LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS, STEVE BALLMER AND KAWHI LEONARD HANDED BRUTAL PUNISHMENT AS NBA INVESTIGATION ENDS

The Los Angeles Clippers have been stripped of five first-round draft picks and fined $30million for breaching salary cap circumvention rules.

Additionally, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has been banned from all NBA and team activities for a year and player Kawhi Leonard has been ordered to pay the league $700,000.

The Clippers have had the book thrown at them by the NBACredit: Getty

The punishments come following the conclusion of an investigation that found the Clippers got around salary cap rules to sign Leonard as a free agent back in 2019.

NBA statement

An official release from the NBA read: "The NBA announced today that the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard have been penalized for violating the salary cap circumvention rules contained in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

"This determination was based upon information developed through an independent investigation conducted by the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz.

"The investigation found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organization, a prior offender of the salary cap circumvention rules. As described in a summary report prepared by Wachtell Lipton, available here, the Clippers broke the rules by:

"Affirmatively initiating off-court income opportunities between Mr. Leonard and four companies doing business with the team: Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless, Daktronics, and Lockton Insurance;

"Facilitating endorsement agreements between these companies and Mr. Leonard;

"Inducing the companies to enter into these agreements by offering them business from the team;

"Paying personal expenses on behalf of Mr. Leonard and his representatives; and

"Failing to report improper solicitations for off-court income opportunities made on Mr. Leonard’s behalf through his then-business manager, Dennis Robertson.

"Mr. Leonard, through the conduct of Mr. Robertson on his behalf, violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.

Ballmer must cough up an eye-watering $30mCredit: Getty

"Based on this misconduct, the NBA has imposed the following penalties:

"The Clippers shall forfeit five first-round draft picks, one in each of the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA Drafts.

"The Clippers are fined $30 million.

"Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year for knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities, for approving a business deal that he knew was a precondition for Aspiration to enter into an endorsement agreement with Mr. Leonard, and for his failure to create conditions under which his organization abided by the NBA’s circumvention rules.

"Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended without pay for one year for being primarily and directly culpable for the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for providing false and misleading statements to investigators.

"Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended without pay for six months for his involvement with the impermissible endorsement arrangements and for approving impermissible expenses incurred by Mr. Leonard and his family.

Leonard, meanwhile, has been hit with a six-figure fineCredit: Getty

"The Clippers organization and personnel are subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years.

"In connection with his violations, Mr. Leonard is required to pay the league $700,000.

"Mr. Robertson is banned from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel for a period of five years."

It was also revealed that the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) made an agreement confirming the penalties.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said: “The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans.

"I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations."

- Tom Hancock

SPRINGBOKS V ALL BLACKS: LAST FIVE TESTS

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Damian Willemse of South Africa celebrates after scoring a try during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa Springboks at Sky Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series shifts into top gear this weekend, with the Springboks hosting the All Blacks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, in the first of four Tests.

New Zealand have concluded their run-outs against three of the four South African franchises, beating the Stormers, Sharks, and the Bulls over the last two weeks, while the Lions will get their chance against the men in black at the same iconic venue on August 25.

While this marks New Zealand’s first tour of South Africa in 30 years, this fiercest of sporting rivalries is anything but new.

South African toured New Zealand for the first time in 1921, and in the 110 Tests played between them, the All Blacks have won 63, while the Springboks have beaten them 43 times. Four Tests have ended in a draw.

The two iconic sides have won seven of the 10 world cups since the tournament began in 1987, with South Africa lifting the Web Ellis a record four times, while New Zealand have claimed the global top-podium spot on three occasions. Two of those finals have been played between the two teams, with South Africa winning both.

While the All Blacks hold an overall 57 percent success rate over the Springboks, there has been a major shift in the Rassie Erasmus era, with the Boks winning seven of their 11 Tests since the 2019 world cup in Japan.

With so much history between these age-old rivals and more history possibly to be made during this tour, we look at the five most recent results between South Africa and New Zealand.

September 13, 2025: All Blacks 10 Springboks 43, Wellington

South Africa ran in six tries – five of them in the second half – to dismantle the hosts in a shocking one-sided affair at Sky Stadium.

While the Boks dominated territory in the opening 40, they only had a Cheslin Kolbe intercept try to show for it and went into the break trailing 10-7, but they were ruthless after switching sides and kept the All Blacks scoreless in the second half, while they ran in five more tries.

The All Blacks assault in Wellington marked their biggest-ever victory against their rivals and the biggest defeat for the All Blacks on home soil. The result also saw the Boks retain the Freedom Cup while moving back to the top of the World Rugby rankings.

What made the performance even more impressive was how the Boks regrouped after their Eden Park defeat the previous week and the wholesale changes that were made to the squad. Youngsters were given the license to thrill. Add in there the injuries the visitors sustained in the first half in Wellington and how they emptied the bench even before the end of the third quarter, and the result becomes even more remarkable.

It was also the game that should have convinced the rugby world about the Boks’ attacking venom.

September 6, 2025: All Blacks 24- 17 Springboks, Auckland

Going into the clash, the Boks had been winless at Eden Park since 1937, and it remained that way, while New Zealand extended their long-standing record at the venue.

The All Blacks had been unbeaten in 50 Tests (including two draws) at their Eden Park bastion prior to this contest and added one more win to that streak, while the result snapped the Boks’ four-match winning run against them.

Ardie Savea produced a moment worthy of the occasion in his 100th Test for the All Blacks when he won a turnover with one minute to time to negate the spirited Springbok second-half fightback which saw the traveling team come back from 17-3 down at half time.

The result piled the pressure on the Springboks’ Rugby Championship title defence after three rounds.

September 7, 2024: Springboks 18 – 12 All Blacks, Cape Town

The result was a massive one for South Africa for a number of reasons – it marked the first time since 1949 that they beat New Zealand four times on the bounce and their first time winning the Freedom Cup since 2009, while it also all but secured them the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019, when the Boks became the first country to win the Sanzaar-governed competition and the world cup in the same year.

