Fifa has hit out at what it described as attempts to “undermine” its embattled president, Gianni Infantino.

Infantino has faced calls to resign from his role in the aftermath of a saga that saw him abandon a proposed plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions.

That proposal brought the threat of a boycott from Uefa, European football’s governing body, with England’s Football Association (FA) among those to officially withdraw their support for the Fifa president.

Infantino is due to seek re-election in March of next year. He has received backing from South American body Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter as president of Fifa in February 2016 having previously served as Uefa’s general secretary for seven years, and the organisation has again given the 55-year-old its strong back.

“Echoing the recent statements of Conmebol and Caf, as well as discussions with Fifa Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, Fifa will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the Fifa President that is inconsistent with Fifa’s Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework,” a Fifa spokesperson said. “The Fifa President was democratically elected by Fifa’s Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.

“It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its President. Those who do not have the support of FIFA’s Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifa’s established democratic processes.

“Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning Fifa and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.

“The Fifa President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football. Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of Fifa’s President or the institution he was elected to lead.

“Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, Fifa will challenge it directly and vigorously.

“Fifa’s responsibility is to its 211 Member Associations and to football around the world. We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global. Through the FIfa President and the Fifa administration, our focus remains firmly on that mission, and we are more determined than ever to fulfil it.”

Uefa has said that its threat to boycott remains in place despite the abandonment of the sell-off plans.

Fifa’s management board backed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala celebrates a point against United States’ Caty McNally during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alex Eala’s loyal and roaring followers have been the center of an ongoing debate over what constitutes proper tennis etiquette. The Filipino superstar has largely kept her voice neutral in that conversation.

But for one moment, after winning a key point in a testy three-setter that she said she really “wanted,” Eala made it clear what she wanted from her supporters.

Get louder.

“[I]n that point specifically … I was hyped. So, I wanted to kind of like share that with the crowd and obviously also try to take in their energy,” Eala said on Saturday (Manila time), when asked what was going through her mind as she encouraged the crowd to cheer on.

“I wanted that point.”

She needed that point—and every bit of energy the crowd could share with her.

The emotions that overtook Eala at the end of her 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 victory over American Caty McNally in the National Bank Open in Toronto made the result seem like more than just a ticket to the fourth round.

And perhaps it was. The 21-year-old Filipino superstar entered the night duel in the middle of a hectic fortnight, one where she won her first WTA title. She was also coming off a string of six straight victories and had to deal with more than just the compounding weight of expectations.

She also did not want this magical run to end.

“These past two weeks, I’ve been feeling emotions so extremely because of the circumstances, which is a great thing,” she said of her current streak. “I think I’m quite a sentimental person.

“To play in front of you guys, it’s amazing, so the motivation to come here and play another match—everything just becomes so much more emotional,” she added.

It showed in the final point as Eala looked on the verge of tears after McNally sent her return long and handed the world No. 20 a seventh consecutive victory.

“Obviously, today was really close,” Eala said.

Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts as she clinches a win over United States’ Caty McNally during a National Bank Open tennis match in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

She also had to deal with a forward-charging opponent and a second-set mishap where she took a medical break after rolling her ankle.

Things started looking bleak when McNally refused to wilt, fighting off Eala’s attempt to serve out the match in the second and forcing the grueling decider in a match that lasted two hours and 39 minutes.

“I am as tired as one can be at this stage,” Eala admitted. “You can imagine a lot of matches, but, you know, that’s the job.”

“I needed to push a lot.”

And she also needed every bit of energy the crowd could give her, judging by how spent she looked after the match.

She next faces Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic, who advanced after an even more lung-busting three-setter. Bencic needed three hours and 24 minutes to dismiss American Taylor Townsend, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4.

“[I]t’s going to be the first time that I’m facing her,” Eala said. “And of course, Belinda has accomplished so much in tennis.”

There will be concerns about her ankle, but Eala brushed them off.

