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Dubai: ASICS, the global sports brand inspired by its founding philosophy of A Sound Mind in a Sound Body, is bringing the future of tennis to life in Dubai with an immersive new activation at
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A picture shows the FIFA logo during a press conference held by the president of the football's governing body at the FIFA Executive Football Summit on February 15, 2019 in Istanbul. (AFP) * Blatter: World Cup is part of football's heritage* Former FIFA president says the sport does not belong to any individual or institution* World Cup beneficiaries should be the game, not investors Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Wednesday slammed the world football governing body's plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup, saying the tournament was not a commercial asset that belonged to a few executives. Blatter, who was FIFA president for 17 years until 2015, said the idea put forward by his successor Gianni Infantino would take commercialisation of the sport too far. "Football belongs to no individual and to no institution. It belongs to the people," Blatter, 90, told Reuters. "If FIFA were transferred into a profit-oriented corporate structure, it would lose its soul," he added, noting he would never have considered such a move when he was in charge.FIFA said on Tuesday it plans to create the subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, and will offer stakes of up to 20% in it to external investors. The proposal has provoked a furious response from football authorities, including European ruling body UEFA, which said FIFA was putting the game up for sale.CLASHES WITH INFANTINO Blatter has frequently clashed with Infantino, a fellow Swiss who took charge of FIFA in 2016 after a corruption scandal ended his own tenure. Blatter was later cleared of corruption charges. He has railed against the expansion of this year's tournament to 48 teams. "The FIFA World Cup is not a commercial asset that belongs to a handful of executives," Blatter said. "It is part of the cultural heritage of world football. "FIFA is the guardian of the World Cup, not its owner. There is a fundamental difference," he said. Investors pursuing influence and profits ran contrary to associations that follow the interests of their members, he said, noting that the game's connection to the public had sustained it for more than a century. "That principle should never change," Blatter said. "Football's true foundations were the clubs, players, coaches, referees and fans," Blatter said, and FIFA's role is to administer the sport, organise competitions and redistribute income. "The beneficiaries should be the game itself - from grassroots football to the highest international level - not outside investors seeking returns," Blatter said. Related Story
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* CONCACAF and AFC concerned by FIFA's private investment plan * Plan aims to raise up to $4.2 billion through minority stake sales * FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends, UEFA says FIFA's proposal to sell stakes in a $20 billion commercial subsidiary has drawn strong criticism from soccer's regional confederations, which said they were blindsided by the world governing body's plan to bring private investors into the sport.The Confederations of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) and Asia (AFC) delivered stinging rebukes on Wednesday, saying they learned of FIFA's equity sale proposal through media reports rather than official channels. FIFA said on Tuesday that it plans to create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, offering stakes of up to 20% in it to external investors.Under the plan, FIFA would establish FIFA Forward Enterprise to oversee commercial and event operations. FIFA, which this year held a 48-team World Cup across the U.S., Canada and Mexico that was the biggest in the tournament's history, would retain control of the enterprise, but offer minority stakes to private investors to raise up to $4.2 billion.'LACK OF DUE PROCESS'"CONCACAF was only made aware of this matter through media reports and, subsequently, via a media release. We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process," it said in a statement."We share the disappointment of many within our region and the game that this level of detail has been designed and shared publicly before any discussion with the relevant governance bodies and stakeholders has taken place."As leaders within football, we are the custodians of the game. Collectively, FIFA, the confederations and every member association have a responsibility to always act in the best interests of the sport."Every decision we make must be guided by good governance, robust processes and long-term stewardship." Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the World Cup should not become an investment product for private equity with investors seeking returns. "The FIFA World Cup is not a commercial asset that belongs to a handful of executives. It is part of the cultural heritage of world football," Blatter told Reuters. "FIFA is the guardian of the World Cup, not its owner."Czech Football Association President David Trunda, however, said he saw "pragmatic benefits" from working with FIFA President Gianni Infantino."Of course, we need more details, but my personal point of view is that I can see the positive impact of FIFA's intentions," Trunda told Sky News."I was elected a little more than a year ago. For me, personally, all the projects I have experienced in cooperation with FIFA have been very positive for the development of European football."AFC DISAPPOINTEDThe AFC said it recognised the importance of "exploring innovative approaches" but was disappointed that such a significant proposal was announced before the confederation had the opportunity to examine the plan."Such initiatives should be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation," it said."Decisions that may reshape the commercial and financial future of the game require comprehensive prior engagement with confederations, member associations and other relevant stakeholders before any proposal is made to the appropriate decision-making body(ies)," the AFC added.INFANTINO'S DEADLINEThe Times reported that Infantino had sent a letter to all member associations saying they would receive $40 million each if they agreed to the proposal by September 19.However, if they rejected the package totalling $10 billion, which would be available from January 1 next year, it would be reduced to the $2.7 billion that was previously on offer. Infantino added that the proposal would only be implemented if more than half of FIFA's member associations participate by the deadline and the FIFA Council formally approves the necessary changes."Today we have learned of FIFA's deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan," UEFA said in a statement."FIFA cannot continue to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends. We can grow the game correctly. It's time to prioritise associations, clubs, leagues, players and fans."While the AFC has 47 member associations, CONCACAF has 41. Together with UEFA's 55 members, that brings the total to 143 of 211 member associations whose confederations either criticised the proposal or had concerns about it. Reuters has contacted the confederations of South America (CONMEBOL), Africa (CAF) and Oceania (OFC) for comment.FIFA did not respond to a request for comment.'RAISES MANY QUESTIONS'The backlash also extended to individual country ruling bodies with French Football Federation chief Philippe Diallo saying his organisation had not been informed either."Given its direction - specifically, as I understand, bringing investment funds into a commercial entity alongside FIFA - it obviously raises many questions," he said on French Inter radio station.England's Football Association (FA) said it was "completely unaware" of the proposal and had no substantive details."Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point, and the apparent substance and principles involved," the FA said.FIFA's move had provoked a furious response from UEFA, which accused world soccer's governing body of putting the game's "soul" up for sale.A UEFA official said the idea of holding an emergency meeting to discuss FIFA's proposal was put forward on Tuesday. Another source said virtual meetings were taking place on Wednesday to talk about the situation. Related Story
