United News of Bangladesh

The heads of six Arab soccer federations expressed their “full support” and “confidence” in Gianni Infantino on Thursday as the embattled FIFA president fights to keep his job after his failed World Cup private investment plan. The backing came from 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan, with four of the signatories being FIFA council members. “We, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,” the statement read. “We deeply appreciate Mr. Infantino’s sustained efforts to advance football globally, expand opportunities across all regions and strengthen the game’s role in bringing people and communities together.” The statement said the signatories “look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him towards a stronger and more prosperous future for world football, expanding opportunities and further enhancing Arab football’s contribution to the global game.” Infantino is facing a revolt after his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. He withdrew the $20 billion proposal after a furious backlash by global soccer officials, including European body UEFA, which has warned of a boycott of all FIFA games and events. UEFA teamed up with CONCACAF — the confederation for North, Central America and the Caribbean — and the Asian Football Confederation — and issued an open letter Monday saying Infantino’s plan was a “fundamental breach of trust” and described it as “deception.” And on Thursday, the Football Association of Ireland said in a statement it has withdrawn its support for Infantino to be re-elected as FIFA president in March, saying “recent events have raised significant concerns regarding governance, transparency and the lack of meaningful consultation.” The soccer federations in England and Wales did the same last week, while Northern Ireland said it was backing UEFA's stance. New Zealand Football, which is part of the Oceania confederation, issued a statement Friday local time saying it had withdrawn its support for the candidature of Infantino and was seeking an independent review of steps taken to develop the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme. New Zealand soccer's governing body said it “formed the view that decisions and actions within FIFA have contributed to a breakdown in trust and increased division within international football, and that an independent review is required to restore confidence and trust.” Schism in Asian bloc over Infantino support By expressing support for Infantino, Qatar and Lebanon aligned against the Asian Football Confederation. Infantino’s official Instagram account previously has posted letters of support from several member federations, including Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The four FIFA council members among the signatories were Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritanian Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya. The other two were Lebanese Football Association president Hashem Haidar and Moatasem Gafar, president of the Sudan Football Association. Infantino has been FIFA president since 2016 and seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next year in Morocco. FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward.

Paris Saint-Germain retained the UEFA Super Cup for a second consecutive year after beating Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday, with Désiré Doué scoring the decisive second-half goal in the traditional curtain-raiser to the European soccer season. Doué put PSG ahead in the 61st minute after running onto a pass from Ousmane Dembélé. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a video review overturned the decision and awarded the goal. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had given PSG the lead in the 20th minute with a powerful strike before Villa teenager Brian Madjo equalized with a volley. The 17-year-old striker was making his competitive debut for the club just days after receiving clearance to play following a dispute with FIFA over his registration. The victory marked the first of a potential six trophies for PSG this season. The French champions became the first team since Real Madrid in 2016 and 2017 to win the Super Cup in consecutive years. The UEFA Super Cup is an annual match between the reigning Champions League winners and Europa League champions. Somali referee makes history The match in Salzburg, Austria, was officiated by Somali referee Omar Artan, who was barred by the United States from refereeing at the World Cup shortly before the tournament because of vetting concerns. U.S. officials alleged that Artan had links to terrorist organizations but did not provide evidence. UEFA selected Artan, who was named Africa’s best referee last season, to officiate the Super Cup. His appointment came amid growing tensions between European soccer’s governing body and FIFA. The dispute has intensified, with UEFA leading efforts to remove FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his recently abandoned proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup. Artan became the first non-European referee to officiate a UEFA Super Cup. PSG start season with another trophy PSG, which won five trophies last season, has already added another title and could claim a second trophy in the 2026-27 campaign when it faces Lens in the Trophée des Champions on Sunday. The match pits France’s previous season’s league and cup winners against each other. Doué was among the PSG players who only returned to training Monday after the World Cup, but coach Luis Enrique handed him a starting role. The 21-year-old repaid the faith by scoring the winner. Doué found space behind Villa’s defense after receiving Dembélé’s pass and curled a left-footed shot into the far corner. The assistant referee raised the offside flag, but VAR showed that Villa right-back Matty Cash had kept Doué onside. Referee Artan awarded the goal following the review, prompting Doué to celebrate with a punch in the air. Kvaratskhelia was PSG’s most influential player in the first half. He opened the scoring after cutting in from the left and unleashing a powerful rising shot into the near corner. Teenager Madjo shines on debut Villa’s Brian Madjo made an impressive competitive debut. The powerful teenager was born in north London, has played three friendly matches for Luxembourg and has since opted to represent England. Madjo joined Villa from French club Metz in January, but FIFA initially blocked his registration because its rules restrict international transfers involving players under 18. Villa appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which upheld the appeal last week, clearing him to make his debut as the youngest player to appear in a Super Cup. Madjo repeatedly troubled PSG’s experienced center-back pairing of Willian Pacho and Marquinhos. He came close to scoring several times before eventually finding the net when he met John McGinn’s cross with a volley into the roof of the net. Shortly before scoring, Madjo had forced his way past Pacho and struck the post. The defeat was Aston Villa manager Unai Emery’s fourth consecutive loss in the Super Cup. His previous defeats came twice while managing Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

