Serbia, Sweden Follow Wales in Withdrawing Support for Infantino Re-Election

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)
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Serbia, Sweden Follow Wales in Withdrawing Support for Infantino Re-Election

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament draw at the FIFA's Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025. (AFP)

The national football federations of Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdrew their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino's re-election bid on Monday and England's is expected to do the same. 

The backlash against the head of world football's ruling body has intensified following his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. 

FIFA's proposal to unlock up to $4.2 billion from private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup ended in retreat on Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders. 

"The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino for a new term as President of FIFA," the federation said in a statement. 

"We remind that we ‌provided Mr. Infantino ‌with our support on May 25 of this year in written form, but ‌after ⁠carefully reviewing the ⁠events that, in the recent period, have seriously damaged the image and reputation of both FIFA and its President, this is the only logical and rational decision." 

Sweden followed suit. 

"At an extraordinary board meeting on Monday, SvFF has chosen not to support FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the upcoming re-election," the Swedish federation said. 

"This is after a long-term assessment of the development within FIFA and the organization's leadership. The decision is based on recurring shortcomings in governance, transparency and management, which means that trust in Gianni Infantino's leadership no longer exists." 

Earlier, Wales became the first national federation ⁠to formally withdraw its support for Infantino. 

"The Football Association of Wales hereby confirms ‌its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr. Gianni Infantino, ‌for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027 to 2031 term," the Welsh FA said in a statement. 

"The recent failures ‌in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a ‌position where Mr. Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football. 

"Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept."  

England's FA will also withdraw its support for Infantino, a source familiar with the organization said. 

INFANTINO SEEKS SUPPORT OF TRUMP 

Infantino has sought support from US President Donald Trump, ‌the New York Post reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. 

The Post said Infantino had repeatedly tried and failed to reach Trump by phone ⁠since the proposal collapsed ⁠on Friday, and that the FIFA chief felt "isolated" by an avalanche of negative media coverage. 

FIFA had no immediate comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. 

Infantino is under unprecedented pressure after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF said on Saturday they had lost confidence in his leadership. 

European soccer's governing body, which led the backlash to Infantino's plans and welcomed the decision to scrap them, did not confirm media reports that it was preparing to take legal action against FIFA over the issue. 

UEFA said it had sent a document preservation order, which stops the destruction of emails, files, or data when an investigation is expected. 

Infantino said in April that he intended to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA chief. Since taking over from his Swiss compatriot Sepp Blatter in 2016, Infantino has been re-elected unopposed twice. 

While his re-election for the 2027 to 2031 term had appeared a formality, experts told Reuters the fallout from the failed proposal exposed dissatisfaction among FIFA members and could complicate his path before the Congress in Morocco in March. 



Williams Sisters Granted US Open Doubles Wildcard

 Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)
Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)
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Williams Sisters Granted US Open Doubles Wildcard

 Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)
Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams, right, both of the United States, wave to the crowd at the end of a women's doubles match against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, and Peyton Stearns, also of the United States, at the Cincinnati Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in Mason, Ohio. (AP)

Venus and Serena Williams are slated to compete in women's doubles at the 2026 US Open after being granted a wildcard, tournament officials announced Wednesday.

The announcement by the US Tennis Association follows Serena Williams' dramatic return to Arthur Ashe stadium Tuesday when she and mixed double partner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain won their first match before losing in the quarterfinals.

Venus Williams had earlier been granted a USTA wildcard to compete in women's singles, an event Serena Williams is not participating in.

The sisters together have combined for 14 women's doubles Grand Slam titles, including two US Opens. They have also won three gold medals together at Olympics in women's doubles.

The sisters last competed together in New York in 2022 when they lost their opening match to the Czech team of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova.

They dropped their opening match at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month.

The pair had been entered in Wimbledon earlier this summer, but withdrew after Serena suffered an injury in an opening round singles loss.


English Soccer Star Raheem Sterling Charged with Dangerous Driving after Highway Collision

Raheem Sterling (Reuters)
Raheem Sterling (Reuters)
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English Soccer Star Raheem Sterling Charged with Dangerous Driving after Highway Collision

Raheem Sterling (Reuters)
Raheem Sterling (Reuters)

Former England forward Raheem Sterling has been charged with three offenses including dangerous driving after being involved in a collision on a highway, police said Wednesday.

The charges relate to an incident on May 28 when a Lamborghini was involved in a “single-vehicle collision” on the M3 in southern England, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

The 31-year-old Sterling is accused of dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide — also known as laughing gas — for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a sample for suspected alcohol or substance use, said the police force, which added that no other vehicles were involved in the collision and no injuries were reported.

Sterling is due to appear at a magistrates’ court on Sept. 15 for a hearing.

Sterling is currently without a club. He has played for a number of England's top teams — Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal — and was at Dutch club Feyenoord on a short-term deal last season.

 

 

 

 


Bayern’s Dominance Overshadows Bundesliga on Klopp’s Return as Germany Coach

 Bayern's Harry Kane holds the trophy after winning the Franz Beckenbauer German Supercup match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP)
Bayern's Harry Kane holds the trophy after winning the Franz Beckenbauer German Supercup match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP)
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Bayern’s Dominance Overshadows Bundesliga on Klopp’s Return as Germany Coach

 Bayern's Harry Kane holds the trophy after winning the Franz Beckenbauer German Supercup match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP)
Bayern's Harry Kane holds the trophy after winning the Franz Beckenbauer German Supercup match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP)

When Jürgen Klopp surveys the Bundesliga upon his return as Germany coach, he could be forgiven for sneaking a look elsewhere for excitement.