The Springboks trailed 3-9 at half-time at Cape Town Stadium and scored the only two tries of the match to claim an 18-12 victory in an absolute thriller of a clash to remain unbeaten in the Rugby Championship after four rounds.

South Africa led by a single point in the 70th minute, but Damian McKenzie flopped a straightforward penalty kick, allowing the Boks to exit after the All Black hooked his kick.

August 31, 2024: Springboks 31 – 27 All Blacks, Johannesburg

Drama lacked not in this blockbuster.

From the airplane flyover during the haka to the fantastic smash-and-grab by the Boks, this match had it all.

South Africa simply had no business winning this game.

The All Blacks had the upper hand in the most of the stats charts and dominated territory and possession, but they conceded more breakdown penalties against a Springbok team that just refused to go down.

And that was the difference, the home side’s relentless determination to keep up the fight.

New Zealand led by 27 points to 17 with just 11 minutes remaining before South Africa orchestrated a fantastic late surge in Round Three of the Rugby Championship.

It was a battle for the books, and while the All Blacks fell victim to some of their errors, the Boks rose above theirs in the Ellis Park epic and showed exactly why, with them, it’s never over till it’s over.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu contributed 16 points in the form of penalties and conversions, while the Bomb Squad injected some potency with Kwagga Smith scoring after a lineout maul was stopped metres from the line before Grant Williams burst over after another maul was stopped in its tracks.

With the win, the Boks tightened their grip on the Rugby Championship.

October 28, 2023: Springboks 12 – 11 All Blacks, Saint-Denis (France World Cup)

Not much needs to be said about why this match was a historic one.

While the Springboks gilded the pages of their stacked history books with a record fourth world cup title, All Blacks skipper Sam Cane became the first player to be red-carded in a world cup final.

But that was perhaps not as decisive as one would expect as the Boks also lost two players to yellow cards.

The All Blacks scored the only try of the match in the 58th minute courtesy of Beauden Barrett, which was the first time in their four finals that the Boks had conceded a try. That alone might have suggested that the night wouldn’t end favourably for the South Africans, but this is a team that knows nothing of a white flag and in no other contest did they make it clearer than on that icy night in Saint-Denis.

Handré Pollard scored all his team’s points with four first-half penalties while Pieter-Steph du Toit single-handedly put together the study guide on colossal defence in a performance that epitomised “big match temperament”.

No words can do the kind of determination and character that the Boks embodied on that night justice.

- Wynona Louw

WEST INDIES SUFFER FRESH BLOW AS DIRECT QUALIFICATION TO ODI WORLD CUP 2027 SLIPS AWAY

• West Indies have missed automatic qualification to ODI World Cup 2027.

• The Caribbean side will now have to battle through the Qualifiers to reach the mega event.

West Indies have been dealt another major setback in their bid to reach the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the two-time champions now certain to enter the qualification tournament rather than secure a direct place through the ICC rankings. Afghanistan’s victory over Ireland in Belfast confirmed their position among the teams set to qualify automatically, leaving the Caribbean side outside the required top-eight bracket.

Under the qualification system, the eight highest-ranked teams in the ICC ODI rankings on September 30, 2026, excluding co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will earn automatic entry into the 14-team World Cup. Afghanistan’s rise into that group has effectively ended West Indies’ hopes of breaking into the direct qualification places.

The West Indies are currently ranked 10th and have two ODIs against India remaining before the cut-off. However, even winning both matches will not be enough to lift them into the automatic qualification positions. That means the Caribbean side will once again have to take the longer route to the World Cup.

A painful reminder of what happened in 2023

For West Indies, another qualification campaign represents an uncomfortable return to a situation they would have desperately wanted to avoid. The Caribbean giants were forced to enter the qualification process for the 2023 ODI World Cup as well. Their campaign in Zimbabwe ended in disappointment after they finished fifth in the Super Six stage and failed to qualify for the tournament.

It was a historic low for one of cricket’s most successful teams. West Indies had appeared at every men’s ODI World Cup from the inaugural edition in 1975 until 2019, but their failure to qualify for the 2023 tournament brought that remarkable streak to an end. The consequences continued beyond the World Cup. Their ranking position also meant they missed the 2025 Champions Trophy, having last featured in the competition in 2013. With another World Cup qualification battle now confirmed, there will inevitably be concern about history repeating itself.

New qualification system offers another route

The 2027 qualification tournament will feature 10 teams and provide West Indies with another opportunity to reach the global showpiece. The field is set to include West Indies and Ireland as the two lowest-ranked non-host Full Members, along with the top four teams from Cricket World Cup League 2 and the four sides emerging from the Qualifier Playoff.

The playoff itself brings together teams from different levels of the qualification pyramid, including the bottom four League 2 sides and four teams from the Challenge League. The revised system also gives teams more than one opportunity to progress. The winner of the 10-team Qualifier will earn a direct place in the second round of the 2027 World Cup. Teams finishing second, third and fourth will enter a three-team Super Series, with the winner also advancing.

The ICC approved the revamped World Cup structure in July, with the 14-team tournament designed to provide more competitive matches while keeping the overall event shorter. While the new pathway keeps West Indies’ World Cup dream alive, it also highlights the seriousness of their current position. A team once synonymous with dominance on the global stage now faces another high-pressure qualification campaign.

For Shai Hope and his teammates, the immediate task is clear: finish the remaining fixtures strongly, regroup and make sure the next qualification journey does not end in another historic disappointment.

- Akshat Gaur

POGACAR TO RIDE VUELTA A ESPANA FOR GRAND TOUR TREBLE

Getty

Newly crowned five-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar will race in this month's Vuelta a Espana in an attempt to win all three of cycling's Grand Tours.

The Slovenian UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider will be the runaway favourite to win the three-week Grand Tour after becoming the joint most successful Tour de France champion of all time last month, alongside fellow greats Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

Pogacar won the 2024 Giro d'Italia by nearly 10 minutes, and would become only the ninth rider to win all three Grand Tours in history should he triumph in Spain.

The 27-year-old finished third at the Tour of Spain as a youngster in 2019.

"I'm excited to say I'm going back to La Vuelta," said Pogacar. "It was my first ever Grand Tour back in 2019 and an amazing experience.

