Top European leagues and players' union FIFPRO have launched legal action against FIFA, accusing the governing body of abusing its dominant position and harming player welfare by oversaturating the calendar.
The European Leagues – a body representing 39 leagues including the Premier League – has filed a complaint to the European Union's antitrust regulators.
The move comes amid controversy regarding the calendar, with the first edition of FIFA's expanded Club World Cup set to take place in the United States next year.
Last month, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti suggested the European champions could boycott the competition, only for Los Blancos to subsequently confirm their participation in a statement.
FIFPRO launched legal action against FIFA at the Brussels court of commence in the ensuing days, claiming the decision to schedule the Club World Cup had violated players' rights.
The union has now joined a number of leagues in taking the issue to EU lawmakers, with a joint statement reading: "The international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues and a risk for the health of players.
"FIFA's decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interests, neglected its responsibilities as a governing body, and harmed the economic interests of national leagues and the welfare of players.
"National leagues and player unions, which represent the interests of all clubs and all players at the national level and regulate labour relations through collectively agreed solutions, cannot accept that global regulations are decided unilaterally.
"Legal action is now the only responsible step for European leagues and player unions to protect football, its ecosystem and workforce from FIFA's unilateral decisions."
Madrid and Manchester City are among 12 European clubs to have booked a spot at the first 32-team Club World Cup, due to their recent Champions League successes.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter and Juventus will also feature, with most qualifiers being determined by a ranking system that awards points for victories in the Champions League.
Bordeaux will play in the third tier of French football next season after a proposed takeover by Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) fell through.
The six-time French champions, who last won Ligue 1 in 2008-09, have spent the last two seasons in Ligue 2 after finishing bottom of the top flight in 2021-22.
They finished 12th under former Liverpool and Spain winger Albert Riera last term, but their long-term financial struggles came to a head when the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG) recommended they be demoted to the Championnat National.
Bordeaux successfully appealed the same sanction in 2022 but after FSG withdrew from talks regarding a takeover, they have accepted the punishment ahead of 2024-25.
"While discussions had resumed in recent days, FSG representatives indicated yesterday, Monday, July 22, to Bordeaux and its shareholders their desire not to follow through despite the assurances provided by various stakeholders," a club statement said.
"Therefore, in the absence of new elements, Bordeaux withdrew the appeal lodged against the decision of the DNCG.
"As a result, Bordeaux accepts the sanction of administrative demotion to the Championnat National for the 2024-2025 season and will be summoned again to present its budget to the DNCG.
"The period which is opening should allow FC Girondins de Bordeaux to come back stronger and at the highest level."
Pep Guardiola insists he is content at Manchester City and focused purely on the season ahead amid suggestions he could succeed Gareth Southgate as England manager.
Southgate announced his resignation after eight years in charge of the Three Lions last week, in the wake of their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Homegrown bosses Graham Potter, Eddie Howe and Lee Carsley have been touted as possible candidates to succeed Southgate, as has Mauricio Pochettino.
Reports have also suggested the Football Association could approach Guardiola with the intention of having him take over in 2025, when many believe he could step down as City boss.
While Guardiola has previously spoken of his desire to take an international job, for now, he is focused on City's bid to win an unprecedented fifth straight English top-flight title.
"I'm really excited for this upcoming season," he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
"I'm really happy here. Every season I need the break, definitely, but after that, I recharge my batteries and I have the same energy as usual.
"I know the competition is coming, and I am fully focused on that."
City kick off their pre-season tour of the United States when they face Celtic in North Carolina on Tuesday, with fixtures against Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea to follow.
Mexico have appointed Javier Aguirre as their head coach for a third time after Jaime Lozano was sacked in the wake of their disappointing Copa America campaign.
Mexico finished third in Group B in the United States, only scoring once in their three group-stage matches as they finished behind Venezuela and Ecuador.
El Tri have now suffered three group-stage exits in their last four participations at the Copa America (also in 2011 and 2015), having reached at least the semi-finals at five of their first seven editions.
Lozano paid the price for their failure to reach the knockout stages as he was sacked less than a year after taking over, with the Mexican Football Federation saying he rejected the chance to stay on in a backroom role under a new boss.
Aguirre, who previously led the team between 2001 and 2002 and from 2009 to 2010, has returned for another stint, with Barcelona great Rafael Marquez as his assistant.
"Both are undisputed leaders with distinct personal styles," said national team director Duilio Davino.