“Luckily there’s nothing wrong with it. No serious problems,” she said. “I think I have a great team who’s going to help me recover.”

And, should she need it again, Eala is also expected to have another good crowd providing her with an energy boost. INQ

Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) on Saturday offered its condolences to Lionel Messi and his family following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68.Jorge Messi had been receiving treatment at a clinic in Rosario.Following his death, the AFA posted a message on X offering its support to Lionel and his family.“Stay strong, Leo Messi and family. We are with you in this difficult moment. We send you our most heartfelt embrace,” the AFA said.FC Barcelona, where Lionel Messi played from 2004 to 2021, also expressed its condolences to Jorge Messi’s family. The club acknowledged Jorge’s role in allowing Barcelona to be part of the early and successful years of Lionel’s football career.“The President and the Board of Directors of FC Barcelona express their deepest condolences on the passing of Jorge Messi, father of former Barca player and legend Lionel Messi, and, on behalf of the entire Barca family, extend their condolences to the Messi family. FC Barcelona thanks Jorge Messi for his commitment to our Club, for entrusting us with the beginnings and the most glorious years of his son Leo’s football career. May he rest in peace,” FC Barcelona said in an X post.Jorge Messi was also closely involved in his son’s football career. After Lionel’s career took off, Jorge became his agent and strategic adviser. Before that, he had worked for years as a supervisor at a steel factory.He was involved in Lionel’s early years at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina. When Lionel was 13, Jorge helped arrange his move to Spain to join Barcelona’s youth academy.Barcelona also paid for the treatment of Messi’s growth hormone deficiency, a condition that affected his physical development.Jorge was married to Celia Cuccittini and had four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias and Maria Sol.

Ayush Shetty has always had dreams of competing in the BWF World Championships. Now, that dream will turn into reality for the 21-year-old rising star as India is hosting the badminton’s biggest event after a hiatus of 17 years.

The Karnataka shutter realises how special an occasion this is for him.

“To make my debut at the World Championships, and to do so when India is hosting the event after 17 years, is incredibly special,” Ayush, one of four Indians who will make their first appearance in the tournament, told PTI.

Ayush, however, has been handed a tough draw in the August 17-23 tournament as he is set to take on defending champion and world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China in the men’s singles’ opening round.

Joining him are women’s singles prospect Unnati Hooda and women’s doubles pair Simran Singhi and Kavipriya Selvam, all of whom have earned their places through impressive performances on the international circuit.

While the spotlight will naturally remain on established stars such as two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, the tournament also offers the young quartet an opportunity to announce themselves on the biggest stage in the sport.

Among the four debutantes, Ayush arrives with perhaps the strongest recent credentials. He won bronze at the 2023 BWF World Junior Championships before announcing himself on the senior circuit, clinching the US Open Super 300 title in 2025.

This year, he became the first Indian men’s singles player since Dinesh Khanna in 1965 to reach the final of the Badminton Asia Championships.

Along the way, he defeated former world champion Li Shi Feng, former Asian champion Jonatan Christie and Paris Olympics silver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn before finishing with the silver medal.

“Growing up, the World Championships was one of the tournaments I always looked forward to watching. Like every young badminton player, I dreamed of one day earning the chance to compete on that stage…,” he said. 

“I’ve worked hard to be here and I want to make the most of this opportunity. Competing against some of the best players in the world is the ultimate challenge, and I’m looking forward to testing my game, embracing the occasion and giving everything I have on court. Having home support behind me will make it even more memorable,” he said.

At 17, Hooda has already established herself as one of India’s brightest young talents. She became the youngest Indian to win a BWF World Tour title when she captured the Odisha Open Super 100 crown in 2022 at the age of 14.

The Haryana shuttler has continued her steady progress, highlighted by a memorable victory over former world champion PV Sindhu at the 2025 China Open Super 1000.

She will meet Myanmar’s Thet Htar Thuzar in the opening round.