"Spain is a country I love to visit and race in, and I think the time is right to go back.

"The motivation is high to finish off the year in a good way and the Vuelta will be a big target. The team is strong and we hope to do good things."

This year's race begins in Monaco on 22 August and finishes in Granada on 13 September, with 21 stages across three weeks including time trials, sprints, rolling hills and high mountains.

Pogacar has won almost all of the sport's biggest races. In addition to his five Tour titles he has won the Tour of Flanders (three times), Milan-San Remo (once), the Road World Championships (twice), Il Lombardia (five times), Liege-Bastogne-Liege (four times) and the Giro.

He is also expected to try to defend his Road World Championships rainbow jersey in Montreal, Canada, just a week after La Vuelta finishes.

While La Vuelta is considered a main event on cycling's World Tour, the sport's top talents in the modern era will often prioritise the Tour de France at the expense of the Vuelta and the Giro.

Merckx, Anquetil and Hinault (twice) all won La Vuelta during their careers.

Following victory at this year's Tour,

Pogacar beat Belgium's Remco Evenepoel by more than six minutes at this year's Tour de France, and he is expected to win the Vuelta by an even bigger margin.

Famed for his explosive launch and metronomic high pace on stages, he is not showing any signs of fatigue or weakness.

Pogacar has won six of the seven World Tour races he has competed in this year, finishing second at Paris-Roubaix in April in a dramatic dash to the line with Belgium's Wout van Aert.

- Matt Warwick

DUSTY MAY AGREES TO BECOME DALLAS MAVERICKS HEAD COACH

 

Michigan national champion coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the Dallas Mavericks’ next head coach, pairing him with Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg |Michigan basketball coach Dusty May | Image by Getty Images 

Michigan basketball coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports.

The move comes weeks after the Mavericks mutually agreed to part ways with Jason Kidd following a 26-56 season. May, who led Michigan to the 2026 NCAA national championship, would make the jump from college to the NBA in what would be the first direct college-to-pro head coaching hire since 2019.

Mavericks Coaching Search Background

The Mavericks began their coaching search in May 2026 after parting ways with Kidd. In a statement at the time, Mavericks President Masai Ujiri said at the time that “Jason has had a meaningful impact on the Dallas Mavericks, both as a Hall of Fame player and as the head coach who helped lead this franchise back to the NBA Finals. … As we evaluate the future of our basketball program, we believe this is the right moment for a new direction for our team.”

The Dallas Express previously reported on the search, noting Ujiri’s emphasis on future-oriented decisions around rookie star Cooper Flagg. Candidates included assistants and college coaches, with exploratory talks involving May and others.

Dusty May’s Coaching History

May built his reputation at Florida Atlantic University before moving to Michigan. At FAU from 2018 to 2024, he compiled a 126-69 record, leading the Owls to the 2023 Final Four as a No. 9 seed — one of the most improbable runs in NCAA history. He was the program’s all-time wins leader.

Prior to FAU, May served as an assistant at Florida (2015-18), Louisiana Tech, and other programs after starting as a student manager at Indiana. He was hired by Michigan in 2024 to replace Juwan Howard and quickly restored the Wolverines to national prominence, winning the 2026 national title in his second season.

Reactions on X

Social media lit up with the news. One user posted that “After winning a National Championship at Michigan, Dusty May is leaving the Wolverines to coach Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks, per multiple reports.”

Another noting owner Patrick Dumont’s role, posted, “Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont convinced Rick Welts to come out of retirement, he convinced Masai Ujiri to run his basketball team and now Dusty May to coach his team. The ungodly amounts of money he’s spent…”

No official Mavericks statement confirming the hire had been released as of Monday morning, but reports from Adam Schefter, Shams Charania, and Pete Thamel indicated the deal was nearing completion.

First Game and Future Outlook

May’s first regular-season game with the Mavericks is expected in late October 2026, when the NBA season typically tips off. No exact date has been announced pending the official hire and schedule release.

The hire pairs May with Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick and 2025-26 Rookie of the Year, who averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. It marks a rebuild-focused move under Ujiri aimed at long-term contention. Michigan will now search for its next coach.

- Tiffany Chartier 

LAWYER GIVES MAN CITY 115 CHARGES VERDICT AND TIMELINE AFTER 'SPEAKING TO INSIDER'

Football lawyer Tom Murray has provided his insight on what could transpire when a verdict on the 115 charges made against Manchester City by the Premier League finally arrives

A verdict on Man City's 115 charges has yet to arrive(Image: Getty Images)

Manchester City are expected to be found in breach of at least some of the 115 charges made against them by the Premier League, but it would not be surprising if a final outcome still took more than two years, according to sports lawyer Tom Murray. The founding partner of the Three Points law firm anticipates this process will continue to be drawn out and exacerbated by the appeal process.

City stand accused of breaching financial rules over a nine-year period spanning from 2009. The investigation was opened in 2019 and included allegations over the club's financial reporting and lack of cooperation with the investigation, though the club deny any wrongdoing.

Charges were announced in 2023, and City face 54 allegations of failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009/10. They also face 14 alleged breaches of failing to provide accurate financial reports of player and manager compensation over the same period.

The hearing started in September 2024 and lasted 10 weeks, but all parties still await an outcome. The volume of charges and severity of the accusations appear to have contributed towards the long wait for a verdict, with the case being unprecedented in English football.

Murray believes the sheer scale of charges will eventually see Manchester City found guilty of at least some. But, amid persistent speculation over when the result of the case could arrive, the solicitor stopped short of predicting when the outcome would be delivered, having claimed to have spoken to those working on the case.

"I don't think anyone knows," Murray told the Price of Football podcast. "I've spoken to barristers working on the case, and even they don't know when the decision will be released. As much as I would like to speculate, I think it would be pointless.

"What do I think the outcome is going to be? I think Manchester City are going to be found liable, in breach of something. With the number of charges there are I don't think they are going to get away with this.

"But this is going to be strung out for as long as possible and I think we can expect an appeal and we'll be back in the same position. In two years' time, it wouldn't be surprising if we still don't have a final outcome."

