Fifa says that “nobody is selling football” as it vowed to continue with the controversial plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.

Uefa – the body that governs European football – voted on Thursday to boycott World Cups if the plan proceeded.

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Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America and hosted this year’s World Cup, said its 41 member associations also “rejected” the proposal made by Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

Fifa oversees world football and Infantino would need 106 of its 211 members to vote in favour for the proposal to go through. Uefa and Concacaf members combined make up 96 of those votes.

In a statement released on Friday, Fifa claimed the consultation process had been “disrupted by incorrect media reports”.

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” the statement read.

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“We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts.

“Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.”

What are Infantino’s plans?

Fifa wants to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.

It said it would “invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments” in a new subsidiary – Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE).

In a 25-page document created by investment bank JP Morgan, it is made clear that Fifa’s tournaments will expand to hit an estimated increased pay-out of 24m euros per member association in the 2035-2039 cycle.

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It mentions “new business initiatives” and “attracting top talent with incentive-driven compensation”.

The World Cup is described in it as the “most widely viewed” sporting event but Fifa, by contrast, is said to be “under-monetised”.

There is no mention in the document of the women’s game.

On Friday, Fifa said FFE had been proposed “to ensure all Fifa member associations have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of the commercial opportunity of football in their respective countries”.

“This does not come at the cost of either the spirit or the governance of Fifa or football itself,” it added.

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Infantino previously wrote to Fifa members saying they will receive $40m (£30m) if they back his controversial proposal. He set a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept his plans if they want to access an initial $20m (£15m).

However, Uefa has accused Fifa of using football “to enrich themselves and their friends”.

If approval is granted, Fifa says Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.

Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner – the brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared.

What did Uefa and Concacaf say?

Uefa and Concacaf have led the opposition to Infantino’s plan.

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“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” Uefa’s statement on Thursday read.

“It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent.

“No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.

“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.”

Concacaf said its members “expressed deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal” and the “artificially short deadline imposed”.

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It also questioned the need for private investment after what Fifa claimed was the most profitable World Cup in history.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said that it is “deeply concerned that Fifa’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football”.

The AFC also said it was “unacceptable” that it had not been consulted before the proposal was publicly announced, nor provided with “detailed governance, financial or legal analysis”.

The governing body overseeing football in South America, Conmebol, is yet to publicly comment on the proposals. The governing bodies in Africa (CAF) and Oceania (OFC) have said they will discuss Fifa’s plan in August.

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Chelsea manager and 2010 World Cup winner Xabi Alonso was asked about the situation during his side’s pre-season tour of Australia.

“I think that football has to be for the people, not in private hands and I think that the way we love it is this way and we have seen a great World Cup and it’s good to defend the interests of all the people,” he said.

“Hopefully it won’t happen and we will do it – we will keep the game as attractive and as authentic as we like it and that’s why it creates these emotions, these passions.”

What happens now?

It feels as though no-one who matters knows how this situation is going to play out just yet.

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“Not sure the detail was considered when deciding the overall policy,” was the response from a senior European football source when asked what this decision means for the U20 Women’s World Cup, starting on 5 September, being hosted by Poland and featuring plenty of European nations.

Uefa’s boycott threat will be activated if Infantino’s funding deal is accepted.

Given 19 September is the deadline for countries to accept Fifa’s deal and bank $20m (£15m) on 1 January, in theory, countries could be pulling out of that tournament in the middle of the quarter-finals and before the semis.

After that, the next senior matches in a Fifa competition are the Women’s World Cup play-offs in October, which feature England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland among others.

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Infantino became Fifa president in 2016 when he beat Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa by 115 votes to 88. The Swiss is due to stand for a fourth term in March.

Prior to this week, it had been anticipated he would be re-elected unopposed. FAs around the world, including some in Europe, have already confirmed their intention to support the 56-year-old.

But sources say in addition to rejecting Infantino’s plan, the vast majority of the Concacaf members are either losing faith in the Fifa president’s ability to govern the game, or have lost it altogether.

Do ‘smaller’ nations need more support?

While Uefa members are among the richest on the planet, many nations elsewhere rely on Fifa funding for basic infrastructure.

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“There are the aspirations and needs of small nations, but you’ve also got large nations who have the power,” former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios told BBC Breakfast.

“It’s not dissimilar to the attempts to form a European Super League. On one end you’ve got the people who create the cash, but on the other end you still need competition.”

