Global Pulse

分类： sports

  • Infantino has lost UEFA’s ‘confidence’ despite withdrawal of ‘shabby deal’

    Infantino has lost UEFA’s ‘confidence’ despite withdrawal of ‘shabby deal’

    The long-simmering tensions between global football’s two most powerful governing bodies have erupted into open confrontation after UEFA formally declared that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lost the confidence of European football and a large swathe of the wider global football community. The break in trust follows the high-profile collapse of a controversial plan to allow private investment in FIFA’s flagship events, including the men’s World Cup and Club World Cup, which was scrapped only after widespread international backlash from confederations across the globe.

    Infantino’s proposal, which had been drafted behind closed doors, centered on the creation of a new commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). Valued at an estimated $20 billion, the subsidiary was projected to raise up to $4.2 billion in private capital, with FIFA promising a $20 million one-time payout to each of its 211 member associations by early 2027, alongside increasing core funding for the 2027–2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million per member. But the plan faced immediate and fierce opposition from UEFA, which derided the proposal as a “shabby, back room, opaque deal” and threatened a full boycott of all FIFA competitions if Infantino attempted to force the proposal through. Facing overwhelming opposition, Infantino and FIFA were forced to withdraw the plan entirely.

    In a hard-hitting official statement released after the withdrawal, UEFA made clear that the damage to trust could not be undone by the plan’s cancellation. The European governing body noted that the controversy comes just weeks after FIFA and Infantino celebrated what was widely deemed a successful expanded 48-team World Cup hosted across three North American countries, a high that has now been completely overshadowed by the private investment fiasco.

    UEFA’s statement argued that the 56-year-old Swiss Football administrator has broken core promises he made when he was first elected FIFA president in 2016. At the time of his initial election, Infantino pledged to bring full transparency to FIFA’s governance and emphasized that all FIFA funds belonged to its member associations, not to the FIFA president personally. “On both these promises, he has failed to deliver,” UEFA said. “The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent. And with reserves standing at over $5 billion, he has also failed to use associations’ money for the benefit of the game.”

    The governing body added that secret, fast-tracked policy proposals have no place in global football governance, and it is time for a full reckoning to prevent similar oversteps from occurring in the future. “We cannot keep going on like this with secret schemes on fast track timescales,” the statement read. “In the coming days and weeks, UEFA will work with its member associations and in close cooperation with other confederations to reflect on how this happened and devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again. That review should be thorough and fundamental. No option should be off the table.”

    The collapse of the plan and the public loss of confidence marks a major turning point for Infantino, who was widely expected to win re-election unopposed for a third and final term as FIFA president next year. Political analysts of global football now expect the public rebuke could clear a path for a challenger to emerge and contest the election. This confrontation is the latest escalation of long-running tensions between UEFA and FIFA: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin already boycotted the 2026 World Cup final in protest of FIFA’s policies earlier this year.

    While UEFA framed the withdrawal of the controversial proposal as a victory for the integrity of global football, the organization stressed that the fight to repair governance at FIFA is only just beginning. “This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story,” the statement concluded. “The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.”

  • Uefa has ‘lost confidence’ in Infantino’s Fifa leadership

    Uefa has ‘lost confidence’ in Infantino’s Fifa leadership

    The rift at the top of global football has deepened dramatically after European football’s governing body Uefa announced it has lost all confidence in Fifa president Gianni Infantino, in the wake of the abrupt scrapping of a controversial private investment plan for the body’s top competitions.

    Infantino, who has held the role of Fifa president since February 2016 and is currently seeking a fourth term in office ahead of the Fifa Congress scheduled for next March, confirmed on Saturday that the governing body would no longer move forward with the proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial subsidiary that would manage Fifa’s flagship tournaments including the men’s World Cup. The plan, which was first leaked to media earlier the same week, would have created Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), allowing external private investors to acquire non-controlling shares in the entity.