“This is one of the biggest moments of my career so far. Making my first World Championships is something I’ve worked towards for a long time, and to have that opportunity in India makes it even more special,” said Unnati, who won the Polish Open this year.

“As a young player, competing against some of the best athletes in the world is a challenge I’m really looking forward to. Events like these are where you learn the most about yourself and your game, and I want to make the most of every opportunity.

“Having the support of family, friends and Indian fans around me will make this experience even more memorable.” 
In women’s doubles, Simran and Kavipriya have quietly built promising partnerships.

Simran trained under Uday Pawar at Mumbai’s Goregaon Sports Club, the academy that also nurtured World Championships medallist Chirag Shetty, while Kavipriya emerged through Tamil Nadu’s competitive domestic circuit.

They will open the campaign against Spain’s Nikol Carulla and Carmen Maria Jimenez. The pair has steadily climbed to a career-high 38 in world rankings, and has featured regularly on the BWF World Tour.

Barcelona increase Rodri bid, Cristian Romero wants to join Arsenal and Nottingham Forest are set to sign Ousmane Diomande.

Barcelona are in continued talks with Manchester City over signing Rodri and have made an increased bid of £51.4m for the Spain midfielder, 30. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Cristian Romero would like to join Arsenal, but Tottenham have no intention of allowing the 28-year-old Argentina centre-back to move to their north London rivals. (Sun), external

Romero is also an option for Barcelona, who are set to let Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo, 27, join Liverpool on loan. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external

Nottingham Forest are set to sign Ivory Coast centre-back Ousmane Diomande, 22, from Sporting for £34m. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Spain forward Ferran Torres, 26, has told Barcelona he wants to join Paris St-Germain after agreeing personal terms with the European champions. (ESPN), external

Everton and Crystal Palace have held talks over a potential swap deal involving English winger Dwight McNeil, 26, and Palace’s Wales winger Brennan Johnson, 25. (Times – subscription required), external

Tottenham have held advanced talks with Manchester City over signing Brazil winger Savinho, 22, with a package worth £60m believed to be enough to complete a deal. (Football Insider), external

Aston Villa are closing in on a full agreement to sign Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri, 24, from Atletico Madrid. (Athletic), external

Southampton’s Shea Charles could still move to Leeds if they offer more than Fulham‘s current £30m bid for the Northern Ireland midfielder, 22. (Football Insider), external

Niclas Fullkrug has agreed terms with Venezia but the move has been blocked because of West Ham’s asking price for the Germany striker, 33. (Bild – in German), external

West Ham have reached an agreement in principle to sign Israel winger Manor Solomon, 27, from Tottenham. (Athletic), external

Fenerbahce are set to finalise a deal to sign Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, 33, from Napoli, who will owe Chelsea a sell-on fee. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

The Hall of Fame Game is now in the books, and the 2026 NFL season kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The time has come for Fantasy football owners to begin draft preparations. Veterans like Josh Allen, Jonathan Taylor and Puka Nacua all headline the 2026 Fantasy football rankings, and will likely be among the top players on most Fantasy football draft boards. Meanwhile, running backs Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are among those hold-ins angling for new contracts. Regardless, the key to fantasy success remains finding sleepers and rookies who outperform their Fantasy football ADP, and avoiding drafting players that end up being Fantasy football 2026 busts. 

Who should you target in your fantasy football draft strategy, and which players should fall on your list of potential 2026 Fantasy football busts? Before finalizing your 2026 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2026 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Last year, the model accurately predicted that Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin would fall well short of his top-50 ADP. The result: A season after piling up nearly 1,100 receiving yards and a career-high 13 touchdown catches, McLaurin had career lows in receiving yards (582) and receiving touchdowns (3). Injuries were a factor, but his per-game averages were down across the board as well, so anybody who avoided him in Fantasy drafts dodged a major headache. 

The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021 and correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024. Additionally, it’s called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. 

Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2026, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them. 