Soccer authorities in Europe, North and Central America and the Caribbean, and Asia have accused FIFA President Gianni Infantino of a "fundamental breach of trust" over his recently abandoned plan to sell an interest in the World Cup to private equity investors. In an "open letter to the football family" released Monday, UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC said that breaking trust through deception and placing an individual above the collective represented a failure of duty. UEFA governs soccer in Europe, CONCACAF oversees the sport in North, Central America and the Caribbean, while the AFC is the governing body for Asian soccer. The letter was signed by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, AFC President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani and the general secretaries of the three continental governing bodies. "Football is the world's greatest shared passion. It belongs to no individual and no institution," the letter said, adding that the sport belongs to its players, fans, clubs, member associations and institutions responsible for protecting its future. The statement came as Infantino faces growing opposition following the failure of his plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors. "It is not the conduct of a custodian of the game, but of one who believes the game is answerable to him," the letter said. It added that the decision to take a joint stance was made out of responsibility to the sport and not lightly. Infantino received some support outside soccer, with U.S. President Donald Trump defending the FIFA president in a social media post Monday night. "FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," Trump wrote, praising him for presiding over what he described as the most successful World Cup ever. UEFA had previously threatened to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions, despite FIFA abandoning the plan and apologizing for the controversy. Norway's soccer federation has called for Infantino to resign, while England's Football Association has withdrawn its support for his re-election next March. "Football's strength has always been its unity. We call for that unity to be honored now," the letter said, calling for leadership that serves football rather than seeks to control it. Last Wednesday, FIFA said it had apologized for mistakes made in connection with the failed plan. It also said senior officials at a crisis meeting in Morocco had "reaffirmed their full support" for Infantino's presidency. However, the meeting itself has drawn criticism from the three continental federations. "FIFA's own letter also confirms that only one elected official was present at the leadership meeting in Morocco," UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC said. "No FIFA Council members or Member Associations were invited to participate. Only the management committee, composed of FIFA-employed senior staff, was present." The federations said FIFA needed to go beyond acknowledging that mistakes had been made. They criticized FIFA for treating the controversy as a communication failure rather than a failure of judgment, saying the attempt to sell an interest in the World Cup represented a "fundamental breach of trust" with the institutions FIFA is meant to serve. In a statement released Saturday, FIFA defended Infantino against what it described as a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine his leadership of the organization.

FIFA has defended its president, Gianni Infantino, against what it described as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to undermine his leadership of the world football governing body. FIFA issued the statement Saturday, a day after British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported questions surrounding an exit payment made by UEFA to a female staff member who worked with Infantino when he was secretary general of European football’s governing body. UEFA confirmed that a “departure payment” had been made to the employee and said it was “in line” with the regulations in place at the time. Infantino spent 16 years working at UEFA before being elected FIFA president. In its Saturday statement, FIFA accused Infantino’s critics of seeking to weaken his authority and remove him from office without following due process. “It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine FIFA and its president,” FIFA said. It added that those who lack the support of FIFA’s member associations should not try to achieve through allegations, insinuations or misinformation what they cannot accomplish through the organization’s established democratic processes. FIFA also said some reports had included “unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims” that should not be presented as facts. “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,” the statement said. Infantino has faced strong criticism after details emerged of his plan to sell World Cup profits to private equity firms. UEFA and two other continental confederations — North America’s CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation — rejected the proposal. Infantino received support from FIFA’s management board last Wednesday following a meeting in Morocco, and he apologized over the process. However, UEFA’s threat to have its 55 member associations boycott FIFA competitions until the plan was dropped remained in place. UEFA said Thursday that the announcement “changes nothing.” Regarding the departure payment, UEFA said it “was in line with the regulations that existed for departing staff at the time.” The organization added that the rules have since been tightened and now “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organization.”

