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PSG Looks for Super Cup Success Over Villa for First of Six Possible Trophies This Season

Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)
Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)
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PSG Looks for Super Cup Success Over Villa for First of Six Possible Trophies This Season

Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)
Désiré Doué of PSG attends the team’s training session in Salzburg, Austria, 11 August 2026. (EPA)

Paris Saint-Germain gets back on the trophy trail on Wednesday in the UEFA Super Cup against Aston Villa.

There are six pieces of silverware up for grabs for PSG this season, with the No. 1 priority being a third straight Champions League title to cement its status as one of the greatest club teams in football history.

The first trophy could be lifted inside Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, in the annual match between the most recent winners of the Champions League and Europa League.

PSG is bidding for a second straight Super Cup win after beating Tottenham in a penalty shootout last year.

Villa won the Super Cup in 1983 after beating Barcelona over two legs. The manager, Unai Emery, has experienced three straight losses in the Super Cup — the first two with Sevilla and the third with Villarreal.

The game will be refereed by Omar Artan, the Somali who was barred by the United States from officiating at the World Cup days before the start of FIFA's tournament because of vetting concerns. US officials claimed Artan had connections to terror organizations, though without providing proof.

UEFA responded by picking Artan — a referee judged the best in Africa last season — to take charge of the Super Cup in a powerplay by European football's governing body amid its increasing disconnect with FIFA.

That disharmony has increased since, with UEFA leading the campaign to oust Gianni Infantino from the FIFA presidency over his recent aborted plan to sell an interest in the World Cup.

Villa will be without new signing Johan Manzambi, with the Swiss World Cup star out due to a knee injury, while key players Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa won't play as they haven’t returned to full training after the World Cup.

PSG coach Luis Enrique must decide whether to include France internationals Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola and Spain’s World Cup-winning midfielder Fabián Ruiz, as they only returned to training on Monday.

PSG could pick left-back Lucas Digne, who recently joined from Villa.

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Sports

Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. (dpa)
13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. (dpa)
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Infantino Proposes Consulting Federations to Reform FIFA

13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. (dpa)
13 July 2025, US, East Rutherford: FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the DAZN pre-match interview ahead of the Club World Cup final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at Metlife Stadium. (dpa)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday suggested a "consultation" with the member federations to reform the world football governing body's decision-making processes, in a letter addressed to the 211 member associations, and seen by AFP.

"I will propose that the Council establish a direct, structured and time-limited consultation with confederations, Member Associations and relevant stakeholders on how FIFA's decision-making can be further strengthened," Infantino wrote.

The 56-year-old Swiss has come under fire since his now-abandoned plan to bring private investment into the men's and women's World Cups.

"The consultation would invite specific proposals on earlier institutional involvement, the respective roles of the President, the Bureau, the Council and the Congress, and practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives," the letter continued.

Infantino asked for the initial proposals to be considered at the council meeting scheduled for October 15.

Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter as president of FIFA in 2016. He has come under severe pressure since the announcement in late July of proposals to create a commercial subsidiary to run its biggest events, such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

The plan would have allowed private investors to acquire stakes in a company created under the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) initiative. The backlash that followed led to the proposals being quickly shelved.

European football's governing body UEFA threatened to boycott FIFA competitions. It later suspended that threat, but has urged Infantino to resign and has been preparing possible legal action against him for alleged "criminal mismanagement".

Infantino addressed FFE in his letter on Monday and wrote that "FIFA's democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale".

The plan also "did not involve relinquishing FIFA's control or authority over sporting decisions", he insisted.

- 'Clear and trusted' -

He further lamented the fact that the scheme "entered the public domain before FIFA's planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the Member Associations".

"I recognize that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not," Infantino added.

"Major ideas must be developed, tested and communicated through clear and trusted institutions. That is a responsibility I take seriously."

UEFA, alongside North American body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), issued a no-holds-barred joint letter against Infantino in August.

"Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding -- or demanding -- power to be held," they wrote.

FIFA confirmed earlier in September that Infantino will stand for re-election as president next March.

At this stage, he is the only candidate. However, CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is widely seen as a likely challenger.

Candidate nominations for next year's election must be submitted by November 18.

Sports

F1 Commission Agrees Shorter Races from 2027

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, steers through a turn during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix auto race in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, steers through a turn during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix auto race in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP)
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F1 Commission Agrees Shorter Races from 2027

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, steers through a turn during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix auto race in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP)
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, steers through a turn during qualifying for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix auto race in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP)

The governing ‌FIA's Formula One commission agreed on Monday to reduce the standard Grand Prix distance from 305km to 290km from 2027, cutting races by two or three laps.

The commission approved the change in line with planned refinements to 2027 power unit regulations concerning fuel flow, ‌they said ‌in a statement after ‌a ⁠meeting in London at ⁠the International Automobile Federation offices.

They also agreed to remove the current three-hour maximum time limit from the start to finish of a race, including any interruptions ⁠caused by rain or other ‌factors.

A two-hour ‌limit on actual racing will remain, while ‌a hard stop time for ‌the end of racing activity will be introduced for disrupted events.

The objective is to give spectators the best possible ‌chance to enjoy a full race when disruptions occur, ⁠the ⁠FIA said.

The commission agreed that organizers should also have greater flexibility to extend free practice sessions if they are interrupted.

Gearbox homologation will be removed for 2027 following consultation with manufacturers and a recommendation from the Sporting Advisory Committee, a move the FIA said would preserve development freedom for suppliers.

Sports

Irish Athletes Group Urges National Team to Boycott Israel Fixtures

Football - Nations League - Play-offs - First Leg - Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland - Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv, Bulgaria - March 20, 2025 Republic of Ireland players pose for a team group photo before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Play-offs - First Leg - Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland - Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv, Bulgaria - March 20, 2025 Republic of Ireland players pose for a team group photo before the match. (Reuters)
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Irish Athletes Group Urges National Team to Boycott Israel Fixtures

Football - Nations League - Play-offs - First Leg - Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland - Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv, Bulgaria - March 20, 2025 Republic of Ireland players pose for a team group photo before the match. (Reuters)
Football - Nations League - Play-offs - First Leg - Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland - Stadion Hristo Botev, Plovdiv, Bulgaria - March 20, 2025 Republic of Ireland players pose for a team group photo before the match. (Reuters)

More than 160 Irish sportspeople ‌have signed an open letter asking the Ireland national football team to boycott their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, the Irish Sport for Palestine Group said on Monday.

Ireland are due to play Israel on September 27 in Hungary before the reverse fixture in Serbia on October 4. Both matches are set to be staged at neutral venues and behind closed doors after protests by players and fans ‌over the death ‌toll of Palestinian civilians during the ‌war ⁠in Gaza.

Irish Sport ⁠for Palestine said the signatories included Olympian Ciara Mageean, former footballer Louise Quinn, former rugby flyhalf Tony Ward and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan.

"This is a significant moment and with this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing," the ⁠letter said.

"Not playing the game would be ‌the most sporting thing ‌you could do. Through your leadership and courage, it would ‌show the power of sport to unite, remind ‌us of the shared values that connect us all, and have an impact far beyond the game."

In May, leading Irish footballers joined celebrities in a campaign urging Ireland to ‌boycott the Nations League matches against Israel.

Ireland has been one of the European ⁠Union's most ⁠outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza, and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) members voted overwhelmingly in late 2025 for its board to request that UEFA immediately suspend the Israel Football Association from European competitions.

The FAI later committed to playing the fixtures, citing possible sanctions that could affect the national team and the association.

Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said last week he had spoken individually to players about facing Israel and that "none of us feel comfortable playing in these games".