FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO ACCUSED OF 'DECEPTION' AS UEFA, CONCACAF, AND AFC LAUNCH SENSATIONAL JOINT ATTACK

 

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing the most significant threat to his leadership yet after three of the world’s most powerful football confederations launched a scathing joint attack. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global game, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC have officially accused the governing body of "deception" following the fallout of a plan to sell off commercial rights to the World Cup.

Infantino accused of abandoning duty

The civil war at the heart of world football has reached a boiling point as UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC issued a searing open letter directed at Infantino. The document, signed by the presidents and general secretaries of the three continental bodies, pulls no punches in its assessment of the current FIFA administration.

In a direct shot at Infantino’s personal conduct, the three confederations suggest that Infantino has prioritised personal power over the collective interests of the member associations, stating: "When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned."

It continued: "Leadership in football is not a possession. It is not about holding - or demanding - power to be held. It is a duty of service to the football family that entrusts it."

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The FFE controversy

The root of the anger lies in what letter described as a "profound failure of judgement" regarding the FFE project. They specifically criticised Infantino's conduct during a meeting in Rabat, Morocco, where he allegedly shut out FIFA Council members and member associations, choosing instead to summon only senior staff employed directly by FIFA.

The letter also makes it clear that FIFA’s recent admissions of procedural mistakes regarding the FFE process do not go nearly far enough to repair the damage done. The letter added: "It did not acknowledge that the proposal itself was inherently wrong. There remains no recognition that attempting to sell an interest in the FIFA World Cup was a profound failure of judgement.

"Not just a procedural misstep, but a fundamental breach of trust with the very institutions FIFA exists to serve."

Despite FIFA committing to a report for the next Council meeting in October, the three confederations are demanding a much more rigorous and transparent investigation. They argue that the current internal review lacks the necessary independence to be credible. Their letter adds: "There is silence where there should be accountability, distance where there should be openness." The tension has reached a point where legal warnings have been issue, with UEFA explicitly warned FIFA that it must not delete or destroy any documents related to the abandoned plans for the private investment deal.

The threat of breakaway competitions

Perhaps the most significant development is the looming threat of a total fracture in the global football landscape. According to Telegraph, preliminary discussions have already taken place between UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC regarding the creation of breakaway competitions should Infantino remain in his post. While the parties have not yet provided specific details on what these tournaments would look like or when they might begin, the mere mention of such a move serves as a nuclear option in their standoff with FIFA.

UEFA has been the most vocal in its opposition, previously threatening a boycott of all FIFA competitions. Despite FIFA's attempts to defend Infantino's record, the European governing body insists that these defences "change nothing" regarding their potential refusal to participate in future World Cups or other FIFA-sanctioned events.

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A divided house and upcoming tests

However, despite the strength of the joint letter, the opposition to Infantino is not entirely unanimous within the confederations themselves. While the leadership of CONCACAF and the AFC have signed the letter, several of their member nations have already publicly declared their support for the current FIFA president. In North America, Mexico has come out in support of Infantino, while in Asia, eight countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Kuwait, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Bhutan, have officially backed him.

The first true test of this brewing rebellion is less than a month away. The FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup is scheduled to begin in Poland, featuring five European nations, including England. While UEFA has floated the idea of a boycott, the implementation remains a logistical and political minefield. France has already indicated that they still plan to compete in the tournament, as per BBC, highlighting the potential for cracks in the unified front.

- Muhammad Zaki

UEFA READY TO OUST FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO WITH NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION: REPORT

UEFA is reportedly prepared to trigger an emergency no-confidence vote against Infantino if he does not resign, with all 55 of the European governing body's member associations understood to be willing to support his removal.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly facing the prospect of a no-confidence motion from UEFA.© Getty

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly facing the prospect of a no-confidence motion from UEFA after world football's governing body was forced to abandon its controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup and other competitions. The latest development comes amid growing scrutiny of FIFA's leadership following the withdrawal of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, which had drawn strong opposition from UEFA, several continental confederations and senior figures within FIFA itself.

According to a report in The Telegraph, UEFA is prepared to trigger an emergency no-confidence vote against Infantino if he does not resign, with all 55 of the European governing body's member associations understood to be willing to support his removal. Under FIFA's statutes, UEFA can reportedly initiate such a motion with the backing of 43 member associations.

UEFA on Saturday welcomed FIFA's decision to scrap the proposal but launched a scathing attack on the organisation's leadership and governance.

In a strongly-worded statement, UEFA said FIFA's plan to sell a stake in its competitions, including the World Cup, into private hands had been unanimously rejected by its member associations and opposed by football stakeholders across the globe.

