FIFA have 'crossed a red line' in Balogun reprieve: UEFA

Lausanne: FIFA 'crossed a red line' with the controversial decision to suspend US star Folarin Balogun's one game ban for a year, European football's governing body UEFA said on Monday. mieszalniakolorado.pl

FIFA's ruling, which came after the intervention of Donald Trump, permits Balogun to play in the co-hosts' World Cup last 16 match with Belgium later on Monday.

"Yesterday's decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line," read UEFA's strongly worded statement.

"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not."

UEFA warned of the ramifications for the sport as a whole.

"Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because is played everywhere with the same laws," it said.

"A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."

Balogun, who has scored three goals at the World Cup, had been set to miss the clash in Seattle after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender's foot in the round-of-32 match the US won 2-0.

Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had publicly called for the card to be rescinded.

The decision to suspend the ban was taken by FIFA's disciplinary committee.

World football's governing body said Sunday the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a stunning move for which no specific explanation was offered.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The Belgians were stupefied by the ruling.

"I didn't know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April, and that it's April Fool's Day," Belgium coach Rudi Garcia told reporters.

دخلت أندية دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة مرحلة الإعداد الفعلي للموسم الكروي الجديد 2026- 2027، بعدما شدت فرق الغرافة والريان والوكرة ونادي قطر الرحال إلى جانب عدد من الأندية الأخرى ،وسبقهما الزعيم السداوي للدخول في معسكرات تدريبية خارجية، في إطار خططها للوصول إلى أعلى درجات الجاهزية قبل انطلاق المنافسات الرسمية.
وتأتي هذه المعسكرات ضمن البرنامج السنوي الذي تعتمده الأندية استعدادًا للموسم الجديد، حيث تحرص الأجهزة الفنية على استغلال فترة الإعداد في تجهيز اللاعبين بدنيًا وفنيًا، والعمل على رفع معدلات اللياقة، إلى جانب تعزيز الانسجام بين اللاعبين القدامى والصفقات الجديدة، بما يضمن تكوين فريق قادر على المنافسة منذ الجولة الأولى للدوري.
وتشهد المعسكرات الخارجية تنفيذ برامج تدريبية مكثفة تتضمن حصتين تدريبيتين يوميًا، بالإضافة إلى تدريبات متخصصة للاعبي المراكز المختلفة، مع التركيز على الجوانب التكتيكية والخططية التي يسعى كل جهاز فني إلى تطبيقها خلال الموسم المقبل. كما تمنح هذه الفترة المدربين فرصة كافية للوقوف على مستويات جميع اللاعبين، ومنح الفرصة للعناصر الشابة لإثبات قدراتها قبل الاستقرار على القائمة النهائية. وتحتل المباريات الودية مساحة كبيرة من برامج الإعداد، إذ وضعت الأندية جدولًا يتضمن مواجهات متدرجة المستوى، تبدأ بملاقاة فرق تسعى هي الأخرى للإعداد للموسم الجديد، قبل الانتقال إلى مباريات أكثر قوة أمام أندية تمتلك مستويات فنية مرتفعة. ويهدف هذا التدرج إلى إعداد اللاعبين بصورة متوازنة، ومنحهم فرصة استعادة حساسية المباريات تدريجيًا، مع تجنب الضغط البدني الكبير في بداية فترة الإعداد.
كما تسعى الأجهزة الفنية من خلال هذه المباريات إلى تجربة أكبر عدد ممكن من اللاعبين، واختبار العديد من الخطط والأساليب التكتيكية، سواء على المستوى الدفاعي أو الهجومي، إلى جانب تقييم مدى استيعاب اللاعبين للأفكار الفنية الجديدة، وتصحيح الأخطاء التي قد تظهر قبل الدخول في المنافسات الرسمية.
وتولي إدارات الأندية أهمية كبيرة للمعسكرات الخارجية، باعتبارها المرحلة الأهم في بناء الفريق للموسم الجديد، حيث توفر أجواء هادئة تساعد اللاعبين على التركيز الكامل بعيدًا عن ضغوط المنافسات، فضلًا عن إتاحة الفرصة لتقوية العلاقات بين أفراد الفريق، وهو ما ينعكس إيجابًا على الأداء الجماعي داخل الملعب. ولا تقتصر أهداف المعسكرات على الإعداد البدني والفني فقط، بل تمتد أيضًا إلى بناء شخصية الفريق وترسيخ ثقافة الفوز، من خلال الاحتكاك بمدارس كروية مختلفة واكتساب خبرات إضافية تساعد اللاعبين على التعامل مع مختلف ظروف المباريات طوال الموسم.
ومع اقتراب موعد انطلاق دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة 2026- 2027، المقرر يوم 20 أغسطس المقبل، تتطلع جميع الأندية إلى إنهاء مرحلة الإعداد بأفضل صورة ممكنة، أملاً في تقديم انطلاقة قوية تعكس حجم العمل الذي تم إنجازه خلال فترة التحضير. وتدرك الأجهزة الفنية أن البداية القوية تمثل عاملًا مهمًا في رسم ملامح المنافسة، وهو ما يدفعها إلى الاستفادة القصوى من كل حصة تدريبية وكل مباراة ودية خلال المعسكرات الخارجية.
ومن المتوقع أن تشهد الأسابيع المقبلة استمرار وتيرة المباريات الودية، مع ارتفاع مستوى المنافسة تدريجيًا، قبل عودة الفرق إلى الدوحة لاستكمال المرحلة الأخيرة من الإعداد، والدخول في أجواء المنافسات الرسمية بثقة وجاهزية، وسط طموحات كبيرة بأن يكون موسم 2026-2027 واحدًا من أقوى مواسم دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة من حيث المستوى الفني وشدة المنافسة على مختلف المراكز.

