Top sports news today - Europe World

UK calls for FIFA investigation over Argentina banner

16Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

NRS-Import, Sports

UK calls for FIFA investigation over Argentina banner

After the referee blew his whistle for fulltime at the end of Wednesday's World Cup semifinal, Argentina players understandably celebrated their come-from-behind 2-1 win in injury time over their longtime bitter rivals England. However, during the celebrations, Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso waved to the fans and held up the banner, which read: "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine"). It was unclear where the banner had come ⁠from, but there was a report that it had earlier been seen displayed in the stands. "And they will always be Argentine," midfielder Leandro Paredes told a reporter when asked about the banner. "We were aware of what this match meant for the country. We tried to represent our nation and all those who lived through that sad moment in ou...

Could Russia be about to lose its grip on chess leadership?

16Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Could Russia be about to lose its grip on chess leadership?

International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich isn't going anywhere – at least if he has things his way. "FIDE must become even more open, efficient, and responsive," the former Russian deputy prime minister said in late June when announcing his candidacy for a third term. The Russian was first elected to the post in 2018. The sanctions imposed on Russian sports over the war in Ukraine have thus far failed to checkmate the 54-year-old economist and politician. On the contrary, in August 2022, months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dvorkovich was re-elected by a large majority. Yet Russia lost its dominance at the chessboard long ago; recent world champions have come from China and India. Within FIDE, however, Russian influence remains substantial. Littl...

14Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Trump, FIFA and the Balogun controversy

For a while, the football appeared to have taken over the politics at the 2026 World Cup. Cape Verde taking world champions Argentina to the wire, Paraguay knocking out Germany and Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe fighting it out for the top scorer's Golden Boot — the focus was on the pitch. But just before Norway upset Brazil and England knocked out co-hosts Mexico in one of the tournament's best games, Donald Trump put his thumb on the World Cup scales. Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump confirmed widespread reports that he had asked football's global governors FIFA to review US striker Folarin Balogun's suspension after a red card in the round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina because he "didn't think it was a foul". "I thought it was two great ...

Could football break away from FIFA and its World Cup?

14Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Could football break away from FIFA and its World Cup?

"I'm the one that got them to do it," said Donald Trump on Monday, referring to FIFA’s hugely controversial decision to suspend the red card ban of USA striker Folarin Balogun ahead of their loss to Belgium in the last 16 of the World Cup. The US president then claimed he had just called for a review of the incident, which FIFA and their president, Gianni Infantino, insisted was then ruled upon by their disciplinary committee. The committee has not ruled on any other decision in a World Cup. Both the reviewing of red cards at the World Cup and political interference of any kind is banned by FIFA’s own statutes. Sky-high ticket prices, the refusals of visas to fans, officials, player’s families and even a referee have all contributed to a tournament in which FIFA, and Trump, have been eve...

Mbappe hits back at racist insults from Paraguay senator

14Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Mbappe hits back at racist insults from Paraguay senator

"Moron," "colonized Cameroonian," "full of inferiority complexes, nouveau riche, arrogant, and ugly" — these remarks from Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla have triggered a wave of international outrage. The target of her attacks was French football star Kylian Mbappe. Now, all of France is rallying behind the national team captain. A fiercely contested, emotional match Amarilla's comments followed Saturday's emotionally charged World Cup round-of-16 match between France and Paraguay in Philadelphia, which France won 1-0. Mbappe was subjected to repeated rough tackles during the match and stirred up further controversy after the final whistle with provocative gestures directed at the Paraguayan players. His refusal to shake hands with goalkeeper Orlando Gill became a major talking po...

IOC paves way for Russia’s return to Olympics

14Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

News, Sports

IOC paves way for Russia’s return to Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Tuesday that it would lift restrictions on Russian athletes to allow them to compete in team events and in qualifying competitions. It all comes ahead of qualifying events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and just two months after the IOC lifted restrictions for Russia's ally Belarus, whose athletes would be allowed to compete again without any restrictions and with their national symbols. Russia has been shut out of international sporting competitions since it launched an invasion in Ukraine in 2022. The IOC suspended Russia's Olympic Committee in 2023 after Russia unilaterally recognized regional sports organizations in the four Ukrainian territories that Russia illegally annexed in 2022. Russian athletes were still able to...

Sinner beats Zverev to retain Wimbledon title

14Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

News, Sports

Sinner beats Zverev to retain Wimbledon title

Italian top seed Jannik Sinner retained his Wimbledon men's singles title on Sunday, after rallying from a set down to beat Germany's second seed Alexander Zverev. The victory represents a fifth Grand Slam title for 24-year-old Sinner. What happened on court? Zverev took the opening set in a tense tiebreak and pushed hard early, but Sinner responded with a dominant second-set tiebreak to level. He then seized control in the third and fourth sets with superior baseline play and serving to close out the match in just under four hours.Sinner (right) is the second player ever to complete a career clean sweep of all nine Masters 1000 titlesImage: James Marsh/Shutterstock/IMAGO Praise for Germany's Zverev "I'm very happy of course about the win, but I'm mostly very happy about the level we...

Balogun red and expansion keep FIFA in spotlight

14Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Balogun red and expansion keep FIFA in spotlight

Almost a week after the United States became the final co-host to exit World Cup 2026, the fallout from the suspension of striker Folarin Balogun's red card ban continues. Organizers FIFAtook the near-unprecedented decision to suspend the forward's ban after an intervention from US President Donald Trump and despite FIFA having statutes forbidding political interference. "FIFA's judicial bodies are independent," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino when defending the process. "They operate autonomously … Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected." This particular decision was taken by FIFA's 18-strong disciplinary committee, or at least this was the impression given by FIFA's communications. But a report from UK news...

Egypt’s wrath after World Cup exit: ‘The match was rigged’

11Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

Egypt’s wrath after World Cup exit: ‘The match was rigged’

"Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the race," fumed Egypt's national team coach, Hossam Hassan, on BeIN Sports after his team's 3–2 round-of-16 defeat to Argentina on Tuesday. "This match was rigged, and the whole world saw it," he said. Late in the second half, the Egyptians had led 2–0 thanks to goals from Yasser Ibrahim (15th minute) and Mostafa Ziko (67). Then, the defending champions launched a comeback, turning the match on its head. Cristian Romero (79), Lionel Messi (83), and Enzo Fernandez (90+2) scored to secure the win, and a spot in the quarterfinals. 'The efforts of an entire nation destroyed' The defeat left a very bitter taste in the mouth for the seven-time Africa Cup of Nations winners. They blamed ...

11Jul

By Europe WorldNo Comments

Sports

What’s behind Germany’s World Cup woes?

Philipp Lahm has said German football's biggest problem is a lack of an identity. Toni Kroos believes Germany don't have world-class talent. Mats Hummels has spoken of issues in the system. There are plenty of opinions and arguments to choose from when it comes to why Germany endured a third straight World Cup disappointment. Frank Wormuth, a former player, German Football Association (DFB) coach-educator, first-division coach in the Netherlands, and currently a mental coach, believes the context of the team matters. German football identity: Frank WormuthTo play this audio please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 audio "It's not about the playing philosophy. It's about the quality of the players within that playing philosophy," Wormuth said....