"Aguirre is characterised by being a leader who guides and convinces his players and coaching staff through his vision and by creating bonds with his team.
"Rafa leads by example, supported by the fact that he was a high-performance footballer in Mexico and Europe."
Aguirre and Marquez will get the chance to lead their country on home soil at the 2026 World Cup, with Aguirre having previously overseen last-16 exits at the 2002 and 2010 tournaments.
He led Real Mallorca to the Copa del Rey final last season, only to lose on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao in April.
Team USA basketball coach Steve Kerr says there is "no thought" of replacing Kevin Durant in the Olympic squad despite him suffering with a calf strain.
The USA played their final warm-up game ahead of the Games, with LeBron James starring as they beat Germany 92-88 in London on Monday to make it five wins on the bounce.
However, Durant has not played in any of those five pre-Olympic games due to a right calf injury he sustained while training last month.
Despite stepping up his training in the last week, he is still a doubt for their opener against Serbia on Sunday.
Kerr has until Saturday to finalise his roster for the Games, and insisted he would not be calling up a replacement for Durant, who he hopes will get to train with the rest of the team when they travel to Paris.
"There's no thought of replacing Kevin," Kerr said. "I was hoping he would get a game in here, but it just didn't work out that way.
"When he missed time, he came right back - and he is who he is.
"He's one of the most skilled players of all time. So, we hope he comes back soon, and I think he'll fit right in."
The USA are aiming to win a fifth consecutive gold medal at this year's Olympics, and will also face South Sudan and Puerto Rico in Group C.
Mikel Arteta has hinted at Arsenal's transfer plans as he aims to "upgrade" the squad ahead of the next Premier League season.
The Gunners finished as runners-up behind Manchester City in the previous two seasons, missing out on the final day last year as they finished just two points shy of the champions.
While they were closer to the Citizens last term – they won the same number of games as City and matched their goal difference of 62 – Arteta acknowledged they needed to bring in new additions to help mount another title challenge.
"We have to [improve]," said Arteta. "When you are so close you want to grab it.
"Perfection in this league requires different standards when you relate that word to winning the Premier League and that is what we have to do.
"We need to upgrade in everything we are doing. We have to improve in every area and that is what we are trying to do."
Riccardo Calafiori is expected to join the club from Bologna, who he helped to qualify for the Champions League, with Arsenal edging closer to a deal for the defender.
Although Arteta said he had "no update" on when the Calafiori deal could be done, he stressed the club were aiming to make strides in the transfer market.
"I don't know if anyone will join us [for the pre-season tour]," Arteta added.
"There is still a lot of time left in the window and, while that is more a question for the board, obviously, we know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources in terms of numbers, but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have."
"Obviously, we know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources in terms of numbers where we are short.
"We will try our best, but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have and make them better."
Arsenal will face Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool during their pre-season tour of the USA before beginning their Premier League campaign against Wolves on August 17.
Che Adams has joined Torino on a free transfer after leaving Southampton.
The striker has signed a three-year contract with Torino, who finished ninth in Serie A last season.
Adams joined Southampton from Birmingham City in 2019, making 191 appearances and scoring 48 goals in all competitions for the Saints.
He netted 16 of those last season in the Championship as he helped them secure promotion back to the Premier League via a play-off final victory over Leeds United.
The 28-year-old was offered a new deal by Southampton ahead of their return to the top-flight, while Wolves were interested in gaining his signature.
He is the third signing for Torino this transfer window, following Adam Masina and Saul Coco into the club.
Andy Murray has confirmed he will retire after the Olympic Games in Paris.
The 37-year-old is set to compete in both the men's singles and doubles at what will be his fifth Olympics.
Murray first competed in Beijing in 2008 and won his first gold medal four years later in London with a straight-sets victory over Roger Federer.
He then became the first male player to win two singles titles at the Games by beating Juan Martin del Potro in Rio in 2016.
In a post on X, Murray wrote: "Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament.
"Competing for Team GB has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I'm extremely proud to get to do it one final time!"
Murray made his final appearance at Wimbledon, where he is a two-time champion, before the Olympics, suffering a first-round defeat with brother Jamie in the doubles.
He later received an emotional tribute on Centre Court to mark his achievements at the tournament.
Pep Guardiola is adamant that Kevin De Bruyne will stay at Manchester City this transfer window.