Rogers Byamukama of the Ugandan Football Federation argued that any avenue that could lead to more resources for nations like his should be explored.

“First and foremost, you need to understand that football is a very expensive venture, especially on the African continent where the resources are not easy to come by,” he told Newsday on BBC World Service.

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“For instance in Uganda, the number of infrastructure projects that have been funded by Fifa from the resources generated by Fifa, especially at the World Cup, both from ticket sales as well as sponsors.

“On top of that, there are many grassroot programmes that have been funded by Fifa, including schools for football.

“From my perspective, any avenue that brings in more resources is good because those resources would be distributed and given to federations, especially on the African continent and that would inspire growth.”

Byamukama acknowledged Uefa’s right to speak out, but suggested that its members are not reliant on Fifa funding like many associations in the rest of the world where Infantino remains popular.

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In the first two cycles of the Fifa Forward development programme, through to 2022, $2.8bn (£2.08bn) was made available for investment across the 211 member associations.

Fifa Forward 3.0 – covering the years 2023 through to 2026 – has produced a 30% increase in funding.

Fifa has provided a further $5m (£3.7m) for every member association, with another $60m (£44.48m) paid to each confederation for their own projects.

After being re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, Infantino is expected to win another term in 2027.

MANILA, Philippines–Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team opens a new era under Japanese coach Taka Minowa in the SEA V Cup Leg 1 at Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi Vietnam.

The Filipinos will play a single round-robin tournament, in which the records of four participating nations, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, will determine their rankings.

The best record will rule the tournament.

In the past four editions, the same core, led by captain Jia De Guzman, won bronze, beating Indonesia in their past meetings.

Alas Pilipinas women at SEA V Cup Leg 1 – schedule

July 31, Friday 

• 5pm – Indonesia vs Thailand
• 8pm – Alas Pilipinas vs Vietnam

August 1, Saturday

• 5pm – Alas Pilipinas vs Thailand
• 8pm – Indonesia vs Vietnam

August 2, Sunday

• 5pm – Alas Pilipinas vs Indonesia
• 8pm – Thailand vs Vietnam

Tommy Stokes believes that patience has been instrumental in his progression within his racing career, as he officially enters a training partnership with his father, Phillip Stokes. The Stokes name will officially feature on the race card as a training partnership for the first time this weekend, with Tommy expressing confidence that the added experience gained over the past year has adequately prepared him for the new responsibilities.

Phillip Stokes had encouraged his son to join him for several racing seasons, particularly after Tommy took charge of the stable’s Adelaide operation just before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Tommy felt he still had more to learn before fully committing to the partnership.

“Dad’s asked me probably the last three or four seasons, but I just felt like I needed to learn more about the business and needed to move over to Victoria before joining in a partnership,” Stokes shared. “I made the move about 12 months ago to Pakenham and got a season under my belt there and really feel that I’m ready now.”

Tommy has an immediate opportunity to celebrate his inaugural win as a trainer when Street Legal lines up as the favourite in the opening race at Morphettville Parks. The Exceedance gelding is set to contest the $50,000 PFD Food Services Maiden Plate (1250m) after accumulating six minor placings from his seven career starts.

Despite his consistent performances, Street Legal is still in pursuit of his maiden victory, having finished third as the $1.65 favourite over 1000 metres at Morphettville Parks in his most recent outing. “He’s obviously the class runner of the field, it’s just a case of him doing everything right and getting luck at the right point of the race,” Stokes commented. “The step up in trip does look ideal, especially with a low draw (barrier three). It all looks positive, so hopefully it plays out that way.”

Street Legal will be partnered by Noel Callow, who is commencing a fresh chapter in South Australia after returning from a suspension. Callow will also ride Bold Secret, the favourite in Race 8, where the Stokes stable will also have Australia Forever running, with Will Price in the saddle. Price has also been booked for the emergency runner Lafont in Race 3, and Brooke King will partner Nicish, the second favourite in Race 5. The stable’s Victorian team will also be competing on Saturday, with Rebel Tuesday scheduled for Race 2 at Flemington and I Am Velvet engaged in Race 4.

Compare the latest Morphettville and Flemington markets with Australia’s leading betting sites.

Away-game victories as a favorite indicate that a college football program is performing as expected on the road, under pressure.

The tables below show the wins, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs as the away team favorite over the last 15 seasons.

