New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) FIFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina has strongly defended the integrity and independence of match officials at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following criticism that emerged after Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 stage.Speaking amid calls from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for an investigation into the officiating and the removal of the refereeing team from the tournament, Collina dismissed the allegations and reiterated FIFA’s confid…
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Foxborough, July 9 (IANS) Morocco have been dealt a big blow ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final clash against a strong France side, as their prime forward Ismael Saibari has been ruled out of the match due to injury. Morocco head coach Mohammed Ouabhi confirmed Saibari’s exit in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. According to Ouabhi, the forward could not recover on time after picking a hamstring injury during Morocco’s round of 16 victory against Canada. However, …
Foxborough, July 9 (IANS) France head coach Didier Deschamps is unfazed by the appointment of all Argentine officials for their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Morocco, saying their “opponent is Morocco, not the referee.” FIFA has sparked a massive debate ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals by appointing an entirely Argentine officiating crew for France’s clash against Morocco, marking the first time in the 2026 tournament that a match will be handled exclusively by officials from a s…
Cairo, July 8 (IANS) The Egyptian Football Federation (EFF) has reportedly approached the governing body FIFA, lodging a formal protest against the decisions of referee Francois Letexier after their team suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat against the defending champions Argentina in Atlanta on Tuesday.Egypt appeared close to a historic upset after taking a 2-0 lead, but Argentina produced a late comeback, with Lionel Messi playing a decisive role by scoring one goal and setting up another before Enz…
Madrid, July 7 (IANS) La Liga president Javier Tebas has become the latest football administrator to criticise FIFA over its decision to suspend the one-match World Cup ban imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun, describing the episode as “the tip of the iceberg” of what he called a governance model that has steadily eroded the credibility of world football.Balogun was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic duri…
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has issued a fiery open letter to Kylian Mbappe, demanding a public apology and threatening legal action over alleged “gender-based violence” after French football called the Paraguayan senator “despicable” and “unworthy of a position” for her “abhorrent and odious” racist remarks. Celeste, who is from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted her comments on X after her country’s defeat by France in the last 16 of the World Cup. In rep…
Seattle, July 7 (IANS) FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump had called him regarding the disciplinary case involving the U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, but stressed that the decision to suspend the enforcement of the player’s one-match ban was made independently by FIFA’s judicial bodies. Balogun was sent off for stamping on defender Tarik Muharemovic during the U.S. 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32 on July 1.Last Sunday, t…
Nyon, July 6 (IANS) European football’s governing body UEFA launched a scathing attack on FIFA on Monday after world football’s governing body suspended the one-match World Cup ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun following intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the move a threat to the integrity of the sport.The surprising decision allowed Balogun to play in the United States’ Round of 16 match against Belgium. It received a lot of criticism from UEFA, coaches, of…
Washington, July 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Monday defended his intervention in a controversial red card issued to a United States player at the FIFA World Cup, saying he merely requested a review because the sending-off was unjustified and insisting the tournament should feature its best players.Speaking at the White House after launching the “Trump Accounts” investment programme for American children, Trump confirmed he had spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the incid…
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Former USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who is part of FIFA’s Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, has picked Belgium as a favourites in the round of 16 tie against the co-host USA, scheduled on Tuesday at the Seattle Stadium. Belgium have not lost a match since March 20, 2025, a 3-1 defeat against Ukraine in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs and head coach Rudi Garcia’s first match in charge. Since then, Belgium has accrued an eye-po…