分类： sports

FIFA’s latest proposal to offload a minority stake in the commercial operations of the World Cup and other top FIFA tournaments, via the creation of a new semi-private subsidiary, has triggered a wave of widespread fury and disbelief across the global football community and political sphere. The plan, which was first made public via correspondence from FIFA president Gianni Infantino to member associations that gave stakeholders until September 19 to approve the deal, has drawn condemnation from every corner of the sport, with critics decrying a lack of transparency, exclusion from decision-making, and fundamental threats to the identity of global football.

Leading the backlash among football governing bodies is UEFA, European football’s top administrative body, which issued a firm rebuke of the proposal this Wednesday. “The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially,” the organization stated. “None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.” UEFA added that FIFA has no right to leverage the sport for private financial gain for its own leadership and connected associates, arguing that growth of the game should instead center on prioritizing the needs of member associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans.

CONCACAF, the governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean football whose member nations the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosted the 2026 men’s World Cup, also echoed widespread concerns, noting it is “deeply concerned by the lack of due process” surrounding the proposal.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) added that it was completely sidelined from the planning process, expressing disappointment that such a high-stakes proposal entered the public sphere before the confederation had the chance to review and debate the plan through formal governance channels. The European Football Clubs Association, which represents more than 850 top clubs across the continent that form the backbone of participation in FIFA’s international competitions, also confirmed it learned of the plan through public media, the same way most other stakeholders did, with no advance consultation on a proposal of massive significance to the future of the sport.

Top club and federation leaders have also added their voices to the criticism. Hans-Joachim Watzke, vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB) and president of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, told German magazine Kicker that much of European football views FIFA’s plan as a direct attack on the sport’s core values, a position he shares. “A line has been crossed here,” Watzke said, noting that European teams accounted for six of the 2026 World Cup’s quarter-finalists and three of its semi-finalists, so unified opposition from European football would carry significant influence. Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl went further, saying he now believes FIFA exists solely to generate profit, with the only goal being to extract money from every possible angle. “I consider myself a child of football — I’ve been involved in the sport for decades — and even I find this disgusting,” Eberl said.

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, Spain’s top professional football league, called the plan another example of systemic governance failures under Infantino, arguing “Infantino is not the solution to FIFA’s governance. He is the problem. We are venturing deeper into the iceberg and what remains to surface.” The Football Association (FA), England’s governing body, also cited deep concern over the lack of proper process, governance and alignment with core football principles based on the limited information that has been made public. Norwegian FA president Lise Klaveness framed the latest controversy as part of a long-running pattern of eroding procedures under FIFA’s current leadership, noting that her organization has repeatedly raised alarms about “increasingly deficient procedures within FIFA’s leadership, particularly the lack of transparency, the insufficient involvement of the council, and the absence of the necessary distance from heads of state and external stakeholders who are seeking to influence the course of football.” French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo added that national federations have been left in the dark, with no access to specific details required to evaluate a proposal that will shape the future of the global game.

Even Sepp Blatter, Infantino’s disgraced predecessor who stepped down amid a massive corruption scandal more than a decade ago, joined the criticism, pointing to widespread reports that one of the leading potential investors is Thrive Capital, an investment firm founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Blatter claimed the close ties between Infantino and Trump have now taken on a damaging financial dimension, arguing “No one has the right to sell our game.”

The criticism has extended far beyond the football world to political leaders. European Union Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef posted a clear message on social media platform X: “Hands off our game.” Micallef warned that the proposal raises major red flags around governance and conflicts of interest, noting “Particular concern arises when FIFA’s regulatory powers become aligned with the financial interests of private entities. When the value of investments depends on decisions made by FIFA. That raises profound questions about governance, independence and conflicts of interest.”

Andy Burnham, the UK Prime Minister and lifelong supporter of Premier League club Everton who led the long fight for justice for families of Liverpool fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster, also weighed in, saying “Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.” In the United States, Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee also attacked the proposed deal, linking it to previous controversies surrounding Infantino’s ties to Trump. “Apparently the fake Peace Prize and giant lease with Trump Tower weren’t enough, now Infantino performs a kickback hat trick by pursuing a multibillion-dollar deal with Jared Kushner’s brother to sell ownership stakes in the World Cup to private investors,” the committee members said.