Describing the withdrawal as ‘a victory for the whole game', UEFA also declared that "football is not for sale" and thanked fans, clubs, leagues, players, national associations, confederations and political leaders who opposed the proposal.

The European body further claimed that the current FIFA leadership had "not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family", while accusing Infantino of failing to uphold his promises of transparency made when he was elected FIFA president in 2016.

The controversy centres around FIFA's proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial entity that would have managed the commercial rights of major FIFA competitions while allowing outside investors to acquire an equity stake. FIFA argued the initiative could significantly increase development funding for its member associations.

Infantino formally withdrew the proposal on Saturday, saying consultations had made it clear that the project had created divisions that were no longer in the best interests of football.

"Our purpose has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve," Infantino said while confirming that the proposal would not proceed.

The proposal had also prompted opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), CONCACAF and several FIFA stakeholders. Former FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, while reports also suggested concerns had been raised internally over the project's transparency.

- IANS

PRIME MINISTER ANDY BURNHAM CALLS FOR 'WROND MAN' GIANNI INFANTINO TO BE REPLACED AS FIFA CHIEF

AFP

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has branded Gianni Infantino the wrong man to lead FIFA following widespread backlash over plans for private equity to sell stakes in the World Cup. Burnham condemned the controversial commercial proposals after a senior adviser resigned and key regional confederations united to oppose the governing body’s blueprint.

Burnham condemns Infantino leadership

Burnham has launched a stinging attack on Infantino’s leadership of FIFA following a wave of backlash against plans to commercialise the organisation. The resistance has intensified following the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and formal opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA, and CONCACAF. Burnham argued that Infantino’s attempt to sell off a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors represents a fundamentally flawed decision for the future of world football.

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Prime Minister demands change

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burnham openly condemned the proposed private equity scheme. He said: "This was an outrageous suggestion," before questioning Infantino's suitability to remain in charge of FIFA: "The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation."

Private equity blueprint rejected

Burnham's scathing critique reflects a broader global resistance, including a firm stance taken by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

In an official statement, the AFC rejected plans to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) commercial subsidiary and stressed the necessity of preserving the integrity of football's premier tournament: "The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations.

"Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered."

-Adhe Makayasa

AFC 'STANDS IN SOLIDARITY' WITH UEFA AND CONCACAF OVER FIFA WORLD CUP PLANS

Asian governing body joins growing opposition to Infantino's controversial private investment scheme

The Asian Football Federation (AFC) has become the latest governing body to come out in opposition against Fifa's controversial private investment scheme.

Fifa insist it will be pushing ahead with a consultation process about whether to sell off stakes in the World Cup and its other tournaments to private investors, despite widespread criticism of the proposal

The pushback since football's world governing body revealed its plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in a subsidiary company set up to run Fifa's competitions has been relentless.

And now the AFC has joined the growing chorus of disapproval which had already reached fever pitch on Thursday when Uefa, European football's governing body, announced that they will boycott the World Cup – and all Fifa's competitions – if the plan of president Gianni Infantino was not scrapped.

“The AFC stands in solidarity with Uefa and Concacaf in expressing  concerns over Fifa’s proposal to introduce private investment into [its] flagship competitions and the decision-making process around Fifa Forward Enterprise [FFE],” it said in a statement.

AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF following recent developments surrounding the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).https://t.co/k7MjAvWOhX

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) July 31, 2026

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a Fifa World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game. Football should never have been placed in such a position.

“Against this backdrop, and in light of the clear positions expressed by Uefa and Concacaf, as well as the unprecedented divisions that have emerged across the football world, the AFC believes that the proposed FFE cannot realistically achieve the necessary broad consensus and unity required to move forward.

“The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations. Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”

The Confederation of African Football has said it will be hosting meeting of its executive committee next week to “assess and evaluate” the proposals, while South American governing body Conmebol has yet to comment publicly.

Uefa have been the provided the most vocal opposition, saying on Wednesday Fifa were using football “to enrich themselves and their friends” and 24 hours later they made the strength of their protest even more clear.

“Uefa and its national associations will not participate in Fifa competitions,” it said in a lengthy statement that would accuse Fifa of “governance by intimidation”.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” Uefa said in a statement on Thursday. The Fifa World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

Uefa said there was no “meaningful consultation” before Fifa announced its plan. “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa's duty as the custodian of world football,” it added.

FIFA logo. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Despite all the anger, Fifa are digging their heels in, saying earlier on Friday that they will be continuing with an “open and democratic consultation” process with all its 211 Member Associations (MA).

“We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced since the initial media reporting on Tuesday,” it said in a defiant statement.

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation.