Pep Guardiola is set to leave the club before any decision will be made(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

In contrast, former City financial adviser Stefan Borson believes the club will have a verdict 'quite soon'. He has suggested it could arrive by the end of the season.

"I think it’s coming quite soon, but then we have said that before, right?" he said. "My best guess and the kind of feeling in the parties is that it will come at the end of the season.

"June would be most likely, that’s the feeling. There’s no justification now from a kind of how long it takes to write this up, there’s no justification now.

"This is now ridiculous territory. 18 months to write up a decision in a private arbitration is clearly ridiculous. There’s been little things that I’ve heard that would signify that we are coming to the end of the process of writing it up."

- Scott Trotter

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN APOLOGIES TO ATLETICO MADRID FANS AHEAD OF SUMMER EXIT - "IT WAS A MISTAKE TO GO TO BARCELONA"

 

It was an emotional farewell for Griezmann as he addressed the fans in a special ceremony after full-time. Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images

On Sunday, Antoine Griezmann made his final appearance at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano as an Atletico Madrid player. The 35-year-old, who is the club’s all-time top goalscorer, has already agreed to join MLS side Orlando City in the summer, thus bringing to an end a 10-year career across two spells.

After Sunday’s match against Girona, which Atleti won 1-0 with Griezmann providing the assist for Ademola Lookman’s goal, the Frenchman gave an emotional speech to the home crowd, and as per Sport, he started it by once again apologising for his decision to join Barcelona in the summer of 2019.

“First, thank you all for staying. This is amazing. Second, and something very important to me, I know that many did and some still did not, but I ask your forgiveness again. I didn’t realize the affection I had here. I was very young. It was a mistake (to go to Barcelona), I reconsidered and we did everything to come back and enjoy it again.”

Griezmann pays special tribute to Simeone and Koke

Griezmann also took the time to pay tribute to those that have helped him during his time at Atleti, such as Diego Simeone, Koke Resurreccion and his family.

“To the coaching staff and to the one who changed everything at this club: Don Diego Pablo Simeone. Thanks to you there is a lot of enthusiasm and I was world champion and I felt the best in the world. I owe you a lot and it has been an honour to fight for you. I don’t know if I’m a legend, but you, Koke, are a legend of this club. My wife, my wife too. Thank you for supporting me in my bad days and holding my anger in defeats. I love you.

“I also thank my parents, who took me all over France to play. Thanks to them I am here enjoying football. I haven’t been able to bring a league or a Champions League, but this affection is better for me. I’ll take it for the whole trip. Now, I’m done. Fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, thank you very much for bringing the children here, to teach them that Atleti is the best in the world. Thank you.”

- John Menzies

FROM HARVARD LABS TO KIPCHOGE'S HOME

 

Gabby Thomas’s path to Nyayo Stadium's track is anything but typical. While rivals turned pro at 20, she was at Harvard earning a degree in neurobiology and global health, graduating in 2019 after smashing the NCAA 200m record with 22.38. 

Since then, the medals piled up: Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze in the 200m and 4x100m silver. Budapest 2023 World Championship silver in the 200m and 4x100m gold. Then Paris 2024, where she completed the triple: Olympic gold in the 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m. 

All while finishing a master’s in public health at UT Austin and championing STEM access. She analyzes races like research problems. Nairobi was her latest experiment, and the hypothesis held: speed travels.

The Kip Keino Classic honors Kenya’s greatest miler but today it crowned a sprinter. The 100m/200m double is the sport’s toughest ask: pure power, then lactic acid management, with minimal recovery. To do it with 11.01 and 21.89 at altitude puts Thomas in elite company. 

Her 11.01 is a one of her  best performances and a message to the 100m field. Her 21.89 ties her season’s best and proves Nairobi’s altitude is no barrier when your turnover is that clean. 

Thomas laughed post-race, draped in both the US and Kenyan flags fans handed her: “I came here hoping to deliver my best and I did exactly that', she said.

With World Championships on the horizon, Gabby Thomas just used Nyayo Stadium as a warning shot. The neuroscience grad is still running experiments in human potential. Result of today’s trial: double gold.

- Wambui Muigai

MCLAREN BOSS ADDRESSES FERRARI DEFECTION RUMOURS

 

McLaren Team Principal has been linked with a move to Ferrari

McLaren Formula 1 Team Principal Andrea Stella has responded to increasing speculation linking him with a sensational switch to Ferrari.

Stella is seen by many as the architect of McLaren’s success in recent years, rising through the ranks of the team since joining in 2015 from Ferrari as Head of Race Operations.

Promoted to Performance Director in 2018, and then Racing Director in 2019, he assumed the role of Team Principal in 2023, spearheading McLaren’s double constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025.

But the Italian has been linked to Ferrari, given the sensational news that GianPiero Lambiase will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028.

But Stella has firmly rejected these rumours, jokingly confirming the speculations “made me smile.”

“Honestly, some of the recent rumours, including those regarding astronomical salaries and mythical pre-contracts, have made me smile,” said Stella. 

Andrea Stella rumours showing ‘silly season’ now covers Team Principals?.

“Silly season”, covering driver moves, now seems to cover off Team Principals, the paddock seemingly connecting the dots of moves in the Team Principal market.

Jonathan Wheatley has departed Audi, heavily linked to Aston Martin, replacing Adrian Newey, while Stella’s supposed departure could lead to Fred Vasseur leaving Ferrari.

Stella had a somewhat unusual analogy to describe the whispers going in the paddock.

“It almost seems as though the ‘silly season’, which usually begins before summer, has arrived early!” he said.

” I’m quite used to this sort of thing by now and I take with a smile. 

“It almost looks like that some envious pastry chef has tried to spoil the preparation of a good dessert at the McLaren patisserie. 

“However, we do know very well how to distinguish the good ingredients from the poisoned biscuits….”

Stella’s firm denial is to be expected, but speculation will continue to grow until McLaren announces a firm contract renewal. Ferrari is also conspicuous in its silence.

- James Phillips

20-YEAR NASCAR CUP SERIES STREAK COMES TO A SCREECHING HALT AT DAYTONA

For the first time since 2005, the NASCAR Cup Series has a full-time No. 97 car.

