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FIFA condemns 'concerted and ongoing effort' to weaken Infantino

PARIS: FIFA on Saturday (Aug 8) condemned "a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine" the world game's governing body and its president Gianni Infantino as the controversy over his now-shelved private investment plan rumbles on. Infantino has faced calls to resign and was also subject to allegations from a British newspaper on Friday that he paid off a lover while at European governing body UEFA. "Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning FIFA and its President," said the FIFA statement. Infantino served as secretary general of European football's governing body from 2009 to 2016. According to The Telegraph newspaper, the Italian-Swiss lawyer previously used his influence to secure a promotion for a UEFA employee with whom he was in an intimate relationship. The newspaper added - without revealing its sources - that the same employee received a "six-figure sum" upon her departure in addition to the payment of tuition fees for a business school amounting to around £45,000 (US$60,700). When contacted by AFP, UEFA acknowledged that "a departure payment was made to the individual in question" at that time, "coupled with the payment of fees for an MBA course at a local business school".

World number one Sabalenka ousted in Toronto by Alexandrova

Toronto - CAN Toronto, Canada, Aug 9, 2026 (AFP) - - World number one Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated by Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday in a fourth-round match at the WTA Toronto Masters tournament. Alexandrova defeated the four-time Grand Slam winner from Belarus 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4 in 2hr 29min to book a berth in the quarter-finals. Sabalenka, who will seek her third consecutive US Open title next month, fell to 5-5 in her career WTA rivalry with Alexandrova, who will face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine's ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals. Sabalenka broke for a 2-0 lead in the opening set, dropped the next four games, then held and broke back to 4-4 on a forehand drop volley winner. Double faults by Sabalenka in the 11th game and Alexandrova in the 12th surrendered breaks leading to a tie-break. The Russian took five of the last six points to seal the first set when Sabalenka swatted a crosscourt forehand wide. In the second set, Alexandrova hit a forehand long to surrender a break and give Sabalenka a 4-3 lead. The top seed then held serve twice to force a decider. Sabalenka was broken when she netted a forehand to give Alexandrova a 3-1 edge, but the Russian double-faulted away a break in the seventh game. In the 10th game, Sabalenka made three unforced errors to give Alexandrova break and match points. Sabalenka saved the first on a service winner and the second on an ace. But after sending a backhand beyond the baseline, the Belarusian made her sixth and final double fault to lose the match. "I didn't have any expectations before the match," Alexandrova said.

Swiatek tops Kostyuk, Shnaider upsets Pegula in Round of 16 at National Bank Open

Poland's Iga Swiatek secured a quarterfinal berth at the National Bank Open in Toronto on Saturday with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk.

Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's Father And Longtime Agent, Dies At 68

Jorge Messi, the father of soccer star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi, died Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.

Ohio State lands top pocket passer in 2028 class Vargas - ESPN

Four-star quarterback Christopher Vargas, the top-ranked pocket passer in the 2028 cycle, committed to Ohio State on Saturday.

Lise Klaveness, the Norwegian thorn in Infantino’s side

OSLO: A rare woman in the top echelons of football, the head of Norway’s federation Lise Klaveness has been a thorn in FIFA’s side for years. Now, some would gladly see her take over the leadership of football’s international governing body from Gianni Infantino. The 45-year-old lawyer and former footballer who played 73 matches for Norway has been highly vocal about international football’s woes under Infantino. The Swiss-Italian has been mired in controversy since his plan to open FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors was swiftly rejected last week. On Friday she called for him to resign. When he was elected FIFA president in 2016, “he was a candidate who had been elected on a reform program focused on good governance,” she told AFP. “Then things quickly deteriorated: from keeping a distance, we moved to giving up, and even backtracking, all against a backdrop of a lack of independence from heads of state and other influential figures, particularly from World Cup host countries,” she said. She fired her first salvo at Infantino in 2022, just after she was appointed head of the Norwegian federation. The following year, Norway refused to back Infantino in his re-election bid, signalling its dissatisfaction with his leadership. Klaveness “was in a way the first standard-bearer for much of this criticism that many others now share when it comes to the way Infantino runs FIFA,” said Mina Finsted Berg, a sports commentator for Norwegian channel TV2. She “is very committed to ensuring that rules and decisions are respected,” she added.

Inside Skubal trade negotiations: Why Tigers chose Dodgers - ESPN

THE CALLS WENT out Saturday afternoon, earlier than anticipated. The Detroit Tigers were ready to trade the best pitcher in the world, and they needed best-and-final offers from the teams still involved in the biggest baseball sweepstakes of the summer.

Late NBA player Brandon Clarke died of accidental heroin and cocaine overdose, authorities say

Dan Dakich breaks down Megan Rapinoe's latest unhinged rant targeting Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham and OutKick legend Riley Gaines over their stand to protect women's sports.

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Usa Sport News

FIFA condemns 'concerted and ongoing effort' to weaken Infantino

World number one Sabalenka ousted in Toronto by Alexandrova

Swiatek tops Kostyuk, Shnaider upsets Pegula in Round of 16 at National Bank Open

Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi's Father And Longtime Agent, Dies At 68

Ohio State lands top pocket passer in 2028 class Vargas - ESPN

Lise Klaveness, the Norwegian thorn in Infantino’s side

Inside Skubal trade negotiations: Why Tigers chose Dodgers - ESPN

Late NBA player Brandon Clarke died of accidental heroin and cocaine overdose, authorities say