At the age of 32, Corey Jensen’s decorated National Rugby League (NRL) career has been cut drastically short after medical specialists delivered a devastating ruling that the premiership-winning Brisbane Broncos front-rower must retire from contact sport effective immediately.

Jensen first began experiencing unexplained illness after the Broncos’ Round 7 victory over the Wests Tigers earlier this season. Further diagnostic testing soon confirmed the serious diagnosis: multiple pulmonary embolisms, or blood clots, had developed in both of his lungs. In a bid to clarify his condition and explore paths back to the field, the prop consulted leading specialists across Australia and internationally, who ruled out any underlying autoimmune disorder as the root cause of the clots. The bad news, however, remained: Jensen will require lifelong treatment with blood-thinning medication, a regimen that rules out any future participation in high-impact contact rugby league.

Jensen’s NRL journey began as a late-blooming prospect with the North Queensland Cowboys in 2017, where legendary coach the late Paul Green gave him his debut opportunity. After honing his craft for five seasons in Townsville, he made the switch to the Brisbane Broncos in 2022, and capped his career just one year later by helping the club secure the 2023 NRL premiership title.

Reflecting on his sudden career end in an official statement, Jensen noted the bittersweet nature of his current situation. “Due to circumstances and medical advice from not just specialists here but from specialists internationally, the recommendation is that I can’t continue playing contact sport,” he said. “Since I’ve been able to train properly again, it’s been like a mini pre-season and I can do everything other than the contact which is the frustrating part. Overall, my health’s pretty good, I can continue training in the future and it’s not going to affect me in any way.”

Jensen also paid tribute to the two clubs that shaped his career, singling out the Cowboys and the late Paul Green for giving him his breakthrough opportunity. “I was a bit of a late bloomer, so I’m grateful they took a punt on me and I have to acknowledge how much the Cowboys did for my career,” he added.

Broncos senior leadership have been unanimous in their praise for the hard-working, selfless prop, who built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable front-rowers and a key supporting foil for star forward Payne Haas, who is set to depart the club at the end of the 2024 season.

Broncos head coach Michael Maguire highlighted Jensen’s outsized impact on the club’s culture and success. “Corey is an outstanding professional who lives the Broncos’ standards every day, he’s a high-quality individual and puts the team ahead of himself in everything he does,” Maguire said. “He is perfect for the culture here at the club and he helps build sustained success, his record shows that. His greatest qualities are his care for his teammates and his ability to always make someone else better.”

Troy Thomson, Brisbane’s general manager of football operations, echoed those sentiments, saying Jensen’s legacy at the club will extend far beyond his playing days. “Corey is the definition of a professional, he has an incredible work ethic, humility and commitment to his teammates,” Thomson said. “Watching him fulfil his dream of winning a premiership last year was incredibly special. Even throughout this incredibly challenging period, Corey has continued to contribute to our football program, and has shown immense growth in that area while supporting staff and players with the selfless attitude he’s always shown. He will forever live on the walls of the Broncos from what he’s been able to achieve, and the players and staff members he’s been able to inspire.”

The third consecutive day of competitive action at the 2026 Commonwealth Games delivered a string of historic firsts and unprecedented domination on Wednesday, with Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor securing a long-awaited heptathlon gold medal and Australia rewriting the event record books for swimming success.

For O’Connor, the 25-year-old athlete, the gold medal marked a stunning turnaround after a frustrating first day of competition. Wet, miserable conditions threw her shot put routine off rhythm on Tuesday, leaving the athlete admitting she felt “gutted” and uncertain about her gold medal prospects. But she pulled off a dominant performance across the remaining events, finishing far clear of the entire field to upgrade the silver medal she won at the 2022 Birmingham Games. This victory is Northern Ireland’s first Commonwealth athletics gold medal since 1986, ending a 38-year drought for the region. England’s Jade O’Dowda took home silver, while Australia’s Tori West claimed the bronze medal.

Elsewhere in athletics, multiple champions were crowned on Wednesday. Canada’s Sarah Mitton successfully defended her 2022 Commonwealth shot put title, Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle won men’s long jump gold, and Kenya completed a dominant double in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, with Faith Cherotich crossing the line first to secure the nation’s second top spot on the podium. Two-time Olympic 1500m medallist Josh Kerr also cruised through his qualifying heat on Wednesday morning, easing off in the final stretch to stoke crowd excitement ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated final, which will be held on Kerr’s home soil in Scotland. The Scots athlete said he has dreamed of competing at these championships since childhood, recalling nostalgic trips to the event as a 12-year-old where he finished far behind the pack, before heading home with his parents for a post-race sandwich. “I want as much pressure on me as possible. I’m here to show up and get a gold medal for Scotland and hopefully we can put more people on the podium than just me,” Kerr said ahead of the weekend final.

