indicated that £21.7 million of the total was allocated by the Home Office to cover policing, while the remaining £50.3 million was spent by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), funded by the Treasury.

The figures were released in the department’s annual report. The Rival actor’s remarks came years after he enjoyed a humorous exchange with the then-Prince Charles at the Prince’s Trust Awards in 2019.

At the event, he joked they were having a “family reunion” after genealogists on Who Do You Think You Are? traced his family tree back to King Edward III.

He subsequently presented the two-part documentary Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family, which delved into his royal lineage and examined how his ancestors lived.

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According to reports, Danny told the Prince: “I’m in EastEnders. Just wanted to let you know we’re related as well. King Edward III is my grandfather – but I won’t go into it. No he is, on my life,” to which Charles replied: “A very long way away.”

Later during the occasion, the royal informed the audience he had “discovered a long-lost relation with Daniel Dyer”.

“He told me he was descended from Edward III, which is interesting. I must do some research when I get back,” he added.

Speaking to the audience, Danny added: “When your cousin Charlie makes the call, you’ve got to help your family out, you know what I mean?”.

He also quipped that his mention of their familial link had sailed over the Prince’s head.

The M67 will remain closed throughout the night

The M67 will remain closed overnight as planned roadworks get underway after ‘human remains’ were found near the motorway.

Forensics officers were at the scene on the M67 throughout the day on Tuesday (August 4) after ‘human remains’ were found.

Greater Manchester Police said they were called to a stretch of the motorway after road workers made the discovery ‘close to a bridge between junctions three and four’ – between Hyde and Hattersley – shortly after 11pm on Monday.

Detectives now believe they have identified suspected human remains at the scene, with a large police presence and multiple vehicles at the scene this afternoon.

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In an update issued on Tuesday evening, National Highways said that the police incident has now concluded but that the M67 will remain closed overnight for planned overnight roadworks as part of the A57 link roads scheme.

It said: “The police incident on the M67 east between J3 Hyde & J4 WoolleyBridge have now concluded.

“The road will remain closed both ways for planned overnight roadworks as part of the A57 link roads scheme. There are no delays on approach.”

Throughout the day, the East bound carriageway was shut ‘due to the nature of the incident’, National Highways said in an earlier statement.

Forensics officers in white suits and masks have been pictured working close to a bridge on the Eastbound carriageway.

In an earlier update a force spokesperson said: “Officers were called shortly after 11pm on Monday, August 3 2026, by road workers who made the discovery close to a bridge between junctions three and four.

“We are working with specialist teams to understand the circumstances behind this incident. The road will be closed between junctions three and four while detectives carry out their investigation.

“Please continue to avoid the area and we will provide updates when we have them.”

When politicians debate disability benefits today, the arguments can sound distinctly modern. Concerns about rising welfare costs, accusations of fraud and disputes over who deserves support often dominate headlines and political discussions.

But as my new book on 500 years of disability history in Britain shows, these debates are far older than many people realise. Since the first welfare systems emerged under the Tudors, disabled people have faced suspicion, bureaucratic hurdles and repeated battles to secure the support they needed.

Understanding this history helps explain why many disabled people in the UK feel anxious about the future despite major advances in rights, healthcare and accessibility.

For many disabled people, obtaining state support is getting harder rather than easier. The number of successful claims for personal independence payment (Pip) has fallen since 2024, while thousands of people face repeated reassessments, including those with lifelong conditions. Politicians, thinktanks and commentators frequently question rising disability spending, while many claimants worry about losing support they depend on.

But disabled people faced remarkably similar challenges centuries ago. One of the clearest examples comes from the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601, which was England’s first organised welfare system. It required parishes to support people who couldn’t earn a living because of age, illness or impairment. In practice, however, access to assistance was often contested.

Tudor writers spread stories about supposedly fake disabled beggars who tricked the public by covering themselves in artificial sores or pretending to have seizures. At the same time, local officials worried about the cost of supporting people who might need help for years. Claims could be rejected because an applicant was considered of poor moral character or because they were new to the parish.

The records suggest that decisions about who deserved support were often shaped as much by social attitudes and local politics as by an individual’s actual condition. The phrase “genuine need”, still common in modern welfare debates, has always been open to interpretation.

Disabled people did not simply accept these decisions. Many challenged them by submitting petitions to magistrates. Written in deferential language, these appeals nevertheless represent some of the earliest surviving examples of disabled people defending their right to support that was legally theirs.