Jorge Messi, the father of Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, has died at 68 after a long illness, according to reports in Argentine media and Spanish outlet Marca. The senior Messi died at a hospital in Rosario, according to Infobae and Marca. There was no immediate official confirmation of his death or details about the illness. Jorge Messi was closely involved in his son’s career from the beginning. When Messi moved from Argentina to Spain as a child to join Barcelona’s youth academy, his father accompanied him during the first months of the move while the rest of the family remained in Rosario. Jorge later became involved in managing his son’s professional affairs and served as one of his representatives. He remained involved in important decisions throughout Lionel Messi’s career, from his early years at Barcelona to his rise to the top of world soccer. Jorge generally kept a low profile despite his son’s fame. His role was largely behind the scenes, helping manage Lionel’s career as he developed from a young Barcelona player into one of the sport’s most accomplished figures. Lionel Messi, 39, has not publicly commented on his father’s reported death as of Saturday. Jorge Messi’s death comes after a long illness. Argentine media and Marca have not reported a specific cause of death.

Lionel Messi scored twice, his first goals since the World Cup, as Inter Miami came from behind to beat Atlético San Luis 4-2 in a rain-hit Leagues Cup match on Wednesday night. The match at Nu Stadium was delayed for 30 minutes in the second half because of lightning in the area. Messi scored in the 11th and 44th minutes to take his Leagues Cup tally to 14 goals in 12 matches, moving one ahead of Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. Telasco Segovia and defender Micael also scored for Inter Miami, while Noah Allen provided three assists as Miami extended its unbeaten run to eight matches. Messi returned to Miami’s starting lineup for his second appearance since the World Cup. He played 37 minutes as a substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew after missing the scoresheet. It did not take Messi long to make an impact against San Luis. David Rodríguez put San Luis ahead with a header four minutes into the match, but Messi equalized in the 11th minute with a long cross from Allen that went past goalkeeper Andrés Sánchez. Messi then scored from close range late in the first half. He also assisted Micael’s stoppage-time header. Rafa Llorente scored San Luis’ other goal. Messi led Inter Miami to the Leagues Cup title in 2023 shortly after joining the club. Miami reached the final again last year but lost 3-0 to Seattle in a match that ended with a brawl involving Luis Suárez. Suárez was suspended for six matches by the tournament after the incident and was unavailable for Wednesday’s match. He will also miss this year’s Leagues Cup. The veteran forward had scored seven goals in his previous four matches.

Mexico and the United States will renew their rivalry with a friendly in October, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) said on Tuesday. The matches form part of the next FIFA international window in which Mexico will also face Colombia, Peru and Chile. "The national team will face the United States in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, October 3, in another edition of the so-called Concacaf Classic," the FMF said in a statement. The FMF announced last week that Mexico would meet Colombia in Baltimore on September 26, Peru in New York on September 29 and Chile in Los Angeles on October 6. The fixtures mark the first games in charge of Rafael Marquez, who replaced Javier Aguirre as Mexico's manager in July following the FIFA World Cup.

FIFA executive Arsène Wenger has backed the decision to abandon a controversial plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors, saying dropping the proposal was “absolutely necessary.” The former Arsenal manager's comments came after UEFA's lawyers sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino threatening legal action. The letter named Wenger and 17 other FIFA executives whose communications and data should be preserved as potential evidence. Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, said he had no role in developing the plan and learned about it from media reports. “I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports,” Wenger said. The French football great, who was hired by Infantino in 2019, did not mention the FIFA president by name in his statement. He said withdrawing the plan was essential because he believed FIFA should remain independent and operate with transparency and integrity. “The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity,” Wenger said. Infantino withdrew the proposed $20 billion investment plan early Saturday following strong opposition from football officials around the world. UEFA had warned that European football could boycott FIFA matches and events if the plan went ahead.