“⁠Our planned consultation process was disrupted by incorrect media reports. We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each MA has the ability to express its vote based on facts.”

Devastating blow for Infantino after Asian football confederation issues damning statement. pic.twitter.com/4aG03Lu3ng

— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) July 31, 2026

The statement also goes on to say that: “Nobody is selling football. This is not something Fifa would ever entertain.

“Everyone has the right to express their opposition and to seek further clarification but no single entity can claim to represent all 211 MAs around the world. Each MA should be allowed to review the proposal and have a say in shaping their own future. These are the democratic principles of Fifa.”

Fifa also insist that each MA will receive $20 million of Fifa Forward Development funding over the next four years “irrespective of its individual support”.

“Without the support of the majority of MAs, Fifa's commercial activities would remain unchanged,” it added. “FFE would not be established.

“These components represent the starting point of the consultation process and are open for discussion as part of that process. This can include approval, rejection or amendment in their entirety or individually.”

On Wednesday, Infantino had described the plan to create a $20 billion subsidiary as a proposal but “not an obligation”.

“It’s part of a democratic process – a consultation process – and, above all, it is an opportunity but not an obligation, and, as I said, it kicks off the consultation process,” Infantino said in a video released by Fifa.

- The National

FIFA REJECTS FAM'S APPEAL OVER NATURALISED PLAYETS, BUT SHOULD MALAYSIA CONTINUE FIGHT WITH ARBITRATION?

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will be appealing Fifa's decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Summary

• FAM will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after FIFA upheld fines for using allegedly fake documents for naturalised players.

• FAM faces a 350,000 Swiss franc fine, while seven players face individual fines and suspensions.

• Opposition leaders demand accountability from ministers, while concerns rise over the use of public funds for legal fees amid fan criticism.

KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will be taking its case to an arbiter after losing on Nov 3 its appeal over penalties imposed following the scandal embroiling naturalised players in the national team, saying it was “very surprised by (Fifa’s) decision”.

Global governing body Fifa has upheld a 350,000 Swiss franc (S$564,900) fine against FAM, while the seven players in question were fined 2,000 Swiss franc each and suspended from all football-related activities for 12 months.

FAM’s decision to appeal the decision was, however, derided by some fans of the national team, who criticised the move as a waste of resources when allocations are already tight.

“After analysing the submissions and conducting a hearing, the Appeal Committee decided to dismiss the appeals, and to confirm in its entirety the following sanctions imposed upon FAM and the seven players,” the Fifa Appeal Committee said in a statement.

“FAM and the players have been notified of the terms of the decision,” it added.

It said FAM and players have 10 days to request a detailed ruling from Fifa, and 21 days to file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – a step FAM said it intends to take.

“FAM will write to Fifa to obtain full details and written reasons for the decision before taking the next step of appealing to the CAS,” its acting president Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said in a statement on Nov 3.

“This is the first time FAM has faced such a situation. Our lawyers and management are very surprised by the decision.”

On Sept 26, seven naturalised players from Harimau Malaya – as the national team is nicknamed – were suspended by Fifa over the use of allegedly fake documents that showed their ties to Malaysia.

The seven are: Spain-born Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces and Jon Irazabal Iraurgui; Netherlands-born Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano; Argentina-born Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca; and Brazil-born Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo.

On Oct 7, Fifa released its grounds for the decision, showing that the grandparents of the players had been born in Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands, and not in Malaysia.

A player must at least have a grandparent born in the country, if they wish to play for the national team.

Fifa’s decision on the appeal came less than a week after Argentine news publication Capital de Noticias published on Oct 31 a copy of the birth certificate of Garces’ grandfather, Carlos Rogelio Fernandez.

According to its report, both Fernandez and his father were Argentine citizens born in Santa Fe in the country, despite FAM previously telling Fifa that Fernandez was born in Penang.

Mr Garces had on Sept 26 brushed off concerns over his ancestry, attributing the affair to a clerical error.

“I’m a Malaysian from my grandparents’ roots and I’m honoured to play for my country,” Garces wrote in an Instagram post that has since been deleted.

Amid mounting scrutiny, FAM appointed former chief justice Md Raus Sharif to lead an independent investigation into the case and recommend further action.

Tun Raus, who helmed Malaysia’s judiciary from 2017 to 2018, said on Nov 3 that the investigation and report would be completed within six weeks.

“The committee will carry out their duties independently and with full commitment to ensure transparency and fairness in their findings,” Mr Raus told The Star after the committee’s first meeting.

But Opposition leaders have been unsparing in their criticism, calling instead for Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution and Sports and Youth Minister Hannah Yeoh to either be suspended or step down.