    Behind the proposal, developed with analysis from investment bank JP Morgan, was the argument that the World Cup – the world’s most widely viewed global sporting event – was currently under-monetized by Fifa. The plan projected that expanded tournaments would deliver an increased payout of up to €24 million (£20.5 million) per member association by the 2035-2039 cycle. Critics quickly pointed out that the proposal made no mention of investment or development for the women’s game, and the lead investor group was set to be led by Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of former US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The New York Post, which first broke the news of the plan’s withdrawal, reported that the entire ordeal had become a “brand nightmare” for Kushner.

    Opposition to the proposal spread rapidly across global football confederations within days. Uefa held a vote on Thursday, announcing it would boycott all future World Cups if the plan moved forward, stating that the World Cup “cannot be treated as an investment product”. Concacaf, the governing body for North, Central American and Caribbean football which hosted the 2024 men’s World Cup this summer, confirmed its members rejected the plan, with anonymous sources adding that the vast majority of regional associations had already lost confidence in Infantino. The Asian Football Confederation also joined the opposition, voicing solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf.

    Internal opposition also grew inside Fifa itself. Chief operating officer Kevin Lamour admitted that the governing body’s own administration had been “deceived” about the project. Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, resigned in protest, calling the proposal “a bad deal for football” that would “mortgage football’s future”.

    Shortly after Fifa confirmed the plan’s withdrawal, Uefa released a scathing, lengthy statement that marked one of the most severe public attacks ever launched against a sitting Fifa president. While the body welcomed the scrapping of the plan as “a victory for the whole game”, it went on to withdraw its confidence from Infantino’s entire leadership, noting that the move reflected the views of many other members of the global football family beyond Europe.

    Uefa directly called out Infantino for breaking 2016 campaign promises he made when first running for Fifa president, when he pledged that Fifa would operate with full transparency, and that Fifa’s funds belonged to member associations and must only be used for the development of global football. “On both these promises, he has failed to deliver. The shabby, back room, opaque deal he hatched and tried to force through were anything but transparent,” the statement read.

    The European body added that it would not tolerate “secret schemes of fast-track timescales cooked up by faceless individuals and of dubious benefit to the game”, calling for all individuals responsible for the proposal to be identified and held accountable. Uefa also announced it would work with member associations and other confederations to implement new safeguards to prevent similar attempted deals from moving forward in the future, and will propose reforms to Fifa’s existing Forward resource distribution programme to unlock idle funds held in Fifa’s bank accounts for grassroots football development. “We don’t need to sell off the family silver to pay for it,” the statement noted. “This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in Fifa has only just begun.”

    Chief football reporter Simon Stone notes that any hope Infantino held of limiting reputational damage from the failed plan has been entirely destroyed by Uefa’s open attack. While the Asian Football Confederation framed its criticism in more diplomatic terms, Uefa’s rebuke was unvarnished and harsh, using language like “shabby” and “opaque” to condemn the process. As of Monday morning, Fifa and Infantino have not issued any public response to Uefa’s statement. With the 2026 presidential election just months away, Infantino is now facing unprecedented pressure, with no visible public support rising to counter the widespread opposition across the sport’s leading governing bodies.

  • Idi Amin’s grandson fights at Commonwealth Games

    Idi Amin’s grandson fights at Commonwealth Games

    The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games became the center of a small but heated controversy after Ugandan boxer Aziz Abdul, the grandson of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, claimed he was wrongfully disqualified from his bout on racial grounds. Abdul, who goes by the nickname “Ringo” in the ring, asserted that the decision to strip him of the match was rooted in anti-Black African bias and made solely to favor his English opponent, Damar Thomas.

    Games organizers have rapidly pushed back against these allegations, refuting the claim that bias played any role in the referee’s call. According to official match records, the disqualification came after the referee judged Abdul to have deliberately headbutted Thomas during the contest, a move that violates international amateur boxing rules set for the Commonwealth Games tournament.

    Prior to the controversial bout, Abdul had spoken openly with BBC reporters about his connection to his infamous grandfather, a topic that has drawn extra media attention to his first Commonwealth Games appearance. Amin, who ruled Uganda from 1971 to 1979, is widely infamously remembered for mass human rights abuses, ethnic persecution, and economic mismanagement that left the East African nation deeply destabilized. Despite this controversial family legacy, Abdul has sought to build his own career as an elite athlete, competing on the global stage independent of his grandfather’s political reputation.