Zamalek have expressed interest in Spanish coach Pablo Franco, but his agent says the Egyptian champions have not submitted an offer.

Zamalek have reportedly shown interest in appointing Spanish coach Pablo Franco, but contact has taken place only through intermediaries and no official offer has been submitted, his agent said.

Hamid Bouzidi said that Zamalek are among three clubs interested in Franco. The other clubs are Moroccan sides Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane.

“Zamalek have only contacted us through intermediaries, and we have not received any official offer so far,” Bouzidi said.

Franco left Maghreb de Fes after leading the club to the 2025-26 Moroccan league title. The championship ended a 41-year wait for the club’s fifth domestic league crown.

The White Knights are considering appointing a foreign coach to replace Motamed Gamal, although the club has not formally announced Gamal’s departure or named a successor.

Gamal’s position has remained uncertain since the end of the season. He had been waiting for the board to decide whether he would continue as head coach or join the staff of a foreign replacement.

The Egyptian coach received offers from clubs outside Egypt but delayed a decision while awaiting clarification from Zamalek, according to local reports.

Gamal led Zamalek to the 2025-26 Egyptian Premier League title, the club’s 15th championship and its first in three seasons.

He also took Zamalek to the CAF Confederation Cup final. The Cairo side lost to USM Alger in a penalty shootout after the two legs finished 1-1 on aggregate.

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Doha, Qatar: With the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 underway, African teams have delivered one of the most memorable performances in the tournament’s history. With 10 nations representing the continent in the expanded 48-team format, CAF teams shattered records by sending a staggering nine into the knockout stages.

Though only two, Morocco and Egypt have advanced further, the collective impact has been profound, signaling a new era of competitiveness from the African continent.

Cape Verde undoubtedly have become the talk of the town after emerging as the tournament’s surprise packages. The tiny island nation, making its World Cup debut, stunned observers by advancing from Group H as runners-up. Facing defending champions Argentina in the Round of 32 on Friday, the Blue Sharks pushed the South Americans before eventually falling in extra time. Their success has united a nation of just over half a million people and highlighted the depth of talent emerging from smaller African football associations.

Their spirited performance reinforced the growing depth of African football and highlighted the progress being made by smaller footballing nations on the continent.