The influential midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
De Bruyne is going into the final year of his contract with the Citizens and admitted in an interview last month that a lucrative contract could sway his thinking.
Despite the speculation, Guardiola remains confident the Belgian will still be in his squad for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
"Kevin isn't leaving," Guardiola told reporters at their pre-season training camp.
"If someone leaves, we are going to talk about that and, of course, until the last day [of the transfer window] we have chances.
"I don't rule out new players as an option, but I think there is an 85, 90, 95% chance we will have the same squad."
City have already signed Brazilian Savinho as they aim to win a record-extending fifth consecutive Premier League title next season.
They are also reportedly interested in bringing Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to the Etihad.
Nick Gonzales' single in the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run as the Pittsburgh Pirates continued their mid-season surge with Monday's 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gonzales hit that scored All-Star Bryan Reynolds snapped a 1-1 tie and helped give Pittsburgh its seventh win in eight games as it pushes for a play-off spot in the National League. The Pirates, who last reached the post-season in 2015, sit a half-game behind the New York Mets for the NL's final wild card spot.
Pittsburgh also moved within a game of St. Louis for the second wild card.
Reynolds led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch by St. Louis reliever John King. Two batters later, Gonzales hit a slow grounder that got through the infield to score Reynolds for a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead.
David Bednar then held the Cardinals scoreless in the ninth to earn his 18th save of the season. Aroldis Chapman received the win with one scoreless inning in relief of Mitch Keller, who allowed just one run on six hits in a seven-inning no-decision.
The Cardinals also got a solid outing from their starter, as Andre Pallante yielded just one run and three hits through six innings.
Nolan Gorman accounted for St. Louis' lone run by hitting a solo homer off Keller in the fifth inning that tied the score at 1-1. The Pirates had gone ahead in the third when Andrew McCutchen doubled and later scored on Oneil Cruz's single.
Witt just misses cycle in Royals' rout of Diamondbacks
Bobby Witt Jr. finished a single short of hitting for the cycle and had one of three Kansas City home runs as the Royals rolled to a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks to extend their winning streak to four games.
Witt tripled in the first inning, doubled in the third and delivered a three-run homer in the fourth that gave the Royals an 8-3 lead. The All-Star shortstop was hit by a pitch and flied out in his final two at-bats, though, to narrowly miss becoming the first Kansas City player to record a cycle since Hall of Famer George Brett in 1990.
Salvador Perez had a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning and Hunter Renfroe later added a solo shot as part of the Royals' 15-hit attack. Vinnie Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel each collected three hits, with Isbel driving in two runs and Perez three.
Arizona had taken a 3-1 lead when Ketel Marte followed Alek Thomas' RBI double in the top of the third with a two-run homer off Cole Ragans. The Royals countered with three runs in their half of the inning, however, to quickly move back ahead.
Witt started the rally with a lead-off double and scored on Pasquantino's single before Perez launched Arizona starter Yilber Diaz's pitch over the center field wall for a 4-3 Kansas City edge.
The Royals then extended the margin with four runs in the fourth.
Isbel doubled in Maikel Garcia and Adam Frazier followed with an infield single to chase Diaz. Witt then greeted Miguel Castro with a home run on the reliever's first pitch to put Arizona at a five-run deficit.
Renfroe's solo homer in the fifth increased the lead to 9-3. Perez drove in Witt with the Royals' final run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Ragans (7-6) shook off his early troubles to work six innings while allowing three runs on five hits and striking out six.
Diaz (1-1), making his third MLB start, was tagged for seven runs in three-plus innings.
Isbel previously knocked in Kansas City's first run with a second-inning single. The Diamondbacks managed a late run in the eighth when Christian Walker doubled and later scored on Eugenio Suarez's sac fly.
Ober pitches Twins past struggling Phillies
Bailey Ober bounced back strongly after allowing an early home run to Bryce Harper to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 7-2 win over the struggling Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series.
After giving up hits to three of the game's first four batters, including Harper's two-run homer, Ober (9-5) yielded just one more hit over the remainder of his seven-inning stint to improve to 4-1 over his last six starts. The right-hander retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.
Manuel Margot led Minnesota offensively with two hits, including a two-run single that gave the Twins a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. Willi Castro also knocked in two runs to help Minnesota snap a three-game losing streak, while Carlos Santana and Max Kepler each had two hits and an RBI.
The Phillies still own the majors' best record at 63-37 but have now lost four of their last five games.