The biggest story of the day, however, came from the pool on the final night of swimming competition, where Australia closed out an unprecedented gold rush to cement their status as the undisputed dominant force in Commonwealth swimming. The team added nine more gold medals on Wednesday to bring their total swimming gold count to 37 out of 52 contested events, breaking all previous Commonwealth Games records for swimming success. The performance capped a week of near-total domination for the Australian team, which swept all four relay gold medals in the men’s and women’s 4x100m medley to close out the meet.

Standout individual performances from Australian swimmers abounded throughout the final night. Sam Short completed a historic treble in long-distance freestyle events, claiming gold in the 1500m to add to his earlier titles in the 400m and 800m. Kyle Chalmers and Ben Armbruster tied for gold in the men’s 50m butterfly with an identical time of 22.73 seconds, completing an Australian 1-2-3 finish alongside bronze medalist Cameron McEvoy, who also won the 50m freestyle earlier in the meet. Kai Taylor took gold in the men’s 200m freestyle, Brittany Castelluzzo claimed top spot in the women’s 200m butterfly, and Meg Harris led another Australian 1-2-3 sweep in the women’s 50m freestyle.

“It’s been awesome. Every year it feels like the Australian team reaches another level,” said McEvoy after the final race. “I don’t see us slowing down anytime soon, so it’s really special to be part of it, and I’m just happy to keep riding the wave.”

Australia was not the only nation to celebrate historic swimming achievements. South Africa’s 22-year-old Pieter Coetze emerged as one of the few non-Australian swimming gold medalists of the Games, completing a clean sweep of all men’s backstroke events with a 100m gold that broke both the Commonwealth and African records, coming just 0.17 seconds off the current world record. Coetze had already won gold in the 50m and 200m backstroke in new Games record times, and also picked up a bronze medal in the men’s medley relay alongside South African teammate Chad le Clos, who made Commonwealth Games history by claiming his 21st career medal, making him the most decorated athlete in the event’s 92-year history.

Scotland also picked up a second swimming gold of the night from Angharad Evans in the women’s 200m breaststroke, who earned the loudest cheer of the evening from the home crowd for her victory.

Outside the pool and athletics track, the 3×3 basketball competition wrapped up on Wednesday with England edging out Australia 19-17 to claim the men’s gold medal, while Scotland beat New Zealand to take the bronze. In the women’s event, Australia dominated the gold medal match, defeating Namibia by a comfortable 21-11 score to take the top prize.

Heading into the remaining days of competition, Australia holds a massive lead in the overall Games medal table, with more than 100 total medals and 47 gold medals already secured, far outpacing all other competing nations.

The 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games has delivered a dramatic twist in men’s super-heavyweight boxing, ending the high-profile campaign of Aziz Abdul, grandson of former Ugandan leader Idi Amin, in unexpected disqualification on Wednesday.

Aziz entered the Games carrying a symbolic nickname that echoed his grandfather’s notorious 1976 declaration where he named himself the “King of Scotland” — a comment that later inspired the Oscar-winning feature film *The Last King Of Scotland*. Ahead of his quarter-final bout, Aziz made headlines across the host nation when he stated his ambition to become the “new king of Scotland”, turning a routine boxing match into one of the most talked-about bouts of the tournament.

Facing off against England’s Damar Thomas, the contest quickly turned tense and tempestuous. Aziz got off to a strong start in the opening round, landing three powerful sweeping left hooks that put Thomas on the back foot. However, a short, sharp left strike from Thomas left Aziz rattled, forcing the referee to issue a standing count that shifted the momentum of the fight firmly to his opponent.

The second round saw Aziz lose control of his technique, swinging wildly at Thomas in a series of uncontrolled attacks. He was handed his first point deduction when he repeatedly struck Thomas in the face as the pair broke from a clinch. By the start of the final round, Aziz was already trailing on the judges’ scorecards, putting his gold medal bid in serious jeopardy.