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, NASCAR | Jonathan Bachman/GettyImages

There weren't many changes to the NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup from the 2025 to the 2026 season, but the changes that were made were signifcant.

Connor Zilisch has replaced Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse Racing after spending the year with JR Motorsports' Xfinity Series team, and Suarez has moved to Spire Motorsports to replace Justin Haley.

Haley is the only full-time Cup driver from 2025 who is no longer competing full-time in the Cup Series in 2026, as he has dropped down to the Truck Series with Kaulig Racing, reuniting him with the team he drove for in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series from 2019 to 2023.

But Zilisch isn't driving Suarez's No. 99 Chevrolet in 2026.

Instead, the rookie is using the No. 88 Chevrolet that was used by Shane van Gisbergen in 2025. The No. 88 hadn't been used full-time since Alex Bowman drove it at Hendrick Motorsports in 2020.

The No. 99 shifted back over to RFK Racing, where it hadn't been used since 2016, for their Daytona 500 one-off entry for Corey LaJoie, although he failed to qualify. Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, has reverted to the number he used in Australian Supercars (and during the 2024 Xfinity Series season): No. 97.

As a result, the 2026 season is the first season since 2005 to see a No. 97 in the full-time Cup Series lineup.

The No. 97 is also a former Roush Racing number. Kurt Busch took over behind the wheel of the No. 97 Ford late in the 2000 season, and he drove the car until the antepenultimate race of the 2005 season.

For the final two races of the year, after Busch was cited for reckless driving and became "belligerent with Maricopa County (Arizona) sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop", Kenny Wallace filled in for him at Phoenix Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Prior to 2026, the No. 97 hadn't been used in the Cup Series in any capacity since the 2018 season, when Obaika Racing entered the No. 97 Toyota for Tanner Berrhill at Phoenix and Homestead. David Starr also drove the car at Texas Motor Speedway after failing to qualify at Talladega Superspeedway.

Between 2005 and 2018, appearances for the No. 97 entry were few and far between. Jeff Fuller, who failed to qualify the No. 97 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports for the 2010 Daytona 500, drove the same car later in the year at Talladega.

Kevin Conway drove the same car for the same team twice at Daytona and twice at Talladega in 2011, though his qualifying attempt for the Daytona 500 was unsuccessful.

Bill Elliott got behind the wheel at Talladega and Daytona the following year after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500, before Timmy Hill made a start at Talladega.

- Asher Fair

PATRIOTS ROASTED BY FORMER SUPER BOWL MVP AHEAD OF AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

© David Butler II-Imagn Images

The New England Patriots are heading to the AFC Championship Game after taking care of the Houston Texans on Sunday. 

The team will take on the Denver Broncos, who recently found out that starting quarterback Bo Nix will miss the rest of the postseason with a broken ankle. The Broncos were able to beat the Buffalo Bills anyway, but it'll be tough to move forward without their quarterback. 

However, not everybody is penciling the Patriots into the Super Bowl. 

Former NFL quarterback Nick Foles was watching the game and wanted to remind everybody about something. Foles mentioned that the Patriots "struggle against backup QBs" in championship-style games. 

"Note for the Broncos and their fans: I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team, and I'm sending prayers for a strong recovery," Foles said. "A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games."

Of course, Foles is referring to Super Bowl LII, where he stepped in as the backup quarterback and led the Philadelphia Eagles to a win over the Patriots. 

In that game, Foles played like a star, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns. The famous "Philly Special" play was born that night, and the Patriots received plenty of grief for losing to a backup quarterback. 

Foles went on to play one more season with the Eagles after that Super Bowl before signing a massive free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. 

It was a hilarious note from Foles, but the situations aren't exactly the same. 

Foles was the backup, but he had already been a Pro Bowler once in his career. The quarterback was a reliable veteran passer and one of the best backups in the league. 

The Broncos, though, have to rely on Jarrett Stidham. Stidham has just over 1,400 yards and eight touchdown passes in his career and has never played in a playoff game. 

Interestingly, Stidham did spend two seasons with the Patriots, and now he has a chance to prove himself against one of his former teams. 

- BRYCE LAZENBY

FC BARCELONA NEWS: 14 DECEMBER 2025; BARÇA BEAT OSASUNA TO WIN SEVENTH LA LIGA GAME IN A ROW

NurPhoto via Getty Images

FC Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Raphinha to the rescue! - FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona will be spending the night seven points clear at the top of the Liga table after securing all three points from a difficult Saturday fixture against the defensively strong Osasuna.

HIGHLIGHTS | Barça v Osasuna - FC Barcelona

All the action from the La Liga contest at Spotify Camp Nou.

Hansi Flick: ‘We are playing well’ - FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona secured another victory in LaLiga after defeating Osasuna and coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s control of the game and defensive work. “We controlled the match. We did a good job defensively. Maybe we didn’t have many chances, but we scored two goals and got the three points,” explained the Barça coach.

FC Barcelona equal second longest La Liga goalscoring run - FC Barcelona

Hansi Flick’s Barça have matched a historic milestone. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Osasuna has extended their run of game in which they have scored at least one goal to 37, with Raphinha coming to rescue this time by finally breaking the deadlock after the visitors has held out for almost 70 minutes. The run now stands as the second-best in Barça history, level with the streak achieved between 2018 and 2019 under Ernesto Valverde.

Lamine Yamal shows off Player of the Month trophy - FC Barcelona

Lamine Yamal showed off his latest individual award on Saturday before Barça’s win over Osasuna, parading with the La Liga Player of the Month award for November.

Badalona 1-5 FC Barcelona: Leaders march on - FC Barcelona

There are still two matches left to round off 2025, one in the Champions League and one in the Copa de la Reina, but this Saturday Barça Femení brought their Liga F schedule for the year to a close with a win in Palamós, where Badalona Women play their home games. The home side held their own in the first half but ultimately surrendered the points as Pajor, Pina, Carla Julià, Vicky and Brugts scored the goals.