    The controversy remains contained to the single bout, with no broader calls for review of other judging decisions at the Games as of the latest updates.

  • Vozinha wins special jersey approval in Chile as Colo-Colo arrival remains uncertain

    Vozinha wins special jersey approval in Chile as Colo-Colo arrival remains uncertain

    SANTIAGO, Chile — Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha, who captured global attention during his breakout performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has secured a rare rule exception that will let him display his famous nickname instead of his legal surname on his match jersey if he completes his move to Chile’s top-flight football league.

    The Chilean Football Federation’s Primera Division governing body, ANFP, voted unanimously on Friday to approve the special waiver, which required amending league regulations that previously required all players to print only their family surnames on kit backs. Top leaders from Chilean professional clubs across the division united to support Vozinha’s request, which was advanced by his prospective new club Colo-Colo — Chile’s most successful and widely supported football institution. Vozinha’s full legal name is Josimar José Évora Dias, and the nickname Vozinha has been the moniker he has used throughout his professional playing career.

    While the jersey rule change clears one key hurdle for the transfer, questions about the 40-year-old goalkeeper’s actual arrival in Chile have grown sharper over the past week. Colo-Colo announced Vozinha as a high-profile marquee signing seven days ago, with an initial arrival date set for last Tuesday. Visa processing delays first pushed his travel back to Thursday, but the shot-stopper ultimately never boarded his flight to Santiago, triggering anxiety and speculation among Colo-Colo’s leadership and millions of passionate fans.

    Amid growing public concern over the status of the deal, Colo-Colo sporting director Jaime Pizarro moved quickly to reassure supporters Thursday evening, confirming that the club still intended to complete the transfer. Pizarro told reporters that club representatives had been in touch with Vozinha’s agent as recently as minutes before his press briefing, explaining that the player had requested a short extension to resolve unspecified personal matters that he has not yet detailed publicly. During the ANFP’s rule change vote Friday, Colo-Colo president Aníbal Mosa publicly acknowledged that the player’s official contract has not yet been signed, and multiple local Chilean media outlets have since confirmed that the nickname jersey exception was one of Vozinha’s non-negotiable conditions for finalizing the agreement.

    On Friday, Colo-Colo head coach Fernando Ortiz backed Pizarro’s assurances, confirming he had spoken directly with Vozinha personally, while still maintaining measured caution around the pending transfer. “We spoke, and I could tell he was happy and pleased,” Ortiz told reporters at a press conference in Santiago. “Although he isn’t very expressive by nature, he is excited about the prospect of coming here — though he obviously has personal matters to take care of. The excitement surrounding a figure like him entering our league is understandable. Let’s hope he resolves his situation soon so we can count on him.”

    Vozinha, who has remained active on his personal social media channels since the transfer was announced, has not yet released any public statement addressing the delay or his potential move to Chile. Despite the uncertainty, Ortiz said he remained confident the transfer was progressing appropriately, emphasizing: “Things are being done the right way.”

  • Why Africa might back controversial Fifa plan

    Why Africa might back controversial Fifa plan

    Global football is currently in the grip of a major governance and commercial storm, centered on FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in FIFA’s flagship competitions to private external investors. As three of FIFA’s six continental confederations have already lined up in open opposition, all eyes are turning to Africa: will the Confederation of African Football (CAF) emerge as the unexpected key bloc of support for the embattled FIFA leader, and what forces are shaping its position?

    Infantino’s plan would establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, designed to attract outside investment. FIFA projects the initiative could raise up to $4.2 billion by the end of 2024, with all net proceeds pledged to be reinvested into development programs for football across the globe. So far, UEFA (Europe), the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) have all formally rejected the proposal, with UEFA even threatening to boycott FIFA competitions including the World Cup if the plan moves forward. CAF, however, has maintained notable public silence to date, with its executive committee only set to convene next week to formally assess the proposal and discuss a unified position.