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Neymar has confirmed his international retirement, tearfully declaring he was done playing for the Brazil national team following their World Cup defeat by Norway."My time with the national team is over. I made history, I
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Cometh the hour, cometh the man: Zinedine Zidane did not let down the 100 or so French football fans waiting outside the federation headquarters as he came outside to greet them moments after being unveiled
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Pakistan crumbled for the second consecutive day to the West Indies pace attack, losing the first Test of a two-match series by 90 runs on the fourth day in Trinidad on Tuesday.Set a tricky target
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The final two rounds of the 2026 World Endurance Championship (WEC) have been moved from Qatar and Bahrain to circuits in Spain and Italy due to the situation in the Gulf region, organisers said on
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Wimbledon reached a record-high attendance of 550,151 over the Grand Slam tournament's two weeks, up slightly over last year, the All England Club said Tuesday.Attendance at the 139th edition of tennis' grass-court major was aided
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DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke. The vice-president of the German FA (DFB) on Wednesday slammed FIFA's controversial plans to sell stakes in its competitions, including the World Cup, as "an outright attack on football".FIFA announced Tuesday it was set to create a semi-private subsidiary which would sell part of its business operations in the World Cup and other competitions, hoping to raise $4.2bn.The plan would still have to be approved by the 38-member FIFA council and the majority of its 211 member associations. FIFA said it intends to present the plans to the council soon.Hans-Joachim Watzke, the DFB vice-president who is also president of Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund and a vice-president of UEFA's executive committee, joined the chorus critical of the proposal."Many in European football see FIFA's plans as an outright attack on football. I share this view. A line has been crossed here," Watzke told Germany's Kicker."There is broad agreement on this among the member associations, as several conversations I've had with (UEFA boss) Aleksander Ceferin and other colleagues in recent days have shown me."Watzke, 67, highlighted the performances of European nations at the World Cup, hinting that European federations may unite to oppose the deal."At the World Cup, six European teams reached the quarter-finals and three the semi-finals."If European football stands united against these plans, that carries a great deal of weight."Max Eberl, the sporting director of Dortmund rival Bayern Munich, echoed Watzke's comments, saying the proposal was "shameful" and indicated FIFA's true priorities."I am ashamed that we in football are even discussing such ideas," Eberl said Wednesday, adding the proposal goes beyond what is usually accepted in football business."Right now, I get the feeling that FIFA exists solely to make a profit. It feels like the only goal is to rake in money from every possible avenue."I consider myself a child of football -- I've been involved in the sport for decades -- and even I find this disgusting."European football's governing body UEFA, which has been critical of Infantino, criticised the plan as a proposed sale of the game's "soul".CONCACAF, which governs North and Central American football, said it was "deeply concerned by the lack of due process".Earlier in July, the DFB confirmed to AFP subsidiary SID it refused to sign a letter supporting Infantino's re-election, despite the Swiss reportedly winning the support of more than 200 member associations. Related Story
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Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates with the trophy after winning the Belgian Grand Prix. (Reuters) Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali heaped praise on teenager Kimi Antonelli on Wednesday as the sport gave itself a glowing half-term report, with sold-out races and booming viewing figures in key markets.Liberty Media-owned Formula One said all 11 races this year had been sold out and six circuits had broken attendance records, with Britain's Silverstone recording by far the biggest weekend crowd of 564,000.Nearly 3.7 million people had attended race weekends compared to 3.4 million at the same races in 2025, with Japan showing an increase of 18% and Britain 13%.Television audiences in Italy, home of Mercedes' championship leader Antonelli as well as a resurgent Ferrari, were up 27% on 2025 over the nine rounds through the British Grand Prix. 19-YEAR-OLD A SIX-TIMES WINNERAntonelli, 19, has won six of 11 races this season while Ferrari, winless last year, have triumphed with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc."I think that for the sport, he's really great," Domenicali told reporters about a compatriot who hails from the same region around Bologna. "He's fresh, he's still very new and very open to any kind of thing that is happening to him."He has brought a lot of new fans connected to him because the nature of his way of engaging is fantastic...he's added a new dimension."He's an incredible asset for the future of what we're doing together."Television audiences in Brazil on race weekends were up to five times greater than a year ago, with a record 18 million watching the British Grand Prix on TV Globo and SportTV3.The Monaco Grand Prix, won by Antonelli reached nearly 80 million viewers globally.Formula One said its Fan Voice polling forum, which gathers responses from 60,000 fans, showed 66% of fans voting the racing good or excellent - despite driver complaints about the new engines - compared to 60% last season.The British Grand Prix, which ended controversially with the safety car deployed and Ferrari's Leclerc winning after Antonelli took pole position, drew a 69% good or excellent rating - down 20% on 2025.The Silverstone drivers' parade in cars made of Lego led to more than 70 million views across social platforms.Women made up 42% of the sport's audience, and three-quarters of new fans, while 43% of the total fanbase was under 35 years old.Formula One's next race is the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on August 23. Related Story