- Renato Gonçalves

EX-ARSENAL FLOP NOW DATING ADULT STAR JETS OFF ON £23,000 TRIP AFTER MONEY CLAIM

Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe jetted off on a £23,000 getaway for his 30th birthday with his better half Teanna Trump - and the adult star covered the cost

Teanna Trump has opened up on her relationship with Nicolas Pepe(Image: itsteannatrump/Instagram)

Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe was surprised with a £23,000 getaway from his adult star girlfriend as he celebrated his 30th birthday. Teanna Trump, real name Keanna Nichele Jones, has shacked up with the now Villarreal winger - but had to insist she wasn't just with the footballer for his money in a recent interview.

She told the Just Riadh YouTube channel: “I don’t date him for money. I don’t need him for his money. I have my own money. The first year that we were dating, I paid for my flights [to Spain] every two weeks.

"I bought all the f***** flights. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t using him. I don’t use him. He pays for nothing of mine. Nothing.

“I took him on a trip for his 30th birthday — thirty thousand dollars. He turned 30, so I was like, ‘Budget is $30k [£23k].’ He didn’t even know where we were going.”

Pepe, who celebrated his 30th back in May, has also gifted his better half with glitzy items - and he presented Teanna with a Goyard Senat GM pouch worth about £1,800 on Valentines Day.

The pair have been together since 2024, and months of rumours were confirmed when they shared a snap eating dinner last December.

Teanna earned fame and fortune in the adult industry - first starring in a film in 2014, when she was 18-years-old, but since 2020 she has claimed not to have worked on adult film site.

Instead, she now focuses on the self-made content she shares on her own website.

Pepe signed on the dotted line at the Emirates Stadium back in 2019 to the tune of £72million - he would go on to make 80 Premier League appearances in that time, but failed to set the league on fire.

He would finally end his spell in 2023, moving to Turkish side Trabzonspor and then to Villarreal after one season.

Pepe has impressed in Spain, and Teanna has even flaunted his Champions League MOTM awards with cheeky social media posts.

- Will Schofield

THE MAFIA HAS MADE PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS 'WORTH MORE THAN COCAINE'

Credit: The World Anti-Doping Agency

On a quiet street in Poland, a group of camouflaged police officers have gathered. They carry machine guns, apart from the man at the front, who is driving a handheld battering ram into an unmarked door.

The lock quickly snaps and the police pour inside. They have entered a laboratory, akin to the underground facility in Breaking Bad where the rogue schoolteacher Walter White cooked up his crystal meth. Yet the powders they are seizing are not recreational drugs, but performance-enhancing ones.

The raid captured on our video was the result of a two-year collaboration between the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and Europol – the European equivalent of Interpol – and it represents a new front in the war against PEDs.

Wada and Polish police raid an organised crime lab making PEDs in Poland

When we think of dopers procuring illicit steroids like boldenone, nandrolone or stanozolol, we usually imagine them sourcing the drugs from a dodgy doctor with a backstreet office: a one-man cottage industry.

Increasingly, though, such substances are being produced in high volume by organised crime gangs: the same sort of clans that might also be involved in gun-running, people-smuggling or money-laundering.

“These groups are very quick in adapting to gaps in the system,” said Günter Younger, a German former policeman who used to be Interpol’s head of drugs, and is now Wada’s director of intelligence and information (I&I).

“What they want is big profit, low sentence and low chance of detection. Which is why PEDs fit perfectly into their portfolio. The profit is the same as dealing in cocaine, or sometimes even bigger. Law enforcement usually is not very interested in doping, so it’s easier to stay out of trouble. And even if you do get caught, you’re likely to get away with a slap on the wrist.”

Günter Younger, using his expertise as Interpol’s former head of drugs, has transformed Wada into a force to be reckoned with - Reuters/Denis Balibouse

As so often in the field of anti-doping, the robbers got off to a flier, leaving the cops flat-footed on the start line. Wada’s research suggests that dozens of steroid labs have sprung up across Europe over the past decade, with Poland, Slovenia and Serbia among the preferred locations. As Younger puts it: “If you have a warehouse with several tons [of PEDs], you look for a country that has a lower legal framework to follow up on this.”

Paradoxically, though, success can be counter-productive in the world of organised crime. The more money the gangs derive from an activity, the more it attracts attention. In this instance, the wheel of detection has started to turn.

Over the past two years, Wada has collaborated with European law enforcement teams to raid 35 labs and confiscate 40 tons of PEDs – a figure which equates to around 800 million individual doses. Warsaw has been at the centre of several operations, as it seems to be a laboratory hotspot, but significant seizures have also been made in Portugal, Greece, Germany and North Macedonia. Thus far, Great Britain has only been tangentially involved.

Wada’s European project was only the first step in a three-phase plan which will move on to Asia and Oceania in 2026, with the final stage planned for Africa and the Americas after that.

The whole process is being steered by Younger: a tall and imposing 58-year-old with a shaved cueball head, whose police career covered a variety of fields from drugs to counterfeit currencies, cyber crime and terrorism. In 2016, he accepted a move from the Bavarian police force to Wada, having previously collaborated with them on the Lance Armstrong case among other scandals. But in his early days in his new office, he found himself hamstrung by his lack of executive power.

“One of my first cases that I had here involved the IBU, the International Biathlon Union, where we got an informant telling us that the former president had been corrupted by the Russians. It was then that I realised that, as a sport organisation, I can only do voluntary interviews. If I speak to you, and you say ‘I’m not comfortable anymore’, I can’t stop you from leaving.

“So my next idea was to reach out to law enforcement from Austria and from Norway, because Mr [Anders] Besseberg [the former IBU president who has since earned a prison sentence for accepting gifts such as watches, hunting trips and the services of prostitutes] is Norwegian. We met at Interpol and this is where my idea of collaboration started from.”

Since Younger’s arrival, Wada’s I&I department has expanded to reach its present figure of 15 employees, around half of whom have backgrounds in law enforcement. For context, Wada’s entire staff approaches 190 people, who are mostly devoted to the testing side of the operation. The organisation’s budget also skews heavily in that direction, with recent surveys suggesting that more than £200m was spent on global testing in 2019, the most up-to-date figures available.