“This is an epic scandal that not only disappointed supporters but also embarrassed the country,” Opposition MP Syahir Sulaiman posted on X on Nov 4.

While FAM can take the next step with CAS, not everybody is convinced it should go through with the move.

“FAM has a whole lot of explaining to do. So who is the agent(s) who recommended the footballers? Will the footballers now initiate legal action against FAM?,” asked veteran sports journalist Haresh Deol in a Nov 4 LinkedIn post.

“And more importantly, will FAM use the RM15 million (plus RM15 million from the private sector) allocated in Budget 2025 to pay the fines and legal fees to take this matter up to CAS?”

On FAM’s Facebook page, some commenters were supportive of the federation taking it up with the CAS. Top commenter Mohd Azhar Nordin said FAM should go ahead if it feels this is its “last lifeline” to correct its course.

Meanwhile, comments on Harimau Malaya, a Facebook fan page of the national football team that carries the same name, were more critical. User Afendy Pay said that going to the CAS would also open the room for Vietnam and Nepal to dispute Malaysia’s Asian Cup wins against the two countries.

“At CAS, there’s a high chance FAM will lose. At AFC (Asian Cup), there’s a high chance Vietnam and Nepal will win. So, let time determine FAM’s fate.”

- Hadi Azmi

FIFA BANS 3 COUNTRIES

Gianni Infantino - FIFA president
 

Three countries have been excluded from playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to various reasons.

The Russian Football Union (RFU) has been banned from both FIFA and UEFA competitions since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Last year, FIFA and UEFA decided to uphold Russia's ban from worldwide competitions through to the 2026 World Cup.

That means neither the men's nor women's teams can play in the World Cup or European Championships. Domestic club sides also cannot play in UEFA competitions.

In Europe, the draw for the qualification groups was made in December and Russia was the only UEFA member not to be included with the remaining 54 nations divided amongst a dozen groups.

Now, FIFA has suspended Congo and Pakistan with immediate effect due to 'serious circumstances' - essentially banning both nations from even the prospect of the 2026 World Cup.

FIFA has banned Congolese Football Association, known as FECOFOOT, for what is described as a 'particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties' in its affairs.

A FIFA statement read: "FECOFOOT has been suspended with immediate effect due to a particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties in the affairs of the organisation, which constitutes a clear violation of FECOFOOT’s obligations in accordance with the FIFA Statutes.

"The decision was taken in consultation with CAF after two FIFA/CAF missions were dispatched to Brazzaville."

FIFA say the suspension will only be lifted under several conditions including returning FECOFOOT's headquarters to the full control of the Congolese Football Association, halting any efforts to 'change the signatories' of FECOFOOT's bank accounts, giving decisions to an ad hoc committee and ensuring full cooperation to allow the association to operate without any third party influence.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has also been suspended after it did not adopt a revised constitution that would 'ensure truly fair and democratic elections'.

The FIFA statement read: "The suspension will only be lifted subject to the PFF Congress approving the version of the PFF Constitution presented by FIFA and the AFC."

Congo currently sit bottom of Group E in the CAF qualification section, while Pakistan finished bottom of Group G in the second round of the qualification process in the AFC confederation.

The next edition of the global tournament which is held every four years will take place across three countries in the summer of 2026.

The USA will be the biggest host of the trio with a total of 11 stadiums due to stage games, with three cities in Mexico and two in Canada completing the tournament's composition.

Argentina are the defending champions having won their third World Cup at the competition held in the winter of 2022 in Qatar, beating France on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra-time.

- Beatrice Laryea

 

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: RACE FOR THE FINAL AFC SPOT

 

RAVENS' COMEBACK FALLS A TOE SHORT VS. CHIEFS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs managed to continue their stretch of dominance over a key AFC rival, winning 27-20 in a season-opening heartbreaker for the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

The game came down to tight end Isaiah Likely's toe being out of bounds on a would-be touchdown in the final seconds.

Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a two-touchdown performance from rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs picked up where they left off in the Super Bowl and look to be legit contenders for the elusive three-peat.

Meanwhile, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fell to 1-5 in his career against Mahomes.

Here are the keys to the game:

Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy had his season debut against the Baltimore Ravens. Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs drafted Worthy to help bring the big play back to their offense. He won't always do it as well going forward as he did in his NFL debut, but judging from Thursday night, he's going to have a big impact.

Worthy looked like he fits in nicely with a wide receiver group that includes Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown. Brown didn't play against the Ravens because of a shoulder injury but should return early in the season.