    The roots of CAF’s cautious stance stretch far beyond the current proposal, anchored in a deeply intertwined personal and institutional relationship between CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Infantino that has yielded tangible financial benefits for African football. Since both leaders took their respective posts in 2021, the two confederations have aligned closely. Motsepe has repeatedly praised Infantino as a loyal friend to African football, highlighting the Swiss executive’s key contributions to the continent: most notably, the expansion of the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, which secured Africa a guaranteed nine qualification spots, up from the long-controversial previous allocation of just five. That shift alone has been framed as a transformative win for the continent, ending decades of perceived marginalization.

    Ties between the two organizations run even deeper through personal connections. Veron Mosengo-Omba, who served as Motsepe’s deputy at CAF from 2021 until March 2024, previously held a senior leadership role as FIFA’s chief member associations officer. He is a long-time friend of Infantino, having studied law alongside him in Switzerland, and was recently elected president of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national football federation in May. Under Motsepe and Mosengo-Omba, CAF has already improved its overall financial position, particularly by boosting revenue from its flagship tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), progress that many in African football credit to the close partnership with FIFA.

    For cash-strapped African national federations, the financial incentive to back the proposal is clear. Most African federations receive minimal government funding, with many struggling to cover core operating costs, let alone invest in infrastructure, grassroots development and women’s football. Under the new proposal, each of CAF’s 54 member associations would receive an upfront payment of $20 million as early as 1 January 2025 if the plan is approved by the 19 September deadline, with a further $20 million to follow. That level of funding is life-changing for many programs across the continent.

    “Football is a very expensive venture, especially on the African continent where resources are not easy to come by,” explained Rogers Byamukama, a representative of Uganda’s national football federation. “What is wrong with making more money and sharing that money with those that need it most?”

    Fleetwood Haiya, president of Malawi’s football federation, echoed that sentiment, noting his government cannot even afford to allocate $1 million annually to football amid broader public resource constraints. “Malawi needs money. Malawi needs stadiums,” Haiya said. “I’m 100% in support (of the FIFA proposal). There is no dispute. I don’t understand why FIFA took so long to do this.”

    Leaders across the continent point to already tangible results from past FIFA funding. Cape Verde’s impressive run to the knockout stage on their World Cup debut in 2026 came after the federation used FIFA grants to upgrade logistical and training support during qualification. Malawi’s women’s national team also pulled off a major upset at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, beating defending champions Nigeria in their finals debut, a result Haiya attributes directly to FIFA development funding. “Gianni Infantino believed in our project for women’s football,” he added. For many African administrators, the promise of additional funding will only strengthen their existing loyalty to Infantino.

    However, the close alignment between CAF and FIFA has not been without controversy, and the proposal has already sparked internal division across African football. Critics note that Motsepe has largely avoided public pushback on controversial FIFA decisions that have harmed African interests: when U.S. authorities blocked Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and when FIFA controversially overturned a one-match suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, CAF declined to issue any public criticism, unlike many other global governing bodies. The 2025 AFCON was also forced to reschedule to a disruptive December-January window to accommodate FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup last year, and the recent decision to shift AFCON from a biennial to quadrennial tournament starting in 2028 has been widely criticized as a move that prioritizes FIFA’s global calendar over African interests.

    Beyond past disputes, some prominent African football leaders warn that opening major competitions to private investment threatens the long-term integrity of the game, even if the short-term funding is attractive. “It does not sit well,” said Isha Johansen, former president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, former CAF executive committee member and former FIFA Council member. “As a businessman or woman you want something out of it. You’re not just doing it out of generosity. What price does one have to pay in order to get to this elevated development for football in Africa? I do hope that they (CAF) go along with all the other confederations.”

    Johansen acknowledged that the funding on offer would be transformative for African football, but argued that leaders must draw a line to protect the sport’s core mission. “It is an offer that is hard to refuse,” she said. “We (in Africa) need the money. I think we now come to a point where you really need to know where to draw the line and not sacrifice the beautiful game.”

    The final vote on the proposal requires a simple majority of FIFA’s 211 member associations to pass, meaning 106 votes in favor. If all member associations from UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF follow their confederation’s leadership in opposing the plan, 136 votes will already be against the proposal. Even if all 54 of CAF’s member associations unite behind Infantino, opposition from the rest of the world is likely to block the plan, leaving African football caught between short-term financial opportunity and a global movement against increased privatization of the world’s biggest sport.