The Prime Minister's Gold Cup, a nationwide football tournament for educational institutions, is set to bring together students from around 50,000 schools, colleges, madrasahs and technical and vocational institutions across Bangladesh. According to the preliminary plan, the tournament is scheduled to begin by September 10 and conclude by October 30, with the detailed fixture to be announced later. Participation will be mandatory for boys and optional for girls. Students from Class VI to Class XII enrolled in schools, colleges, madrasahs, and technical and vocational institutions will be eligible to take part, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday. The briefing followed a meeting of the steering committee formed to oversee the tournament's organisation. The meeting, held at the Secretariat, was chaired by Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon. Mahdi, also Prime Minister's adviser on education, briefed reporters on various aspects of the tournament after the meeting. He said the government will provide all necessary support to ensure the successful holding of the tournament. Mahdi said the initiative aims to create a festive atmosphere across the country while promoting students' creativity, leadership qualities and overall development through sports. "The Prime Minister always envisions an education system where students can fully demonstrate their talent, creativity and intellectual potential." He said to achieve that goal, the education, youth and sports, and cultural affairs ministries will jointly organise year-round programmes and competitions nationwide. The PMO spokesperson said the competition is intended to ensure equal opportunities for students regardless of whether they study in urban or rural areas. "We want every educational institution in Bangladesh to have the opportunity to participate. We believe the tournament will help nurture leadership, talent and creativity among students," he said. The Cabinet Secretary will hold a meeting with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners on Tuesday to coordinate preparations through the local administration, Mahdi said. The chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee will also visit education boards across the country to discuss implementation with local education officials and institution authorities, while the Ministry of Education will ensure necessary coordination, he added. The PMO spokesperson said the tournament will follow the format of the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament, which previously involved around 22 lakh students. Matches will begin at the upazila level, followed by district, divisional and national rounds, with the final to be held at the national level. Mahdi expressed hope that the Prime Minister will attend both the opening and closing ceremonies, saying the tournament is being organised under his direct patronage. "That is why it has been named the Prime Minister's Gold Cup Football Tournament," he said. He also urged media organisations to highlight the achievements of participating students, saying proper recognition and encouragement will inspire them and contribute to their future success. The PMO spokesperson said the government is committed to creating "a three-dimensional revolution" in education by integrating sports, culture and academic activities through well-planned policies and coordinated implementation. He said several ministries, including the Ministries of Disaster Management and Relief, Textiles and Jute, Youth and Sports, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and Information and Broadcasting, will work together to ensure the successful organisation of the nationwide event. Education Minister Milon, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for LGRD and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam and State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, among others, were present at the press conference.

Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who made history with Cape Verde at the recently concluded World Cup, arrived in Chile on Sunday to join Colo Colo after a series of twists and turns that put his move in doubt. “I’m very happy to be here. And I want to thank the fans for the patience they’ve shown while waiting for me,” the Cape Verde star told reporters in Chile. “See you at the Monumental Stadium.” That is Colo Colo’s home ground in Santiago. Colo Colo, Chile’s most successful soccer club, announced the signing of Josimar Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha, on July 24. However, a series of setbacks — including documentation issues and personal matters — delayed his arrival on three separate occasions, causing concern both within and outside the club. At last, he arrived at Santiago’s airport at 8:35 p.m. local time and was welcomed by a huge crowd of supporters who gathered at the terminal with flags, banners, drums, and chants. Vozinha became the oldest player to appear in a national team's debut game at the World Cup and was widely celebrated for keeping eventual champion Span scoreless. Colo Colo supporters share one dream: that Vozinha will help the runaway leaders of the Chilean league win the championship and enhance its continental ambitions for next season. “I’m excited. And if Colo Colo wins the title, next year comes the Copa Libertadores, which makes everything even more exciting for all of Chile and South America,” Marcos Antonio Barrera, a 32-year-old club supporter, told The Associated Press. The World Cup’s breakout goalkeeper is scheduled to undergo medical examinations on Monday before officially signing his contract with Colo Colo. The initial deal will run for six months, with an option to extend it for another 12. Colo Colo said Vozinha is expected to join training on Tuesday. The club also plans to officially present its marquee signing for the remainder of the season that same day. The veteran goalkeeper will be allowed to wear the nickname that brought him worldwide fame on his jersey after the Chilean Football Federation unanimously decided on Friday to amend its regulations and allow him to be identified as Vozinha — “grandma” in Portuguese. The change was necessary because, under Chilean league rules, players are required to use only their surnames on the back of their jerseys. Vozinha arrives in Chile after ending his spell with Chaves in Portugal’s second division. He became one of the standout figures of the World Cup thanks to a string of spectacular saves against powerhouses Spain, Uruguay, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina, which ultimately eliminated Cape Verde in the Round of 32. His performances brought him meteoric fame not only on the field. Before the World Cup, he had fewer than 50,000 followers on Instagram; he now has more than 29.5 million. “The Colo Colo family and all of Chile are eagerly waiting,” fan Sebastián Paredes said. “Now he has to earn his place at Colo Colo through talent, dedication, hard work, commitment, and by winning over the fans. Hopefully, he’ll be a great signing and help put Chile on the map.”