Midway through the final round, Aziz committed a clear foul that sealed his exit: he jerked his head upward to land an illegal headbutt on Thomas’s chin. The crowd in Glasgow reacted immediately, raining boos down on the Ugandan boxer as the referee handed out his third and final warning, issuing an immediate disqualification. Aziz was jeered out of the ring as his dream of a Commonwealth medal ended in disgrace.

Speaking to reporters after the bout, an angry Aziz hit out at the referee’s decision, rejecting the outcome entirely. “This referee’s decision is not right and I am not happy,” he said. “Of course it’s unfair. When you watch the previous fights of England, their boxers create a lot of fouls.” The disqualification brings an early end to Aziz’s Commonwealth Games run, closing out one of the most dramatic storylines of this year’s boxing tournament.

For decades, the Melbourne Storm has built a reputation for turning promising fringe forwards into elite, household-name talents. Now, the club’s newest recruit, 23-year-old Oryn Keeley, is opening up about the emotional early relocation from the Brisbane-based Dolphins that brought him to Victoria, as he sets out to become the Storm’s next breakout star.

Keeley originally signed a deal with the Storm at the end of 2025, with the expectation that he would complete the current NRL season with the Dolphins before making the move south. But limited game time at his former club changed those plans fast: the rising forward managed just six appearances for the Dolphins in 2026, four of which came off the bench, stuck behind established starters Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Connelly Lemuelu. With the Storm battling a rash of injury problems in their forward pack, all stakeholders agreed to an early release that let Keeley make the switch immediately.

The move wasn’t without its personal challenges. Keeley and his partner were just eight weeks into welcoming their first daughter when they packed up their life in Brisbane to head to Melbourne. His partner’s uncle even made the drive south to haul the couple’s car and Keeley’s beloved coffee machine – a key piece of kit he says matters even more after sampling Brisbane’s superior coffee beans, a quirk he jokes is an easy adjustment to make.

“It’s definitely not easy when you’re 23 and our daughter was eight weeks at the time,” Keeley told NewsWire. “As a dad, it wasn’t easy, but having my partner trust what I needed was massive because she said that we need to be happy and I need to have a fair opportunity to play. That meant coming down here early. There were some tough conversations, but I’m very grateful that the Dolphins did release me because I’ve never been so happy in my life, and my family is very happy. It was very tough, but these tough times that I had to go through made me a better person and have made my family stronger. We know that the next challenge that comes up, we can defeat it. Whatever is thrown at us, we will deal with it.”

What struck Keeley most in the transition was the overwhelming support the Storm provided before and during the move, a level of care that brought him to tears during his official jersey presentation ahead of his club debut against the Titans earlier this month, just days after arriving in Melbourne. So raw was his emotion that he asked his partner to wait outside the presentation to avoid being completely overwhelmed.

“I was emotional that a great club like this wanted to bring a kid from Gosford down and give him an opportunity to play here,” he said. “It gives me goosebumps thinking about playing for this club. The faith that the club put into me is something they didn’t have to do, which is why I was a bit emotional when I looked at the jersey and saw my name on it. To have the backing of Craig [Storm coach Craig Bellamy] and the senior group to throw me in in my first week hit me in the face when I got up to speak. I always get emotional in those types of things, but that one was very emotional because it’s an honour to play at this club. I was like a little kid when I got up there.”

Keeley’s signing was widely heralded as a major coup for the Storm, after a strong 2025 campaign that included a two-try man-of-the-match performance in the 2024 State Championship final. Stuck behind senior forwards at the Dolphins, the young back-rower jumped at the chance to join a club famous for developing edge forwards into world-class talent – a legacy that includes club greats Ryan Hoffman, Adam Blair, Tohu Harris and current star Eli Katoa, all of whom thrived in Melbourne’s system.

“I thought I deserved to be playing now, but that wasn’t the case,” Keeley said. “They had lots of players there, so I thought I’d make the move early so I could learn the system so I could be ready next year and be aware of what’s required. It was a tough move, but it was what I needed to do for my football career and my family. As a young kid, I think everyone can agree that you’d watch Melbourne on a Friday night and you knew what you were in for. You look at the calibre of players they’ve produced, and it’s ridiculous.”