  • Who is Nirmal Purja, the famed mountaineer missing in Broad Peak avalanche?

    Who is Nirmal Purja, the famed mountaineer missing in Broad Peak avalanche?

    One of the most decorated and recognizable names in high-altitude mountaineering, British-Nepali climber Nirmal Purja, is among 10 climbers unaccounted for after a sudden avalanche struck Broad Peak, an 8,047-meter eight-thousander located in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on Thursday. Rescue teams have already launched search and recovery operations to locate the missing group, leaving the global mountaineering community on edge.

    Purja, widely known by his nickname Nims Dai, built his legendary reputation on defying long-standing mountaineering records. His most iconic achievement came in 2019, when he completed ascents of all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter-plus peaks in just six months and six days — shattering the previous record of nearly eight years. This groundbreaking expedition, dubbed Project Possible, was later turned into the popular Netflix documentary *14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible*, which catapulted him to global fame.

    Born 43 years ago in a small mountain village 1,600 meters above sea level in Nepal’s Myagdi district, Purja grew up in a family with deep ties to the Gurkhas, the famed Nepali soldier contingent that has served in the British Army for over two centuries. Following in the footsteps of his father and older brothers, he joined the British Army at 18 in 2003, and five years later moved to the Royal Marines. It was during his 16-year military career that his passion for high-altitude climbing began to grow.

    A defining turning point came in 2012, when Purja trekked to Everest Base Camp. Instead of returning to Kathmandu as originally scheduled, he chose to stay and learn professional climbing techniques. He quickly notched his first major summit, conquering Nepal’s 6,118-meter Lobuche East, setting the stage for the historic feats that would follow. That spontaneous, opportunity-driven approach to adventure remained a core part of his mountaineering identity all the way to his final fateful expedition.

    In his last public update posted to X on Monday, just days before the avalanche, Purja revealed that adding Broad Peak to his itinerary had been an unplanned change. Initially, he had only intended to summit Gasherbrum II, another Karakoram-range eight-thousander he successfully climbed on July 21, marking his 57th overall eight-thousander summit. But shortly before departing for Pakistan, he realized that summiting Broad Peak would leave him just one peak away from making history as the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders twice without using supplemental oxygen.

    “This wasn’t planned,” Purja wrote. “But opportunities don’t scream: they whisper to those already working in silence. Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down. I take zero mountains for granted.” The post also paid tribute to all who had shaped his career, adding: “This one is dedicated to everyone who carried me here. Supporters. Critics. All of you. Without both sides, there is no fire. So thank you genuinely.”

    Beyond his record-breaking ascents, Purja has left a complex mark on the global mountaineering community. In 2018, he was awarded an MBE, a top civilian honor, by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to climbing. After his 2019 Project Possible success, his viral photo of a snaking queue of climbers waiting to summit Everest sparked widespread global debate about dangerous overcrowding on the world’s highest peak. He later launched his own expedition guiding company and mountaineering apparel brand, and used his platform to advocate for greater recognition of Nepali mountain guides, whose critical work supporting high-profile foreign ascents is often overlooked.

    Purja has also faced controversy throughout his career. In 2024, a *New York Times* investigation published sexual misconduct allegations from two women: one accused Purja of assaulting her in a 2023 hotel room, while a second claimed he grabbed her and made unwanted sexual advances during a 2022 K2 expedition. Purja has repeatedly denied all allegations through his legal team.

    Known for his laid-back, irreverent approach even amid grueling, high-stakes climbs, Purja once told the BBC that he could have finished his 2019 ascents of Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu two days faster than his five-day mark if he had not stopped for two nights to socialize over drinks. His documentary even showed he summited at least one peak while suffering from a hangover, after late-night parties with teammates at base camp. To fund his landmark 14 Peaks expedition, Purja remortgaged his UK home, with unwavering support from his wife Suchi throughout the ambitious challenge.

    As rescue teams work through difficult, high-altitude conditions to locate Purja and the other missing climbers, the mountaineering world awaits updates on one of its most famous modern figures.