These disputes reveal striking continuities with the present day. They show that disabled people have long faced suspicion when seeking assistance. But they also demonstrate a history of resistance and self-advocacy that is often overlooked.

Work

Welfare was not the only area in which disabled people faced barriers. Work has long been another battleground.

Today, applicants for access to work – the UK government scheme that funds workplace support such as specialist equipment and assistance – face lengthy delays. Recent reports suggest there is now a backlog of more than 60,000 applications.

Even as the government seeks to move more people into employment, many disabled people struggle to obtain the support that would allow them to do so. History suggests these tensions are nothing new.

À lire aussi :
What early modern literature can teach us about neurodivergence

Disabled people have always worked, but from the time of the Industrial Revolution they have faced increasing challenges. Mechanisation increased the pace of production and often favoured those able to work faster and for longer hours. As a result, many disabled workers found it harder to secure employment or faced worsening conditions. But they continued to organise and demand change.

In May 1833, hundreds of disabled child workers marched through the streets of Manchester demanding shorter working days in the city’s cotton mills. Their protest challenges the common assumption that disability history is simply a story of welfare and care. Disabled people were also workers, campaigners and activists.

One important figure was William Dodd, an amputee former factory worker who toured the manufacturing towns of northern England during the 1840s. Gathering evidence about workplace injuries, he exposed the devastating human cost of industrial production and campaigned for compensation for injured workers.

Dodd’s reports show the horrendous effects of industrial work before modern health and safety. His work also shows how disabled activists helped drive reforms that benefited society as a whole.

Looking back at five centuries of history reveals both remarkable progress and striking continuities. Disabled people today enjoy rights, protections and opportunities that would have been unimaginable to earlier generations. But many of the debates around welfare, employment and support remain surprisingly familiar.

Perhaps the most important lesson from the past is that change rarely came from above. The support services, legal protections and opportunities available today were not simply gifts from an increasingly enlightened society. They were won through campaigns, protests and persistent challenges to exclusion.

Disability history largely remains a missing part of the UK’s story. Understanding it helps explain why contemporary debates often feel so fraught.

More importantly, it reminds us that disabled people have never been passive recipients of care. They have long been active participants in shaping society, and their demands for equality and recognition are still far from fully realised.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

“My complaint is solely on what that officer did with that information.”

A NI council official is to face an investigation into alleged misconduct on “scandalous” claims about a councillor amid a judicial review process.

A Co Down elected member made a proposal in chambers after allowing time for the official to apologise for their conduct following the tragic death of is daughter.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council had released a statement publicly acknowledging the “heartbreak caused” to independent councillor Jarlath Tinnelly, but he says the official has yet to contact him directly.

READ MORE: DUP councillors could appeal sentence of man convicted of ‘serious threats’.

READ MORE: Deadline for councillors to join Co Down harbour board after ‘stink’ resignations.

In chambers this week, Councillor Tinnelly said: “I’ve had no correspondence or word from that officer since, so I’m happy enough, chairman, as I indicated last month, to allow this to play out via a formal investigation.”

“I’ve seen a lot of gaslighting going on here this evening, and it has very quickly come into play.

“I want to be absolutely certain about something here. The judicial review and the contents of the legal correspondence were nothing to do with my complaint.

“My complaint is solely on what that officer did with that information.”

In July, the independent councillor said he was “crushed and broken” after his daughter Aoife Tinnelly, 24, tragically died in a fatal road traffic collision in Kilkeel on April 20.

He went on to slam an unidentified council official in chambers for allegedly making “scandalous” claims about him at the family wake.

The Mournes elected members says “serious allegations” linked him to an “affidavit” causing delays to the council’s new £17million civic centre.

But he told the Local Democracry Reporting Service that he was never asked for an affidavit and would not have given one.

The council had voted through designs for its new HQ in the city centre in June 2025.

The significantly delayed project has proved deeply divisive with more than 2,500 objections submitted by parishioners of Newry Cathedral mainly over car parking concerns for Mass goers.

A Newry resident has now cleared the first stage of a high court challenge to the council’s controversial civic centre.

In chambers, Councillor Tinnelly said:”The two issues cannot be conflated, and I will be seeking a formal investigation to begin into the matter that I’m raising here, which is what that officer did with that information.

“So, I wish to make a formal proposal that an investigation be launched into this matter through the appropriate avenue.”