A new season of Germany’s top division starts Friday, but little will have changed from before with Bayern Munich expected to saunter to another league title with minimal opposition. It would be Bayern’s third in a row and 14th in 15 seasons.

The Bavarian powerhouse’s dominance overshadows the league with Bayern treating the competition as a warmup for the Champions League.

“The battle for starting spots at FC Bayern is more exciting than the race for the German championship,” former West Germany great Lothar Matthäus wrote in a column for Sky, where he predicted Vincent Kompany’s team would again win the Bundesliga by more than 10 points.

Bayer Leverkusen’s league and cup double while remaining unbeaten in 2024 is the only blot on Bayern’s record since Klopp led Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back titles in 2012.

This season, Klopp’s former club is rebuilding after a summer of change, as is Leverkusen for the second year after its unprecedented success under Xabi Alonso.

Stuttgart is the most settled of Bayern’s rivals in what will be its fourth full season under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, but the gulf in class and resources between the sides is again likely to be too much.

Bayern routed Stuttgart 3-0 in the German Cup final in May with Harry Kane hitting a hat trick to take his season tally to 61 goals.

Kane will be keen to get off the mark again when Stuttgart visits Munich for the season opener on Friday.

Bayern’s improvements

Bayern is expected to be even stronger in Kompany’s third season as coach.

Morocco forward Ismael Saibari has arrived from PSV Eindhoven to boost an already fearsome attack including Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz.

Germany defender Nathaniel Brown has arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and has already filled in midfield with Saibari still nursing an injury from the World Cup.

Bayern also finalized the transfer of Senegal teenager Bara Sapoko Ndiaye from Gambia All Stars. The promising 18-year-old midfielder is expected to feature more following the departure of Leon Goretzka.

Jamal Musiala is back after missing much of last season with a broken leg, though it remains to be seen how he and the club deal with the neurological issue that caused him to collapse during two warmup games after a change in medication.

All change in Dortmund

Dortmund’s rebuilding started long before the summer with new sporting director Ole Book arriving from Elversberg in March to replace Sebastian Kehl, who departed after reported disputes with managing director Lars Ricken. Carsten Cramer took over from Hans-Joachim Watzke as CEO in October.

Book inherited a squad in drastic need of change and has had a busy summer, bringing in attack-minded midfielders Konstantinos Karetsas, Joey Vermaan and Giannis Konstantelias from Genk, PSV and PAOK, respectively, to replace Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona) and Julian Brandt (Ajax).

Young defenders Joane Gadou and Kaua Prates arrived from Salzburg and Cruzeiro, respectively, while Ecuadorian midfielder Justin Lerma and Japanese teenager Takato Yamamoto will also have opportunities to shine under coach Niko Kovač.

A proposed move for Said El Mala broke down over Cologne’s demands for the teenage star.

Brand was among several players including Salih Özcan and Niklas Süle whose contracts expired. Julien Duranville and Cole Campbell also departed, while Brazilian defender Yan Couto was allowed join Como on loan.

More transfers are expected before Sept. 1.

Leverkusen again looks to Spain

After enjoying so much success under Xabi Alonso in 2024, Leverkusen has turned to another Spanish coach, Carles Martínez, who led Toulouse to mid-table finishes over three seasons in the French league.

Leverkusen’s first season without Alonso was rocky and disappointing. Erik ten Hag had a brief and turbulent spell in charge, then Kasper Hjulmand could only lead the team to sixth.

Martínez will be charged with a top-four finish for Champions League qualification.

Scrapping for best of the rest

Eintracht Frankfurt, Leipzig and Stuttgart are also expected to challenge for the financially lucrative top-four places.

Adi Hütter is back as Frankfurt coach to calm the waters after Albert Riera’s volatile tenure last season. Riera fell out with players, team officials and fans, then blasted the club after he was fired and said he would not take any Frankfurt players for future projects. Riera led Frankfurt to eighth, just outside the European qualification places.

Leipzig fired its coach after finishing third last season, so the pressure is on Martin Demichelis to do better. He’ll have to do it without Yan Diomande, who joined Real Madrid in a big money move. Christopher Nkunku has returned to help fill in.

Ruhr derby returns Schalke is back in the Bundesliga after three seasons away, meaning more work for police around with the Ruhr derby back on against Dortmund.

Miron Muslić’s team will aim to last longer than the solitary season it managed upon promotion in 2022, though there are fears of an over-reliance on veteran forward Edin Džeko, who’s staying on for another year.

Paderborn and Elversberg are the other promoted sides. Both will be -- like Schalke -- fighting for survival in the 64th Bundesliga season. While Paderborn was promoted before, in 2014 and 2019, it’s the first time for Saarland-based Elversberg, which was playing at the fourth-tier level in 2021-22.

Even if the Bundesliga title race feels predictable, the battle for survival and European qualification will be anything but.