  • Geelong Cats confirm shock exit of star forward Tyson Stengle

    Geelong Cats confirm shock exit of star forward Tyson Stengle

    After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, AFL club Geelong Cats and premiership-winning small forward Tyson Stengle have officially confirmed their mutual separation, bringing a dramatic, weeks-long contract saga to a close. The 2022 premiership winner and All-Australian selection, who had not featured for the Cats at all during the 2025 season, broke his silence in a joint statement released with the club on Friday afternoon.

    The controversy surrounding Stengle first emerged in April, when Australian broadcaster Channel 7 first reported the forward had stepped out of the public eye and cut off contact with most people connected to the club. Stengle had previously been granted an extended Christmas break on personal grounds, and returned to club training shortly after the break concluded. However, senior football journalist Caroline Wilson later revealed that the 2022 premiership star had severed ties across multiple circles linked to him: he cut off contact with his entire management team, which included Anna Betts, wife of AFL legend Eddie Betts, ended communication with local Indigenous leaders he had previously worked with, and left only a tiny handful of Geelong club personnel with any ability to reach him.

    At the time of the announcement, Stengle remained contracted to Geelong through to the end of 2029, with an estimated $2.1 million still outstanding on the remaining three years of his contract. The mutual termination of this deal closes one of the most unusual and high-profile off-field sagas of the current AFL season.

    In his first public comment since stepping out of view, Stengle expressed gratitude for the support he received during his tenure at the club. “Thank you so much to the Geelong Footy Club. In particular, to my teammates, the coaching staff, the support staff and most importantly to the fans,” Stengle said. “Your unwavering and loyal support through the great times and the tough times has meant more to me than you will ever know. I am deeply grateful and look forward to supporting the club as a fan.”

    Geelong’s executive general manager Andrew Mackie said the club had concluded that a mutual separation was the best outcome for both Stengle and the club moving forward. “We would like to congratulate Tyson on what he has achieved over his career, including his time at Geelong,” Mackie said. “To play over 100 games, earn All Australian selection and be part of a premiership team are achievements we are proud to have shared with him. We thank Tyson for his contribution to the Cats and celebrate what he has achieved in his football career.”

  • McLaren boss backs Oscar Piastri amid underwhelming start to F1 season

    McLaren boss backs Oscar Piastri amid underwhelming start to F1 season

    It has been a dramatic 12-month reversal of fortune for Australian Formula One driver Oscar Piastri: from leading the world championship a year ago to sitting 7th in the standings as the 2026 season hits its summer break. But McLaren team principal Andrea Stella insists the 25-year-old’s current struggles are just a temporary adjustment period, not a sign of a lasting slump.

    Piastri’s tough start to the 2026 campaign hit a new low at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, a race that started with immense promise. The Melbourne-native surged up to third place on the opening lap and was firmly in contention for a race victory before a collision with backmarker Carlos Sainz, who was driving for Williams at the time, as Piastri attempted to complete an overtake to lap the slower car. Still on track to claim a podium finish after the incident, a late gearbox failure forced Piastri to retire his car early, cutting what could have been a strong result short.

    Heading into the August off-season, Piastri has only secured two podium finishes across the first 12 races of 2026, totaling just 92 championship points. That puts him 17 points adrift of sixth-placed Max Verstappen, a stark contrast to his position this time last year. When the 2025 season entered its summer break, Piastri sat atop the drivers’ standings with six race wins and 284 points, buoyed by a dominant McLaren car package that gave him a clear edge over the competition.

    The 2026 season brought sweeping new regulatory changes, including a shift to lower-grip car specifications that have required a major adjustment from all drivers on the grid. Speaking to reporters after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Stella explained that Piastri is still working to acclimate to the new car requirements, and he sees clear progress behind the scenes.

    “Oscar is still getting in tune with these 2026 cars, low-grip cars,” Stella said. “There’s an opportunity there to find some pace, and there’s great work happening between Oscar, his engineering team, and the wider team. I think we have seen a great trajectory of development for Lando (Norris), and this is honestly the same with Oscar as well. So, I think we will see a very strong Oscar for the second part of the season.”