San Diego State leads the way, followed by Boise State, Oregon, Colorado, and Stanford.

Winning % and Records as Away Favorite by Program Since 2011

Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, with AC Milan saying their former captain’s “example and integrity will be forever etched into the club’s DNA”.

Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues.

Regarded as one of the greatest defenders to play the game, Baresi captained Milan for 15 seasons, making 719 appearances and scoring 33 goals.

He was capped 81 times by Italy and was part of the squad which won the 1982 World Cup. He played in the 1994 final, which Italy lost to Brazil.

In 2020, Baresi became honorary vice-president of AC Milan, with the club retiring his number six shirt four years later.

Baresi formed part of one of European football’s most celebrated defences alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti.

He also lifted four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups and the Intercontinental Cup twice.

In the 1994 World Cup, he returned from a knee injury to play in the final and largely nullified the threat of Brazil’s Romario and Bebeto in a 0-0 draw.

It was the first World Cup final to be decided by a shootout and Baresi missed the first penalty, with Brazil eventually winning it 3-2.

Baresi had surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, and his last public appearance was at the San Siro Stadium for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February.

In a statement on X, AC Milan wrote: “Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is.”

In a further post on the club’s website,, external they added: “Announcing the loss of someone who embodied the heart and soul of AC Milan is incredibly difficult. But everyone at the club and all the Milanisti must live up to Franco Baresi’s memory.

“In memory of Franco, we stand united, knowing he’ll guide and push us throughout our Rossoneri journey. Forever. Because Baresi is forever.”

Oleksandr Usyk has downplayed the threat of Filip Hrgovic as he envisions Moses Itauma retaining his status as the “future” of heavyweight boxing.

Indeed, the prodigious talent has been widely hailed as a future world champion, seemingly possessing the mental and physical attributes to reign supreme in years to come.

Such belief in the 21-year-old was only enhanced by his last outing, which resulted in a fifth-round stoppage of fringe contender Jermaine Franklin in March.

Now, though, Itauma is approaching his toughest test thus far, taking on the seasoned and durable Filip Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena on August 29.

The Croatian has firmly cemented himself as a top 10 heavyweight, with his only loss arriving when he was stopped on cuts in round eight of his 2024 encounter with Daniel Dubois.

But while many believe that Hrgovic will offer a significant challenge to Itauma, Usyk appears less convinced that the 34-year-old can pose many problems.

Speaking with DAZN, the Ukrainian effectively named Itauma as the heir to his throne and, by extension, the type of fighter who handles pressure with remarkable composure.

“[Hrgovic is] not a big test, but [he’s] a test. Itauma, for me, is a special guy because he’s very relaxed before fights [and] after fights.

“[He’s the] future.”

While Usyk vacated his WBC, IBF and WBA titles last month, he will remain the lineal heavyweight champion until he either retires or is defeated in the ring.

With just one fight remaining, though, it is most likely that the next heavyweight king – possibly Itauma – will be crowned once the 39-year-old has called time on his Hall of Fame career.

India’s Lovepreet Singh came within touching distance of a Commonwealth Games gold before settling for silver in the men’s +110kg weightlifting event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

The 28-year-old lifted a combined 388kg (176kg in the snatch and 212kg in the clean and jerk), finishing just one kilogram behind New Zealand’s David Andrew Liti, who claimed gold with a total of 389kg (166kg + 223kg). England’s Andrew Griffith took bronze with 356kg.

Lovepreet’s silver upgraded the bronze medal he won at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and also ended India’s run of three medalless weightlifting events.

His performance capped a successful campaign for the Indian weightlifting contingent, which finished the Games with eight medals.

Who is Lovepreet Singh?

Born on September 6, 1997, in Bal Sikander village in Punjab’s Amritsar district, Lovepreet Singh grew up in a modest household.

His father worked as a tailor, while his grandfather earned a livelihood by selling vegetables. Rather than following the family profession, Lovepreet was encouraged to pursue sport and took up weightlifting at the age of 13 at the DAV Ground in Amritsar.

From Bal Sikander to the Commonwealth podium

Lovepreet announced himself on the international stage by winning silver in the men’s 109kg category at the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

A year later, he secured bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, earning India’s first medal in the men’s heavyweight division at those Games.

Following the restructuring of international weight categories, Lovepreet moved into the men’s +110kg division, where he continued to establish himself among the world’s top heavyweight lifters.