But I&I could be the next potential growth area for the anti-doping industry. While testing is a useful deterrent, it also has its limitations, with fewer than one per cent of samples coming back positive – a ratio which fails to approach most experts’ estimates of actual wrongdoing. The system mostly picks up the less sophisticated cheats, or those who have genuinely fallen foul of accidental contamination – and it is almost impossible to tell one group from the other.

The really big scandals usually emerge via a tip-off, a raid, or an intervention from law enforcement, as we see in the cases of Armstrong, Balco, or the massive Sochi doping operation that was exposed by Russian dissident Grigory Rodchenkov.

Large-scale PED raids can be inefficient in a different way. If you take down a lab, and you gain access to their client list, you might hope to find professional athletes on the spreadsheet. However, Wada has yet to reveal how many anti-doping rule violations have resulted from the 11,500 names it gathered through its European raids. Perhaps it is too early: the process often takes years to finalise. Or maybe we are talking about a different sort of client: weekend warriors searching for an extra edge.

“Personally, I’m not so interested in who the athlete is,” Younger replied, when questioned on this point. “I’m interested in the coach and the doctor who gets the money out of the athletes’ health. Sometimes we learn that – as in Russia – when you want to be in the national team, you have to do what the coach says. If you don’t, then you’re out. So, for me, the bigger criminals are those that exploit the athletes’ health. Also, we find that today’s amateurs are tomorrow’s elite.”

Whether Wada’s operations are picking up Olympic prospects or not, there are other benefits to the process. For one thing, these chemicals are invariably injurious to health. For another, the trade in PEDs is funding some of the most anti-social criminal groups in Europe. And the volume of product being sold is startling.

The trade in PEDs is funding some of the most anti-social criminal groups in Europe

“It’s so easy for organised crime to sell PEDs,” said Younger, “because they can use the clearnet [a technical term for the freely available part of the internet]. You don’t even need to go to the dark web, which is what you have to do to buy a weapon or normal, recreational drugs. Go online and search for PEDs and you’ll see how many websites you get. Because of the size of the industry, we can shut down a guy producing a ton every month, and the market doesn’t even notice.”

In all probability, the 40 tons of PEDs collected by Wada to date represent no more than the tip of the doping iceberg. But as Younger and his team turn their attention to Asia – thus coming into contact with countries like China and India which produce vast quantities of steroids for the medical market – there is a sense of growing momentum behind their work.

“In 2016 especially, we had meetings where law enforcement said, ‘Wada, who is that?’” Younger explained. “Now they’re coming to us. They say, ‘Can you work with us on this case?’ Or ‘Can you identify whether this is a steroid lab?’ We are building a reputation, and we have so many operations going on that we can only focus on the high-level ones. If you have the right people around the table, you can achieve quite a lot.”

- Simon Briggs

FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ANNOUNCES BIG COMEBACK PLANS: "I'M GOING TO MAKE HISTORY AGAIN"

A former unified heavyweight champion is targeting a return to world title contention in 2026.

The heavyweight division has seen the likes of Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua all hold gold in recent years, while the current king of the weight class is undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.

It is California’s Andy Ruiz Jr who is edging closer to making his long-awaited comeback to the sport though, over one year on from his last ring appearance.

The 36-year-old has been recovering from a hand injury that he sustained during his domestic clash with Jarrell Miller, which ended in a majority draw after a competitive battle at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Ruiz famously defeated two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua back in June of 2019 when he stopped the Brit in the seventh round of their showdown at Madison Square Garden.

In an interview with Covers, Ruiz claimed that he intends to ‘make history again’ as he prepares to push towards becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion alongside his trusted coach Manny Robles.

“(Robles and I) made history together against Anthony Joshua, and we’re going to do it again. I should be leaving in two weeks to Los Angeles to train with him in his facility. I’m excited to get out of my comfort zone, to go to his space and his gym, his rules, to stay dedicated.”

Ruiz then revealed a number of fighters that he would be interested in facing in the future, as he admits he would be open to reigniting his feud with ‘AJ’.

“That’s something that I would love to (do) … There’s bad blood that we left behind – especially me, losing against him in Saudi Arabia, I want my revenge.”

“Usyk, Tyson Fury, Joshua, and (Deontay) Wilder for sure – four of them. Those are the big names.”

Ruiz has been linked to a potential match-up with former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder, a bout that has been years in the making and one that is said to be of interest to both fighters.

- Kailem Lowe

TED KRAVITZ SAY'S FERRARI'S STANCE ON REPLACING LEWIS HAMILTON IS NOW 'ABSOLUTELY CLEAR'

Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton hasn’t met Ferrari’s expectations since he joined the team at the start of 2025. While Hamilton may be the most successful driver ever, he has statistically been a downgrade on predecessor Carlos Sainz.

Hamilton has broken an unwanted Ferrari record by failing to score a podium. Last weekend’s Brazilian GP was his 21st missed opportunity.

The 40-year-old is only one place behind Charles Leclerc in the standings, but the gap has grown to 66 points. Leclerc is leading Hamilton 16-5 in qualifying and 15-3 in the races when both are classified.

Hamilton has also failed to reach Q3 six times this season, or eight times including Sprints. All of this has fed growing doubt over his Ferrari future.

Ted Kravitz is certain that Oliver Bearman will ‘eventually replace’ Lewis Hamilton

Speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 Show, Ted Kravitz sounded certain that Haas driver Oliver Bearman will succeed Hamilton. He thinks it’s just a question of when.

Haas say Bearman isn’t available until 2027, and Kravitz still expects Ferrari to honour Hamilton’s contract. Leclerc replaced the veteran Kimi Raikkonen in 2019 after spending his rookie year with engine customers Alfa Romeo Sauber.

Ferrari have also been linked with Oscar Piastri, and it’s said that Sainz would be open to leaving Williams if his former team approached him, but Kravitz can only see one outcome.

“It’s clear as night follows day that Ollie Bearman will eventually replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari,” he said. “I think that’s absolutely clear.

“Whether Charles Leclerc will stay there or not long-term is a completely separate subject.