    Piastri and teammate Lando Norris are currently completing pre-break testing at Portimao before heading off for their scheduled summer breaks. The Formula One 2026 season will resume on August 23 with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where fans will get their first look at whether Piastri can deliver on the upturn in form Stella has predicted.

  • Richmond coach hits back at ‘outside noise’ over securing top draft pick

    Richmond coach hits back at ‘outside noise’ over securing top draft pick

    As the AFL regular season enters its final stretch, the Richmond Tigers find themselves caught between two competing priorities heading into their Sunday clash with the West Coast Eagles: the short-term goal of winning to avoid the wooden spoon, and the long-term prospect of holding onto the number one overall draft pick that could help them land star talent. Head coach Adam Yze has made his stance unequivocally clear: the team will be playing to win, no matter the consequences for their draft position.

  • Ferrand-Prevot bids to defend Tour de France Femmes title

    Ferrand-Prevot bids to defend Tour de France Femmes title

    The 2026 edition of the Tour de France Femmes is set to get underway this Saturday in Lausanne, Switzerland, and all eyes are on defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot as she chases a historic repeat victory. The French rider, who claimed the 2025 title to end a 36-year drought for home-grown winners of the race, has built her entire 2026 campaign around this nine-stage showdown, and says she is ready to fight for the yellow jersey.

    Ferrand-Prevot, an Olympic champion in mountain biking, made the deliberate choice to return to full-time road racing just two years ago, with the Tour de France Femmes as her sole top priority. That gamble paid off 12 months ago, when she crossed the line in Paris to become the first French rider to win the women’s Tour since 1989. This year, she has stuck to a carefully planned racing schedule tailored to peak in August: she notched up strong results at the spring classics, taking second at the Tour of Flanders and third at Paris-Roubaix, before stepping back from competition after finishing 35th overall at the Vuelta Femenina in May.

    In an online media briefing with reporters this week, the 34-year-old laid out her season-long strategy, emphasizing that her focus has never wavered from the Tour. “My goal, since the beginning, is to be able to be 100% for the Tour de France, so I never really had in mind to win other races,” she said. “I know that I need a specific preparation to be able to win races, so I just pick my battle, and I choose the Tour de France as the battle. I’m not the kind of rider who can and who wants to perform all season long; I just want to have a big goal in the season and to commit to it.”

    Ferrand-Prevot will have strong support from her Team Visma-Lease a Bike squad, which has been constructed specifically to support her bid for a second yellow jersey. The roster includes one of the most decorated riders in women’s cycling, triple Tour stage winner Marianne Vos, adding depth and tactical flexibility to the team’s campaign.

    But the defending champion will face one of the strongest fields in the young race’s history, with bookmakers and pundits marking in-form Dutch rider Demi Vollering as the pre-race favorite. Vollering has enjoyed a stellar 2026 season, claiming overall victory at the Giro d’Italia Women and winning multiple top-tier one-day races, bringing the best current form into the race among all contenders.

    A host of other top riders are also expected to challenge for the overall title: Swiss time trial specialist Marlen Reusser, reigning Vuelta Femenina winner Paula Blasi, and 2024 champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney are all considered legitimate podium contenders, while veteran contenders Elisa Longo Borghini and Anna van der Breggen cannot be counted out of a top result.

    This year’s route, which wraps up with a finish in Nice on August 9, has already been labeled the most difficult edition of the women’s Tour since the race’s modern revival. Riders will tackle nearly 19,000 meters of total climbing over the nine days, including an individual time trial in Dijon and the first-ever appearance of the iconic Mont Ventoux climb in the women’s race. The legendary mountain is set to host a potentially decisive summit finish that could shake up the general classification before the race’s final day. If Mont Ventoux does not sort out the battle for yellow, the demanding hilly final stage around the French Riviera will provide one last opportunity for contenders to attack.

    Race director Marion Rousse highlighted the challenges of the new route when it was unveiled last October, noting that the increasing depth of the women’s peloton called for a tougher, more dynamic course. “This is the toughest women’s Tour so far,” she said. “We’ve made it a little harder because the peloton is stronger. It’s a clever route – every stage has a potential trap.”