Top 2026 Fantasy football busts

One of the 2026 Fantasy football busts the model is predicting: New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers. He’s going off the board around pick No. 35, but SportsLine’s model doesn’t even have him as a top-15 receiver. In fact, it has players such as DeVonta Smith, Nico Collins and Zay Flowers above him.

Nabers isn’t a lock to be ready to at the start of the season after tearing his ACL last season and then undergoing a follow-up procedure in the spring. The Giants are also expected to lean heavily on the run game under offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, making Nabers a risky pick in the second or early third round. See more busts at SportsLine.

Another bust that SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2026 have identified: Bills running back James Cook. Cook is going off the board with an ADP around No. 12 overall and is the fifth running back being taken on average. SportsLine’s model, however, ranks him as RB No. 10, behind players such as Derrick Henry and Chase Brown, saying that he should be more of a late-second or even third round pick.

Cook has stacked two impressive seasons and was the RB6 a year ago, so it’s understandable why he’s getting first-round consideration in many drafts. He did fumble at a higher rate last season, however, and he’s not an elite target out of the backfield. Also, Josh Allen always looms as a touchdown vulture for Buffalo, as these factors are why the model is leaning to other high-end backs early. See which other Fantasy football busts 2026 to pick here.

How to find proven 2026 Fantasy football rankings

SportsLine is also fading one of the first five receivers off the board in early 2026 Fantasy football drafts. The model ranks this player barely inside the top 10 and is calling for him to be one of the biggest busts in the league this year. You can only see who it is, and the 2026 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.

So which 2026 Fantasy Football busts should you be steering clear of, and which high-end WR should you completely fade? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that helped managers avoid a disastrous Terry McLaurin season in 2025.

2026 Fantasy football ADP

(PPR, via CBS)
Get Fantasy football cheat sheets at SportsLine.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs (1.46)
2. Bijan Robinson (1.83)
3. Ja’Marr Chase (4.11)
4. Puka Nacua (4.51)
5. Jonathan Taylor (5.63)
6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6.20)
7. Christian McCaffrey (7.00)
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown (8.77)
9. De’Von Achane (11.00)
10. James Cook (12.17)

An injury on the athletics track brought one sporting dream to an abrupt end for Kamaljeet. But instead of walking away from sport, the youngster found a new path in the shooting range.

The 22-year-old from Rewari took up pistol shooting in 2019 and has since emerged as one of India’s leading 50m Pistol shooters. His journey, however, has been far from straightforward, involving financial struggles, family sacrifices and a complete transition from track and field to shooting.

Now, Kamaljeet is preparing for the biggest opportunity of his young career, representing India at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The shooting competitions are scheduled to be held from September 17 to October 3 at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery.

Family Sacrifices Kept His Shooting Dream Alive

Kamaljeet’s journey into competitive shooting came with significant financial challenges. Coming from a middle-class family, he had to find ways to fund course fees and international competitions during the early stages of his career.

There were moments when continuing in the 50m Pistol event seemed almost impossible.

“We are a middle-class family, but my parents never let me quit shooting. I had to manage my own expenses for course fees and international matches early on, and there were times I thought I wouldn’t continue in the 50m Pistol event. It took me two to three years to earn that money back, but my family never asked questions, they gave me whatever I needed to keep going.”

A Coach From His Own Village

Moving from athletics to shooting meant starting almost from scratch. Kamaljeet found stability through a coaching relationship that extended beyond the shooting range.

His only coach was from his village, creating a bond that Kamaljeet describes as almost familial.

“I have only one shooting coach who taught me everything from scratch. He is from my village, so our relationship feels like family. Between my coach and my uncle at home, I’ve had the strongest foundation throughout this journey.”

That support system helped him navigate the technical and mental demands of a sport in which consistency and composure can be as important as raw ability.

SAI and NRAI Support Ease Financial Pressure

As Kamaljeet’s performances improved on the domestic circuit, institutional support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) helped remove one of the biggest obstacles from his path.

