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Former Driver Massa Sues FIA, FOM and Ecclestone in a London Court over 2008 Formula 1 Title

Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa poses for a photo at his home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP)
Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa poses for a photo at his home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP)
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Former Driver Massa Sues FIA, FOM and Ecclestone in a London Court over 2008 Formula 1 Title

Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa poses for a photo at his home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP)
Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa poses for a photo at his home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 31, 2023. (AP)

Former driver Felipe Massa said on Monday he had filed a lawsuit in a London court against auto racing's governing body FIA, series owner Formula One Management (FOM) and Bernie Ecclestone amid his attempt to claim the 2008 title.

The 42-year-old Brazilian added that he is seeking to receive an amount in damages that he did not disclose.

Massa, who has said since last year he is the “rightful” champion of 2008 due to the incident known as "Crashgate", was the runner-up to Lewis Hamilton.

Former Ferrari and Williams driver Massa said in a statement his case would be heard at the King’s Bench Division of the High Court.

Massa’s decision comes after months of preparatory steps that included his lawyers asking auto racing bodies to reply to his public allegations of a breach of contract.

“I always said I was going to fight until the end,” Massa said in the statement. “Since the FIA and FOM decided not to do anything, we will seek to right this historical injustice in court. The matter is now for our lawyers and they are fully authorized to do whatever is necessary so justice in sport is served.”

His allegations relate to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, when Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed deliberately to help then-Renault teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.

The Renault team was eventually punished but the results stood, giving a path for Hamilton to beat Massa to the drivers’ title.

Last year, former F1 boss Ecclestone said in an interview with website F1 Insider that he learned through the course of 2008 that Piquet Jr. had crashed deliberately. He added he chose not to investigate the incident until the season ended, when it was too late to change the standings.

Piquet Jr.’s crash came when Massa was in front in Singapore. A safety car was brought in, which squandered his lead and gave Alonso a clear advantage as he was the only driver who had already made a pit stop to refuel.

Massa went on to finish out of the points in 13th place after a calamitous pit stop, while Hamilton finished third in that race.

The FIA, FOM and Ecclestone have yet to comment on the decision made by Massa.

Massa said in an interview with The Associated Press in August that he had more evidence of wrongdoing to support his case. The Brazilian also said then that he was considering filing other cases related to the same incident in other countries.

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Sports

UEFA Pressure on Infantino Grows as Greek FA, Bierhoff Back Change

Football - FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives at the stadium before a FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup match on September 5, 2026. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives at the stadium before a FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup match on September 5, 2026. (Reuters)
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UEFA Pressure on Infantino Grows as Greek FA, Bierhoff Back Change

Football - FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives at the stadium before a FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup match on September 5, 2026. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrives at the stadium before a FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup match on September 5, 2026. (Reuters)

Greek Football Association ‌president Makis Gagatsis and former Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff on Tuesday backed UEFA's push for change in FIFA's leadership, underscoring a united European front in opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

"The Greek FA (EPO) has taken a clear position against a candidacy of Gianni Infantino," EPO President Makis Gagatsis told reporters.

"We saw things happen at the World Cup that are not acceptable to football public opinion," Gagatsis said.

"Then... came a program to sell World Cup rights and we are clearly against it, so we withdrew our support of the FIFA president."

He was speaking after a meeting ‌of the UEFA ‌Executive Committee in the northern Greek city of ‌Thessaloniki, ⁠with a "legends'" five-a-side ⁠game held in the city center to promote UEFA's grassroots program.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was also present at the event but did not talk to media.

Infantino has been under mounting pressure ever since he unveiled a proposal to sell a commercial stake of the World Cup to private investors. The plan prompted fierce opposition, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and ⁠North America's CONCACAF among those calling for change at ‌the top of FIFA.

FIFA quickly abandoned ‌the plan and apologized to member associations for mistakes made, but its leadership reaffirmed ‌support for Infantino after a crisis meeting in August in Morocco.

UEFA ‌has been among the staunchest critics of Infantino and have said a change in leadership is now necessary given the loss of trust in Infantino, who is planning to run for re-election in March.

"We have to take care of ‌football," Bierhoff, who was Germany's national team director for 18 years until 2022, said.

"It is already commercial but ⁠it is ⁠a property for all of football.

"The world views may be different but in the last weeks and months a lot happened so that we have no trust anymore that it will be going in the right direction."

Infantino has weathered the opposition against him since he apologized to FIFA members in August over errors surrounding the abandoned proposal but has since declined to discuss the fallout publicly.

Sources have told Reuters his critics are now having to rethink their strategy.

They have until mid-November to name a rival presidential candidate but so far there is no clear frontrunner.

On Saturday, Danish football chief Jesper Moller, a member of UEFA’s Executive Committee, said he would continue working with European colleagues to find a candidate who could command a majority.

Sports

Spain Manager Luis de la Fuente Agrees Contract Extension Until 2030 World Cup

08 June 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stands on the touchline during the UEFA Nations League final match between Portugal and Spain at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
08 June 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stands on the touchline during the UEFA Nations League final match between Portugal and Spain at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
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Spain Manager Luis de la Fuente Agrees Contract Extension Until 2030 World Cup

08 June 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stands on the touchline during the UEFA Nations League final match between Portugal and Spain at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)
08 June 2025, Bavaria, Munich: Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stands on the touchline during the UEFA Nations League final match between Portugal and Spain at the Allianz Arena. (dpa)

Spain's World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente has agreed a contract extension until 2030 after guiding the men's national team to back-to-back major titles, media ‌reported on ‌Tuesday,

De la Fuente, ‌who ⁠led Spain to ⁠glory at Euro 2024 before winning the World Cup in July, had a contract in ⁠place until 2028.

The ‌new ‌deal ensures that de la ‌Fuente will remain ‌in charge when Spain attempt to defend their global title on home ‌soil. Spain will co-host the 2030 World ⁠Cup ⁠with Morocco and Portugal.

Since taking over, de la Fuente's Spain have been defeated just twice in 41 competitive matches.

Reuters have contacted the Royal Spanish Football Federation for comment.

Sports

World Athletics Championships to Be Staged in Africa for the First Time with Nairobi as Host

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference marking the formal opening of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP)
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference marking the formal opening of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP)
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World Athletics Championships to Be Staged in Africa for the First Time with Nairobi as Host

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference marking the formal opening of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP)
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe speaks during a news conference marking the formal opening of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP)

The World Athletics Championships are heading to Africa for the first time as Kenya's capital Nairobi was confirmed Tuesday as host of the 2029 edition.

Kenya has long been a superpower in distance running but has yet to host an event of this scale. The championships return to Germany in 2031 with Munich hosting.

“Taking our championships to Africa for the first time will be historic,” World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said as he announced the decision following the Ultimate Championship in Hungary. “Athletics is woven into the fabric of Kenya.”

The decision brings recognition of Kenya's status as a track nation, but is likely to bring extra scrutiny of the East African nation's history of top runners being busted for doping.

Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng'etich is serving a three-year doping ban after joining the many elite-level Kenyan runners suspended over the past decade.

After the new Ultimate Championship brought big cash prizes instead of medals for an invitation-only field of track's biggest names, it's back to the traditional worlds format next year in Beijing.

The world championships run for 10 days, against three for the new Ultimate Championship, with a full slate of events. That means including competitions like the men's triple jump, shot put, walks and marathon which weren't on the schedule in Budapest last week.