After Castro's third-inning single plated Diego Castillo to trim Philadelphia's lead to 2-1, the Twins struck twice more in the fifth to forge ahead.
Kepler led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and Castillo followed with a ground-rule double to put two on for Margot, who sent both runners home with a go-ahead single to right off Philadelphia All-Star Ranger Suarez.
Suarez (10-5) lost his third straight start after surrendering three runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.
The Twins extended their lead in the seventh when Ryan Jeffers doubled and later crossed the plate on a Santana double, then put the game out of reach with three runs in the eighth.
Kepler followed a Trevor Larnach double with a run-scoring single to put Minnesota up 5-2, and the Twins later loaded the bases before scoring twice more on a walk to Castro and a wild pitch from reliever Yunior Marte.
Cole Sands worked the final two innings for Minnesota to notch his third save of the season.
Alexander Zverev is confident of claiming a second Olympic gold medal at the Paris games despite picking up an injury at Wimbledon earlier this month.
Zverev slipped during his third-round triumph against Cameron Norrie in SW19, bowing out of the competition in a five-set to Taylor Fritz in the following round.
The world number four has since competed in the Hamburg Open, a title he won a year ago, but fell at the final hurdle to Arthur Fils in a decisive final set tie-break.
Zverev, who became the first German to win an Olympic gold medal in singles since Steffi Graf did so in 1988, beat Karen Khachanov in the final in Tokyo four years ago.
The German described his injury as a bone edema and torn capsule and said that it did not require surgery ahead of the games.
"To be honest, you know, the risk will stay for the next two, three, four weeks maybe because that's how long the bone heals, and that's what everybody told me," Zverev said.
"But, at the end of the day I also knew that I don't want to rest for four weeks because, now we're playing on the surface where I don't see that big of a risk of doing the same motion again and doing the same movement again."
The tennis will take place at Roland Garros, a venue well-known to Zverev who reached the French Open final earlier this year, losing out on a first grand slam title to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets.
Zverev is also on the shortlist of German athletes who could be flagbearer for the nation during Friday's opening ceremony.
"If someone told me that I should walk in as a flag bearer, it would mean even more to me, to be honest (than winning the Olympics)," Zverev was quoted by SpilXperten.
"Leading an entire nation and so many top German athletes into the Olympics is simply the greatest honour an athlete can receive.
"And of course, the gold medal I won at the last Olympics is one of the highest achievements you can have in sports and for me personally the greatest success in my career."
The Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) is thrilled to unveil the official rosters for the Jamaican U19 Boys and Girls teams set to compete in the 2024 CAZOVA U19 Boys and Girls Volleyball Championships. The prestigious event will be hosted at GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport from July 26 to August 4, 2024, promising an exciting showcase of young talent.
The Championship will bring together teams from across the CAZOVA region, competing fiercely for the coveted title. For Jamaica, this tournament presents an excellent platform for young athletes to gain invaluable international experience and exposure. The selected players, having undergone rigorous preparation, are eager to demonstrate their skills and represent their country on home soil, buoyed by the enthusiastic support of local fans.
Leading the charge for the Jamaica U19 Boys Team is Toshiro Jones from Wolmer’s High School for Boys, who will serve as the captain. Jones is joined by Joshua Auboine of Oracabessa High School, Schillachi Batchelor from St. Jago High School, and Jordyn-Rhy Davis of Jamaica College. Renaldo Doeman from Mannings School, David Douglas of Wolmer’s High School for Boys, and Malik Ferron and Ajani Gordon, both from St. Jago High School, will also be key players. The team is rounded out by Jantje Neil and Edward Sterling from Wolmer’s High School for Boys, Ithran Softley from Papine High School, and Nicholas Watson of Suncoast Community High School. Guiding the boys through the competition will be Head Coach Adrian Ramdeen, supported by Assistant Coach Adrian James and Team Manager Travis Clarke.
The Jamaica U19 Girls Team features Kalia Baker from Paint Branch High School as the captain. Baker will lead a dynamic group that includes Ria Bertram of Campion College, Patrina Chisholm from Wolmer’s High School for Girls, and Morgan Esmie of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School. Tashari Gordon from Knox College, Jada-Lee Grant from St. Jago High School, and Mary Massias from The Rock School will add strength to the lineup. Winnifred Mitchell from Stouffville District Secondary School, Quaciann Stewart from Wolmer’s High School for Girls, and Treviann Taylor from Knox College will also bring their talents to the court. Completing the team are Ava Grace Troyer from Hiland High School and Hadijah Wallace from Knox College. Leading the girls' squad is Head Coach O’Neil Ebanks, with Colin Rose as the Assistant Coach and Erica Harris serving as Team Manager.
