Spain sweep aside Austria 3-0 to reach World Cup last 16
Spain advanced to the World Cup round of 16 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Austria on Thursday powered by a double from Mikel Oyarzabal and another outstanding defensive effort.
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Al-Hilal claim needlessly difficult victory as Summerville makes Saudi Pro League debut
RIYADH: It might come as a surprise to some that Simone Inzaghi is now one of the longest-serving head coaches in the Saudi Pro League, after just over 14 months in charge of Al-Hilal.
UEFA says boycott of World Cups stands despite FIFA backdown on private investment
PARIS: European football's governing body UEFA said they would maintain their boycott of the men's and women's World Cups on Thursday (Aug 6) despite FIFA withdrawing the plan to open up their competitions to private investment.UEFA's initial threat issued last Thursday to boycott FIFA competitions is widely credited in being pivotal in the plan being shelved.Although that was one of their conditions to be met for them to withdraw their threat, they said on Thursday the second one had not been met. "UEFA's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non participation in FIFA competitions," read their statement."First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again."These conditions have not been met."
UEFA stands by World Cup boycott plans despite FIFA, Gianni Infantino apology - ESPN
UEFA said its participating members could still boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite Gianni Infantino's apology for his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
Top FIFA officials Wenger and Grafstrom distance themselves from Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan
GENEVA: Two senior FIFA executives — coaching great Arsene Wenger and CEO-like secretary general Mattias Grafstrom — distanced themselves Tuesday from their boss Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors. Wenger said in a statement he knew nothing of the $20 billion plan and that it was “absolutely necessary” to drop the proposal, and Grafstrom sent an email to all FIFA staff — seen by The Associated Press — calling the last week a “sad and reproachable series of events.” He also said it created “turmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept.” Neither directly named Infantino or offered support for the now-embattled president. The comments by Wenger and Grafstrom had echoes of the direct criticism from FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who said Friday that staff had been “deceived” by Infantino’s private equity plan, which provoked a furor in global football. Lamour called it the “project of one person” and said FIFA staff “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.” The three executives are respected and trusted figures among the 211 FIFA member federations who now hold sway over Infantino’s grip on a presidency that looked unshakeable after the World Cup ended barely two weeks ago. UEFA legal threat to FIFA Wenger, Grafstrom and Lamour also were named in a letter from UEFA’s lawyers to Infantino among 18 executives whose data and communications should be retained as potential evidence. “You do not need to worry,” Grafstrom wrote Tuesday to the hundreds of FIFA staff based mostly in Zurich and Coral Gables, Florida.
UEFA statement on FIFA plan to sell stakes in subsidiary to run World Cup
July 30 : Following is UEFA's statement on Thursday regarding FIFA's plan to sell stakes to external investors in a subsidiary to run World Cup and other FIFA competitions.
European boycott pledge leaves Fifa's investment plan on brink of collapse
Fifa’s plans to sell off stakes in a World Cup company to private investors appear in tatters after European nations pledged to boycott all its competitions until the project is scrapped.
UEFA says will boycott World Cup if FIFA pushes private investor proposal
PARIS, France: European football’s governing body UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan. “No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement. “The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product... No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors.
UEFA countries to boycott World Cup over FIFA proposals
July 30 : UEFA's member associations have unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions in protest at FIFA's plan to sell stakes to external investors in a subsidiary that will run the global governing body's tournaments, European soccer's governing body said following a virtual meeting on Thursday.