“It’s the Ferrari way – they did it with Charles Leclerc – to farm out their juniors to a Sauber, or to Haas, or to an engine customer, and then bring them in-house.

“Haas insist that they’ve got Bearman nailed down for ’26, so I think Ferrari will let it play out with Hamilton, get to the end of his contract and then make a call on whether it’s Bearman.”

When does Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract really expire?

The consensus in the F1 paddock is that Ferrari won’t renew Hamilton’s contract. In theory, that could change if the new regulations offset his apparent decline.

While the team haven’t confirmed the duration themselves, it’s said that Hamilton’s Ferrari contract runs for three years. Bearman may have to be patient.

George Russell spent three years at Williams before he finally got the call-up from Mercedes to replace Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton’s deal reportedly includes release clauses, though, so he could leave the team earlier without the need for a pay-off if the partnership becomes untenable.

- David Comerford

DID HYUNDAI BOSS ADMIT OTT TÄNAK'S DEPARTURE FROM THE TEAM? - "HE IS A CHALLENGE AT THE MOMENT"

There has been much speculation in recent months about the future of Hyundai’s Estonian WRC driver, Ott Tänak.

Andrew Wheatley. Photo: Romain Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport

There has been speculation that the 2019 world champion is once again eyeing a move towards Toyota, as Kalle Rovanperä is set to end his rally career, at least for now, after this season. With Rovanperä’s decision, a lead driver’s seat will become available at Toyota, although Oliver Solberg is also likely to be in contention for the same spot.

After his championship win, Tänak moved to Hyundai, a team he has represented with the exception of one season when the Estonian joined M-Sport for the 2023 campaign. Toyota has, however, once again demonstrated its superiority this year, and Hyundai has not been able to match the Japanese manufacturer’s pace in its development work. Hyundai’s motorsport boss, Andrew Wheatley, admits that negotiations with Tänak regarding next season are still ongoing.

“I think we’re still in negotiation at the moment. I think we’re getting very close to the end of the year, and we need to understand exactly what the situation is. But from my perspective, it’s not fixed, and there’s still work to do. We have to understand how we can sort that out quickly,” Wheatley told.

According to Wheatley, Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux are certain to continue with Hyundai. The team would gladly keep Tänak in its ranks as well, but the decision rests with the Estonian.

“He’s the one that’s the challenge. I think the other two guys are clearly committed to the program, but clearly there’s still work to do. And I think from our perspective, it’s not so much about what the what we can do as a team. It’s more about what Ott has in the rest of his life going on,” Wheatley summed up.

“These guys are travelling all the time . When you’re travelling from test to rally, test to rally, test to rally, and you turn around and realise your family is getting bigger. It’s not easy to do that. And these people are driven to win. We would love to have him in the team. He is absolutely the we think the best person to go and fight with Thierry and Adrian. But it’s absolutely his decision.”

It is surely Hyundai’s poor results that have led Tänak to consider his future. At this weekend’s Rally Japan, Hyundai is once again a clear underdog. The focus has already shifted firmly towards next year.

“This weekend is about the development process. We drove a lot on the shakedown stage this morning to better understand how the car behaves in different conditions. We need a great deal of data to optimise our car’s performance,” Wheatley explains.

“This car is only six months old, and we began its development in the middle of the season. That is never easy. We know that the Toyota drivers fighting for the championship will be tough to beat here. We have to make sure we keep improving step by step.”

- Aki Hietavala

JAY-Z ON BAD BUNNY THEY LOVE BENITO, DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU!

Jay-Z is defending Bad Bunny's selection as the Super Bowl halftime show performer ... he says Americans really love them some Benito.

We got Hov in New York City on Monday and our photog asked him about all the hate getting thrown Bad Bunny's way ... seeing as some folks have been very vocal in blasting the decision to go with him, including President Trump.

Jay-Z is the guy to ask here ... his Roc Nation has been working with the NFL since 2019 to pick the Super Bowl halftime show performers.

The billionaire mogul says Bad Bunny is more loved in this country than some would have you believe ... telling us, "Don't let them fool you."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed the NFL won't replace Bad Bunny, despite all the backlash ... and Jay-Z is sticking to his guns too.

- TMZ Sports 

MARC MARQUEZ RIGHT ARM/HAND SURGERIES SINCE 2019

 

PRESIDENT KURT EDWIN SIMEON-OKRAKU APPOINTED CHAIRPERSON OF FIFA ANTI-RACISM AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE

The 2nd CAF President and President of the Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the FIFA Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Committee. His appointment, which spans a four-year term from 2025 to 2029, marks another milestone in his distinguished leadership journey and Ghana’s growing influence in global football governance.

Under this new role, President Simeon-Okraku will lead FIFA’s strategic efforts and reforms aimed at combating racism and all forms of discrimination in football worldwide. His leadership will be instrumental in promoting equality, inclusivity and respect across all levels of the game, from grassroots to the professional stage.

He will be supported by Mark Wade of Bermuda, who has been appointed as Deputy Chairperson, alongside 19 other members from across FIFA’s Member Associations.

Mr. Simeon-Okraku’s appointment underscores FIFA’s confidence in his vision, experience and long-standing commitment to using football as a tool for unity and social transformation.

President Simeon-Okraku previously served as President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B) for two consecutive terms before his elevation to the position of 2nd Vice President of CAF, making him the third-highest-ranking official within the Confederation’s governance structure.

Since being elected as GFA President in 2019, and subsequently re-elected in 2023, he has spearheaded a bold transformation agenda that continues to drive growth, transparency, and development within Ghanaian football.

Before ascending to the highest office of Ghanaian football, Mr. Simeon-Okraku served on the Executive Committee of the GFA, contributing to key policy decisions and governance reforms. He also boasts extensive experience in football management, having previously worked as Communications and Marketing Manager of Accra Hearts of Oak, one of Ghana’s most successful clubs.

An alumnus of the University of Liverpool, Mr. Simeon-Okraku holds an MBA in Football Administration, a qualification that has equipped him with the technical and strategic expertise to navigate the evolving landscape of modern football governance.

Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku also holds qualifications and certificates in Journalism, Business Administration, Tourism amongst others.

- Ghana FA