The financial pressure that had once forced him to worry about basic expenses gradually disappeared, allowing him to focus entirely on training and competition.

“Earlier, I used to struggle a lot just to manage basic expenses, but having sponsorship and support from SAI took a huge weight off my shoulders. Once I could focus purely on my sport, the pathway became very clear because of how transparent NRAI’s selection process is.”

For Kamaljeet, the selection system has also provided clarity over what is required to break into the national team.

“My place in the national squad came strictly on merit, based on the ranking points I accumulated across the ranking events. When you know the system is entirely performance-driven and every point you earn counts, it gives you complete confidence to just step onto the lane and shoot your best without any second thoughts.”

The availability of international-standard equipment and ammunition has further allowed him to concentrate solely on performance.

“On top of that, NRAI provides us with top-quality equipment and ammunition, the exact same standard we use in international competitions. That takes away any worry about our gear on the global stage so we can stay fully focused on performance.”

Junior World Champion to Asian Games Debut

Kamaljeet’s rise has already included significant international success.

He won gold in the Men’s 50m Pistol Junior event at the 2023 ISSF Junior World Championships and recently added a silver medal at the Asian Championships in New Delhi.

His recent World Cup experience, meanwhile, has provided another layer of preparation ahead of his Asian Games debut.

“The World Cup was a valuable learning experience. While my performance wasn’t exactly what I wanted, it motivated me to refine my preparation. This will be my first Asian Games, and having gained international match exposure, I feel much more confident entering the range in Japan.”

Rather than viewing the World Cup result as a setback, Kamaljeet has used it to identify areas that need improvement before the continental showpiece.

From Practice Scores to Match-Day Belief

Perhaps the biggest transformation has been mental.

Kamaljeet says he once struggled to reproduce his practice performances when the pressure of competition arrived. That, he believes, has changed with experience.

“Earlier, I used to shoot good scores only in practice, but now I have the belief that I can deliver the same performance under match pressure. One lesson has stayed with me through every phase: if it doesn’t happen the way you wanted, it will happen in a better way than you imagined.”

That belief will be tested on one of the biggest stages of his career in Japan.

At the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, Kamaljeet will compete in the Men’s 50m Pistol event, the discipline that began as an unlikely second chapter after an injury ended his athletics journey.

What started as a sporting setback has now taken him to the Asian Games.

And for Kamaljeet, the journey from the athletics track to the shooting range may have been unexpected, but it has ultimately brought him closer to the biggest sporting opportunity of his career.

According to Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, Murat Gassiev is currently in negotiations for hi first defence as sole WBA heavyweight champion.

The Russian, who holds the ‘regular’ belt with the sanctioning body, became a bona fide two-division world champion in June, with Oleksandr Usyk’s splintering of the belts meaning there no longer a ‘super’ champion.

Gassiev then ended up retaining his championship status last month, stopping late replacement Peter Kadiru in six rounds after Tony Yoka was forced to pull out of their contest with an injury.

Since then, the 32-year-old has expressed his interest in a unification match, hoping to replicate his success at 200lbs by merging two of the four major belts.

Before that, though, Gassiev may need to defend his strap against Jarrell Miller who, as per Hearn’s latest comments on the matter, is now being steered towards a WBA title shot.

This follows the WBA’s admission to mistakenly naming ‘Big Baby’ as its mandatory challenger, despite having Moses Itauma as the leading contender in its rankings.

With Itauma now facing Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF title, however, it could be that Miller will emerge as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger after all.

Either way, Hearn has told IFL TV that Gassiev must defend his title against the American.

“There’s a little bit of confusion with the WBA [belt]. Gassiev is the champion. He’s got to fight Jarrell Miller, our guy, which we’re negotiating at the moment.”

Given his previous failed doping tests, Miller remains a controversial fighter but is seemingly on the cusp of another major opportunity.