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"The Football Association of Serbia has withdrawn its support for Gianni Infantino for a new term as President of FIFA," the federation said in a statement.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



Al-Hilal and Karim Benzema Agree to Mutually Terminate Contract

Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)
Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)
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Al-Hilal and Karim Benzema Agree to Mutually Terminate Contract

Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)
Karim Benzema is officially leaving Al-Hilal (Reuters photo)

Former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is leaving Al-Hilal just six months after joining from rival Al-Ittihad.

The Saudi club said in a statement on Monday that they have agreed to mutually terminate their contract, The AP news reported.

It's unclear whether the 38-year-old Benzema will join another club or retire.

Benzema moved to Saudi Arabia in June 2023 when he left Real Madrid after 14 years and 648 games in which he scored 354 goals.

Benzema won a club record 25 titles with Madrid, including five Champions League trophies. He has 97 caps and 37 goals with France.


The US Open Is Getting Longer as Players Already Worry Tennis Tournaments Are Becoming Too Long

 Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)
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The US Open Is Getting Longer as Players Already Worry Tennis Tournaments Are Becoming Too Long

 Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - August 30, 2026 Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik in action during his first round match against J.J. Wolf of the US. (Reuters)

The US Open was a week old by the time Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz opened their title defenses.

What once was a two-week quest for a Grand Slam championship now extends into a third week, and US Tennis Association CEO Craig Tiley was asked how he hoped to continue that growth.

“Four weeks,” he said with a smile.

Some players might fear he is serious.

They were already becoming wary of an overcrowded schedule that makes it hard to find many breaks, even before the US Open moved up the beginning of the singles main draw last year to make it a Sunday start.

“I just hope they will not start on Saturday at some point, you know? And then on Friday and on Thursday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” said Marta Kostyuk, the No. 11 seed from Ukraine. “So I hope this is it.”

Kostyuk was one of the winners Sunday, and those players get the benefit of two days off before their next matches. Sabalenka and Alcaraz started Monday, the former opening day, and top-seeded Alexander Zverev and 2023 champion Coco Gauff are scheduled Tuesday on the final day of a first round that until last year was completed over two days.

“So they’re finding ways to extend the tournaments, which I think is tough for the players,” said Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 runner-up in Flushing Meadows, said she would enjoy the extra day off after her victory Sunday to spend time with her sister, who is in New York with her.

But Shapovalov, a 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist, argued that an extra day between matches doesn’t mean more time off.

“Being off is when you’re at home, able to sleep in your bed and not focus on tennis, right?” he said. “We’re still going to have to come back tomorrow, practice the next two days. You’re still in that match environment, tournament environment where I’m locked in and I’m not doing things that I would be doing when I’m off. You know, having a brownie.”

The expansion to a three-week event set in last year, when along with starting singles play on Sunday, the USTA shifted the mixed doubles tournament to a two-day event on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding it. That was in hopes that top singles players would compete, which most of them wouldn’t when it was contested once their priority event began.

Another day was added to that this year with a qualifying tournament that was held Monday for the final two spots in the 16-team field. With more real matches beyond the singles qualifying tournaments that take place the week before, and admission to the grounds free, there were huge crowds for what the USTA calls “fan week,” and organizers clearly want more.

“This will become the tennis Disneyland,” Tiley said.

He stressed that doesn’t necessarily mean extending the length of the tournament, but by finding more types of events to do during it.

But extending events is exactly what tennis seems to be doing these days.

It's perhaps felt more at the Masters 1000 level, just below Grand Slams. Those have swelled to 10 days, so long that players have trouble keeping track of time. Tommy Paul was noting how well his fellow Americans performed at the recent ones in Montreal and Cincinnati, reaching the final weekend, when he caught himself.

“I say weekend. I think the finals in Montreal was, like, Wednesday or something,” Paul said.

Close. Ben Shelton won the title on a Thursday.

Some players point to the obvious, that longer tournaments mean shorter time to recover before the next event for those who do well. Frances Tiafoe got to the final in Cincinnati, then had to pull out of the mixed doubles, where he was supposed to partner with Fernandez, for more rest.

“To be honest, speaking in the locker rooms, I don’t think anybody’s a fan of how long the seasons in general are right now, fans of these three-day starts, fans of the 10-day Masters,” Shapovalov said. “You know, I think everything’s just gotten too long.”


African Players in Europe: Wissa Flick Seals Newcastle Victory

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
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African Players in Europe: Wissa Flick Seals Newcastle Victory

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - August 29, 2026 Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa celebrates scoring their second goal. (Reuters)

Democratic Republic of Congo striker Yoane Wissa scored with a clever over-the-shoulder flick to seal a 2-0 Premier League win for Newcastle United over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

AFP Sport highlights African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

YOANE WISSA (Newcastle Utd)

Wissa endured a difficult first season with the Magpies, but has made a better start to the new campaign. He impressed in Newcastle's 2-2 draw with Liverpool in their season opener, then bagged the decisive goal in north London.

BRYAN MBEUMO (Manchester Utd)

The Cameroon forward rounded off a resounding 5-2 victory for Michael Carrick's side over promoted Ipswich Town. Mbeumo struck in the 82nd minute at Old Trafford, taking a pass from hat-trick hero Bruno Fernandes and lobbed into the net via the underside of the crossbar. The 27-year-old's first goal this season was the finishing touch on United's maiden win this term after a humiliating loss at Hull.

SPAIN

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atletico Madrid)

Nigeria winger Lookman scored his first goal of the season to help beat Sevilla 3-1. Lookman, who impressed in his first few months at Atletico after joining in the winter transfer window, drilled home at the near post for his side's second goal midway through the first half.

ITALY

HASSANE KAMARA (Udinese)

Kamara struck a long-range shot into the net off the hands of Senegalese goalkeeper Demba Thiam for the second Udinese goal in a 3-2 Serie A victory at Monza. The France-born Ivory Coast midfielder also scored in the opening round last weekend.

GERMANY

SERHOU GUIRASSY (Borussia Dortmund)

Guirassy got his and Dortmund's season off to an excellent start, opening the scoring nine minutes into his side's 2-0 home win over Hamburg. The Guinea international played a clever one-two with new arrival Konstantinos Karetsas before scoring with a low shot across the face of the goal.

CHRISTIAN KOFANE (Bayer Leverkusen)

Kofane scored late as Leverkusen were stunned 3-2 by Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg. With the debutants leading 3-1 in added time, the Cameroon striker knocked in a rebound off the woodwork.

FRANCE

GESSIME YASSINE (Strasbourg)

The 20-year-old Moroccan international scored his first two goals for Strasbourg as they came from behind to beat Lens 2-1 in Ligue 1. Yassine levelled early in the second half through a deflected shot and won the match with a 85th-minute volley.