Keeley, whose brother already supports the Storm, says he’s most excited to learn from Katoa, who he describes as the prototypical modern NRL back-rower. “I look at Eli Katoa and think what he’s done for the club already, so I can’t wait to go to battle with a player like him. It’s such a rich history here, so it’s exciting that I get to be a part of it. I think Eli is the best back-rower in the comp in terms of everything from how he gets up for the high ball, how he runs the ball and how tough he is. He’s the prototypical back-rower. That made me excited to come here and learn off him. You watch all of the back-rowers who have played here, and they all blossomed in the Storm system. For me to take my game to the next level, the best thing was for me to come here.”

Keeley’s insights into the Storm’s culture came long before his signing, from former Storm legends Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers, who Keeley played alongside at the Dolphins. “The way they used to talk about this club, they put them on a pedestal,” he said. “If you want to become good and become great, that’s what Melbourne only accept. There’s a standard, and you don’t go below it. That made me excited that I could come down here and learn that and try to be like that every day. I think the way they hold themselves off the field – win, lose or draw – is consistent. They drill the same message into you all week and you’re expected to go out there and know what to do because of the messages you’ve received from the coaching staff.”

This Friday night, Keeley will make his fourth appearance for the Storm, starting against the Canterbury Bulldogs, with the club facing a high-stakes run of fixtures: Melbourne’s record-breaking consecutive NRL finals streak will come to an end unless the club wins every one of its remaining matches this season. For Keeley, though, every game is just another step in a journey that’s already changed his career and his family’s future.

After a winless, disappointing 2025-26 season that Victorian cricket fans are eager to put behind them, a new leadership era has begun for the state’s Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) side. Nicole Faltum, the team’s veteran wicketkeeper, will be officially announced as the squad’s new skipper this Thursday, stepping into the role previously held by Australian national team champion Sophie Molineux.

Even before her formal appointment, Faltum has already moved quickly to reset team culture and lay the groundwork for a turnaround, bringing a fresh, player-centric philosophy to the struggling side. In one of her first symbolic gestures as captain, Faltum created a blank team canvas emblazoned with every squad member’s initials and a sketch of the WNCL championship trophy, a visual tool she said she used to manifest a successful upcoming campaign that resonated strongly with her teammates.

Faltum has already held extensive collaborative meetings with players and coaching staff, and says she has never seen the Victorian program more aligned on its core goals heading into a new season. Her leadership philosophy centers on three key pillars: authenticity, enjoyment, and relentless performance.

“I made a point to be clear from the start about how I want to run things and shape this program,” Faltum explained. “One of my core priorities is encouraging every person in this group to be 100 percent authentic to who they are. We will have shared team values and standards, but there’s no one-size-fits-all way to contribute – that’s something I want every player and staff member to feel.”

For Faltum, prioritizing fun and passion for the sport is non-negotiable, even at the elite level. “This is our job, and we are here to perform, but so many people would love to be in our position playing professional cricket,” she said. “We can’t lose sight of how lucky we are, and that joy has to come through in how we play.”

That focus on culture does not come at the cost of ambition, Faltum emphasized: “There’s no hiding it – I want to win every single game we play. At the end of the day, everything we do revolves around performance, and that’s going to be our driving force.”

Victoria’s disastrous previous campaign, which ended with the squad rooted at the bottom of the ladder without a single win, has given Faltum a clear starting point for improvement. She argues that many of last season’s struggles stemmed from gaps in cricket IQ and game awareness – areas she says are entirely teachable with intentional preparation.

“People often joke that teams get accustomed to either winning or losing, and while that’s partly just a narrative, there’s a lot of truth to it too,” Faltum noted. “When we reflected on last season, most of our issues came down to decision-making and game awareness that we can actually work on. We’ve already made that a core focus of pre-season.”

Faltum explained that the team’s pre-season work balances on-field skill development with off-field tactical learning: “Half of our work is hands-on skill work, but the other half is breaking down past matches in the meeting room. When you take the emotion and pressure of a live game out of it, even experienced players can learn new things about the game – that’s been really rewarding for all of us so far.”

Beyond tactical preparation, Faltum has prioritized building personal connections with every member of the squad. Alongside the shared team canvas, she gifted each player a personalized towel embroidered with their initials, and wrote individual handwritten cards highlighting each player’s unique strengths and value to the team.

The squad will head to Mildura next week for a pre-season training camp to finalize preparations, and will kick off their 2026-27 campaign under lights against South Australia on September 29. For Faltum and her side, the blank canvas of the new captaincy era offers the chance to build something special after a year to forget.