His silver medal at Glasgow 2026 marks his second successive Commonwealth Games podium finish and underlines his consistency on the international stage.

An impressive resume

Lovepreet has steadily built an impressive international resume over the past few years.

His medal-winning performances include silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in the men’s +110kg category, bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the men’s 109kg category, and silver at the 2021 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

The Glasgow campaign also saw him rewrite the Commonwealth Games record books after producing a snatch lift of 176kg, setting a new Games record in the discipline.

The road to CWG 2026 silver

Lovepreet looked destined for gold after a sensational performance in the snatch.

He opened with a comfortable 168kg before successfully clearing 173kg on his second attempt. On his final attempt, the Punjab lifter produced a flawless 176kg lift to set a new Commonwealth Games snatch record and carry a commanding 10kg advantage into the clean and jerk.

His chances improved further after Samoa’s Sanele Mao, one of the pre-event favourites, failed all three snatch attempts.

The clean and jerk, however, belonged to New Zealand’s David Liti.

Liti opened with 207kg before Lovepreet successfully matched his personal best of 212kg on his second attempt. With the crowd chanting “Come on, Jatta” and “Come on, Singh”, Lovepreet attempted 217kg on his final lift — a weight that would have broken the Commonwealth Games record and secured gold.

Although he managed to clean the bar, he could not complete the jerk.

That left the door open for Liti, who responded with a Games-record clean-and-jerk lift of 223kg to finish with a total of 389kg and snatch the gold by a single kilogram.

“I thought I would win gold after snatch but it was up to God. Little disappointed that I couldn’t lift in my final attempt in clean and jerk. I have lifted more in training,” Lovepreet said after the competition.

What’s next for Lovepreet?

Winning silver at Glasgow further strengthens Lovepreet Singh’s position as India’s leading heavyweight weightlifter.

Having now won medals at consecutive Commonwealth Games and established himself as a record-holder at the event, the Punjab lifter will shift his focus to the World Weightlifting Championships, Asian Championships and the qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

With his performances continuing to improve in the +110kg category, Lovepreet remains one of India’s strongest medal hopes at major international competitions.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens responded to Jerry Jones’ comments about his future with the franchise.

On Tuesday, Jones had high praise for Pickens. He also highlighted the possibility of him playing for the Cowboys for the rest of his NFL career. Pickens expressed his appreciation for those kind words on Thursday.

“Super excited,” Pickens said. “I’m always super happy when someone thinks highly of me, so shout out to Jerry.”

The Cowboys acquired George Pickens via a trade with the Steelers in May 2025. In 17 games, he posted an impressive 1,429 yards on 93 receptions and nine touchdowns. There was a lot of chatter about a potential contract extension following his performance.

However, in February, the Cowboys placed a franchise tag on him. Pickens signed the $27.3 million franchise tag in April. While speaking about the wide receiver, Jerry Jones said that he expects great things from Pickens in 2026.

“He’s a valued part of our aspirations and our potential success,” Jones said. “I hope that he comes out here and is the most prolific, successful receiver in the NFL this year. And how would you like to be a free agent and with his credentials and step out there and have a year like that? I wish all of that because if that happens, that (would be) good for us.

“This can be a very win-win thing that we’ve done here, us and George being on the team. Make no mistake about it, George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career and that’d be a long time. Make no mistake about it. This (franchise tag) just fit for us and thank goodness it fit for him and we got it done.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Pickens with the No. 52 pick in 2022. In three seasons, he recorded 2,841 yards on 174 receptions and 21 TDs.

ALSO READ: “No deadline drama this time”: NFL fans react as George Pickens officially enters July 15 deadline as a franchised player without long-term deal

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Dak Prescott “excited” to play alongside George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb in the 2026 season

Dak Prescott has already built a rapport with CeeDee Lamb over the past few years. Last season, he also built chemistry with George Pickens, providing him with more help on offense.

On Thursday, Prescott was questioned about his strategy heading into Year 2 with Lamb and Pickens by his side.

“It’s exciting. They help me be comfortable,” Prescott said. “Those guys are ridiculous in their ability to get one, ability to win in one-on-one. Right now, it’s just about continuing to communicate about the zones and where they need to be in certain timings. … They’re just a complement to this whole offense.”

The Cowboys play the New York Giants on the road in their season-opener on Sept. 13.