As the Jamaican teams gear up for the 2024 CAZOVA U19 Boys and Girls Volleyball Championships, the anticipation and excitement build. The local support is expected to be a crucial factor in their performance, driving them to showcase their best on this international stage. This championship is more than just a competition; it's a chance for these young athletes to make their mark and potentially set the foundation for a bright future in volleyball.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, St Lucia finds itself on the brink of a historic milestone. The island nation, which first participated in the Olympics at the 1996 Atlanta Games, has yet to secure its first Olympic medal. However, this summer's games offer a unique opportunity for Saint Lucia to rewrite its Olympic history.
St Lucia's journey in the Olympics began with the establishment of their National Olympic Committee on January 22, 1987, which received official recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September 1993. Since their debut in Atlanta in 1996, St Lucia has competed in every subsequent Olympic Games, displaying their emerging talents on the global stage.
The island's first Olympic team in 1996 consisted of six members who competed in athletics and sailing. The athletics team included Michelle Baptiste, Ivan Jn. Marie, Maxwell Seales, Dominic Johnson, and Maxime Charlemagne, with Andrew Magloire serving as manager/coach. Michael Greene led the sailing team, with Michael Gordon as manager/coach and Abigail Williams as chef de mission.
Greene, the oldest athlete at 42, made history as the first to represent St Lucia in the men's laser event on July 23. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Michelle Baptiste, the lone female athlete and flag bearer, competed in the 100m and long jump, representing her country with pride despite not advancing to the finals.
Levern Spencer
St Lucia has continued to send athletes to the Olympics, with notable performances along the way. In the 2012 London Olympics, a team of four competed in athletics, sailing, and swimming. The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics saw a team of five participate in these same sports. High jumper Levern Spencer stands out as a remarkable athlete for the island nation. A four-time Olympian, Spencer came tantalizingly close to winning the country's first medal in 2016, finishing sixth in the high jump with a clearance of 1.93m.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics draw near, St Lucia's hopes are pinned on a talented team led by World Indoor champion for the women’s 60m dash, Julien Alfred. Alfred's speed and determination make her a strong contender for a medal. Michael Joseph will compete in the men’s 400m, sailor Luc Chevrier will represent the island in the men’s dinghy, and swimmer Jayhan Odlum Smith will contest the men’s 100m freestyle. Leading Team St Lucia as Chef De Mission is former national athlete Helena Renee-Emmanuel.
The upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games provide Saint Lucia with another chance to shine on the world stage. With a talented and determined team, the island nation is poised to make history. As St Lucia aims for its first Olympic medal, the excitement and anticipation build, offering a glimmer of hope for a historic achievement in Paris.
Marketa Vondrousova has withdrawn from the upcoming Paris Olympics with a hand injury.
The former Wimbledon champion, whose title defence was ended by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round earlier this month, was a silver medallist in Tokyo three years ago, losing out on gold to Belinda Bencic.
The Czech was aiming to go the extra step this time around at Roland-Garros, where she reached the French Open final in 2019.
However, Vondrousova has instead chosen to focus on preparing for the final major of 2024 at the US Open in August.
"I am very sorry, but due to health reasons, I will not be participating in this year's Olympic Games in Paris," she posted on Instagram.
"I hoped until the last moment that I could go at least in doubles, but problems with my hand won't allow me on the court."
Vondrousova joins Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur and Emma Raducanu on the absentee list for the women's tournament, while the men's event will not feature world number seven Hubert Hurkacz.
The Pole, who was forced to retire with a knee injury during his second-round match at Wimbledon, has failed to recover in time.
Meanwhile, Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, ranked seventh in the world, has also withdrawn from the men's competition.
The 27-year-old has not recovered from a knee injury which forced him to retire from his second-round match at Wimbledon.
"My rehabilitation is going very well, and I am making continuous progress," he said in a video posted on his Instagram Stories. "However, my team and I have decided that I am unable to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris.
"This was a very, very difficult decision because I have always dreamed of representing Poland at the Olympics, being able to win a medal for the national team, but unfortunately, my health does not allow it this year."
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