Morocco, the standard-bearers since their fairy-tale run to the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, once again led the charge. The Atlas Lions topped expectations by advancing from the group stage and then producing a dramatic victory over the Netherlands in the Round of 32. After a 1-1 draw, Morocco held their nerve in a tense penalty shootout, winning 3-2 to book their place in the last 16. They now face favourites France in the quarter-final following their 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada.

Morocco players celebrate.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side, known for tactical discipline and resilience, continues to embody the “African dream” on football’s grandest stage. Their progress has electrified fans back home and across the diaspora, with celebrations spilling into the streets of Rabat and beyond.

Joining them is Egypt, who secured their spot in historic fashion. Led by talismanic forward Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs edged past Australia in a penalty shootout triumph that has been hailed as one of the tournament’s standout moments. Egypt finished as runners-up in their group and capitalized on their experience in high-stakes matches. Salah’s leadership and composure under pressure have been pivotal, reminding the world of Africa’s wealth of individual talent.

Egypt will be up against reigning champions Argentina in the Round of 16.

The broader story, however, is one of widespread success. Nine of Africa’s 10 participants, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, DR Congo, and Algeria, reached the Round of 32, eclipsing the previous record of just two teams advancing from a single tournament. This 90% progression rate from group stage to knockout is the highest of any confederation, leaving traditional powerhouses from Europe and South America taking notice.Egypt’s players celebrate after defeating Australia. (PICS: AFP)

Other sides pushed major opponents to the limit. DR Congo led England for much of their Round of 32 clash before Harry Kane’s late heroics secured a 2-1 win for the Three Lions. Senegal led Belgium 2-0 deep into their encounter but suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat in extra time. Ivory Coast went down narrowly to Norway, while Ghana exited against Colombia. South Africa fell to co-host Canada in a tight affair. These near-misses underscore not just competitiveness but the tactical evolution and physical preparation of African squads.

Analysts point to several factors behind the surge. The expanded format provided more opportunities, but credit also goes to improved domestic leagues, better coaching infrastructures, and a new generation of players plying their trade at top European clubs. CAF’s strategic investments in youth development are bearing fruit, with teams displaying superior organization and counter-attacking prowess.

Challenges remain. Only two teams progress to the Round of 16, and the knockout stages grow fiercer. Yet the narrative has shifted permanently. No longer are African teams seen as underdogs who might snatch a result; they are legitimate contenders reshaping the global hierarchy.

For the millions of fans across Africa, from bustling cities in Senegal to remote villages in Cape Verde, this World Cup has been a source of immense pride.

As the tournament intensifies in North American stadiums, the legacy of 2026 is already clear: African football has arrived, and the world must reckon with its rising power. The Round of 16 marks not an endpoint but a stepping stone toward even greater ambitions in future editions.

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has played down the prospect of Salah moving to Turkey amid reports linking the forward with Besiktas.

Buruk said Salah had not been discussed internally at Galatasaray and predicted that the former Liverpool forward would choose another destination.

“I don’t know what Mohamed Salah will do,” Buruk said.

“He must have some very important suitors, but his name has never come up with us. I don’t think Turkey will be his preference.”

Buruk’s remarks followed several Turkish reports claiming that Salah had been offered to Besiktas following his departure from Liverpool.

Salah would reportedly consider joining the Turkish club and had requested an annual salary of around €15 million.

However, neither Besiktas nor Salah’s representative, Ramy Abbas Issa, has confirmed negotiations or the reported financial terms.

The Egyptian forward had announced in March that he would leave after reaching an agreement with the club. He made his final appearance in a 1-1 draw against Brentford at Anfield on May 24.

The former Arab Contractors, Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, and AS Roma forward ended his career at Merseyside with 257 goals and 120 assists from 442 appearances.

He left as the club’s third-highest scorer and helped Liverpool win two Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups.

Salah has yet to announce his next club despite reported interest from teams in Europe, Saudi Arabia, Major League Soccer, and Turkey.

The Egypt captain is, at the moment, free to negotiate directly with any club, but no prospective move has received official confirmation.

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