The proposal was seconded by Mournes DUP councillor Alan Lewis.

A legal adviser alluded to the matter requiring the council’s human resources department to become involved.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Ross Wilkes (Ian Burfield) may have fooled Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) and Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) with his charm, but there is one Coronation Street legend who refuses to buy his act.

Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) tried to warn her family about Ross’ true colours from the moment he arrived on the cobbles, but he has a knack for talking his way out of trouble.

This caused Cassie to resort to more extreme levels to get him out of her life, but her plan backfired when Tracy ended up in hospital after drinking a smoothie Cassie had drugged.

Devastatingly, this destroyed Cassie and Tyrone’s relationship, as well as her relationship with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), and Cassie ended up accepting a job on a cruise ship to get away from Coronation Street.

‘She feels she has absolutely no choice,’ actress Claire Sweeney said.

‘She has been rejected by the love of her life, Steve, and everyone else has turned their backs on her. She feels her life there has been destroyed.

‘The only option left is to take that job on the cruise ship.’

However, whether she made it to the ship remains a mystery, as she was last seen being driven off in Ross’ car…

In tonight’s episode, Steve lamented about missing his chance to make amends with Cassie, revealing that it looked like she’d blocked him. When Ross arrived in the pub, he asked where he’d taken Cassie, hoping he could track her down.

Though Ross initially denied having taken her anywhere, when Steve pointed out that he’d watched them drive away from the precinct, he backtracked and told him he’d dropped her off at Manchester Piccadilly station.

Later, when Ross found himself alone with Fiz Dobbs (Jennie McAlpine), the atmosphere darkened, as she dropped her friendly pretence and made it clear that she didn’t trust him.

She highlighted how his lying to Steve hadn’t slipped her notice, nor had the fact that he seemed surprised that Cassie had left the previous day.

Fiz was willing to let the inconsistencies slide for now, but warned Ross that if he put a toe out of line, she would make sure he was cast out for good.

Will Fiz be the one to finally expose Ross for who he really is?

MORE: Coronation Street legend ‘sobbing and in denial’ over Cassie’s ending

MORE: Coronation Street spoiler videos confirm huge exit and shock attack

MORE: More scheduling chaos as Coronation Street and Emmerdale to be taken off air again

By MIKE KEEGAN, CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER and BOBBY MANZI, FOOTBALL REPORTER

Published: 21:37 BST, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 21:48 BST, 4 August 2026

Gianni Infantino has summoned senior FIFA officials to a hotel in Morocco for crisis talks as pressure continues to mount on the FIFA president. 

It comes after Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein accused him of blackmail.

Infantino has come under intense scrutiny since plans to sell £3.1billion in World Cup stakes leaked last week.

The Swiss football administrator has since scrapped the proposals after widespread opposition – including an internal rebellion at FIFA.

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UEFA and CONCACAF – the body for North and Central America and the Caribbean – are both calling for Infantino to step down, with Europe declaring a lack of confidence in the FIFA president.

Jordan, meanwhile, are the first Asian nation to rebel against Infantino – taking the total to 91, assuming all UEFA and CONCACAF nations follow the stance set by their continental bodies. 106 nations are needed to depose Infantino as president.

In a statement Hussein ripped into Infantino, accusing him of delaying prize money payments and refusing to address the problem unless Jordan endorsed him for a fourth term at the helm of world football.

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 Gianni Infantino has summoned senior FIFA officials to a hotel in Morocco for crisis talks

Infantino has been accused of blackmail by Jordan FA president Prince Ali bin Hussein 

‘There is no shortage of issues regarding FIFA. Let me start by clarifying what some of these are from an FA perspective, in particular that of Jordan going into a World Cup for the first time,’ Hussein said.

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‘We are a small country with a minimal budget for our FA and had to deal with enormous hurdles.

‘First, getting our fans into the USA: not all were granted visas, even though they had tickets – which we also know were sold at exorbitant prices.

‘Secondly, we are being taxed by the US government through FIFA for our participation. Money that should go to players and staff.

‘This was not the case for those who played and set up camp in Canada and Mexico. But we happened to be in the USA so now we face these huge costs in taxes for having participated.

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‘Thirdly we have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab Cup in Qatar, which is a FIFA event.

‘The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve.

‘It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.

‘We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now.

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‘But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.’

Daily Mail Sport have contacted FIFA for comment.