Worthy scored a touchdown on a 21-yard run the first time he got the ball in an NFL game. In the fourth quarter, he caught a 35-yard touchdown pass. Though he won't always score twice in a game, look for Worthy to have this kind of impact. He won't necessarily get a high volume of touches, but he will make the most of those he gets.

QB breakdown: Mahomes made a critical mistake by forcing a throw late in the first half that was intercepted. That cost the Chiefs a chance at some points and set up the Ravens with good field position, which they used to kick a field goal. Otherwise, it was a solid game from Mahomes. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards while topping Len Dawson as the Chiefs' all-time leading passer.

Eye-popping advanced stat: WR Rice, who caught seven passes for 103 yards, had 72 of those yards after the catch, the second most in a game in his career. Mahomes was often able to find him when he was moving up the field with a defender trailing or otherwise in a seam in coverage. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' season began the way their last season ended -- with a frustrating defeat to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

In a rematch of the AFC Championship Game, Thursday night's loss dropped Jackson and the Ravens to 1-5 against Mahomes. Jackson is 60-19 (.759) against the rest of the league, including the postseason.

On the final drive, Jackson drove the Ravens down to the Kansas City 10-yard line, where he had three shots to the end zone. Jackson missed a wide-open Zay Flowers in the end zone and then appeared to throw a 10-yard touchdown to Likely as time expired. But Likely's right foot hit the end line, which led to the score being overturned.

The reigning Most Valuable Player, Jackson did all he could to keep Baltimore in it with his ninth game of 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing, the most in NFL history. Even with his performance, the Ravens couldn't keep up with the big plays from Mahomes, who now has 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions in his career against Baltimore.

QB breakdown: The most frustrating part of Jackson's game was his play inside the 20-yard line. In the first half, Jackson finished 1-of-4 for 9 yards in the red zone with two off-target throws, including a batted-down pass to a wide open Justice Hill. This was much different from last season, when Jackson completed 68% of his red zone passes. Also, Jackson fumbled at his own 13-yard line in the second quarter, resulting in a Chiefs field goal. Jackson has lost four fumbles in six games against Kansas City.

Troubling trend: The Chiefs continue to take away tight end Mark Andrews, who has been Jackson's favorite target. Andrews wasn't targeted until five minutes into the second half and finished the game with two catches for 14 yards. In his previous five meetings with Kansas City, Andrews had averaged 21.8 yards receiving and scored no touchdowns.

Eye-popping stat: With 122 rushing yards, a slimmed-down Jackson moved past Russell Wilson for third place on the all-time rushing list for quarterbacks. Jackson trails only Michael Vick (6,109 yards rushing) and Cam Newton (5,628). But Vick and Newton played in over 140 games. Thursday night was Jackson's 87th career game.

Biggest question: What are the ramifications of the Ravens' loss? While you can't overreact to a Week 1 defeat, this opener showed once again that Mahomes has the Ravens' number. Baltimore knew it couldn't even the score from last season's AFC Championship Game loss, but the Ravens left Thursday with even more uncertainty about whether they can upend Mahomes. After losing this potential head-to-head tiebreaker, the Ravens' road to the Super Bowl might have to go through Arrowhead, where Jackson is 0-3. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)

- Adam Teicher and Jamison Hensley

MALAYSIAN FOOTBALL'S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

After two and a half years in charge, Kim Pan-Gon's time in charge of Malaysia came to an abrupt end on Tuesday when he resigned due to "personal reasons". Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

 With nary a hint of suspicion, the Malaysia national football team was rocked on Tuesday when it was announced that Kim Pan-Gon would be stepping down as coach.

In a hastily-arranged news conference, Kim cited personal reasons as the motivating factor behind calling time on his two-and-a-half year spell in charge of Harimau Malaya.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) gave reassurances that they had made concerted efforts to convince Kim to stay on for the remainder of his contract -- which was to run till the end of 2025 -- but to no avail.

"We are certainly sad and disappointed because he (Kim) has contributed massively in taking Harimau Malaya to the (AFC) Asian Cup and (helped improve our) world ranking during his tenure as head coach," said FAM deputy president Yusoff Mahadi.

"It's a huge loss based on what he has done for us."

On his part, Kim expressed gratitude for the affection he had been shown, stating: "Since I arrived in February 2022, Malaysians have truly gifted me an extraordinary and wonderful journey in my life for the past two and a half years.

"In June 2022, we shared the joy of Malaysia qualifying for the Asian Cup on merit after a period of 43 years and, since then, we have risen to 130th in the FIFA (world) rankings. In our last (game) of the Asian Cup last January in Qatar, we managed to draw 3-3 with South Korea -- the 22nd-ranked team in the world -- showing that Malaysians should have pride in their football.

"Unfortunately, we did not qualify for the final stage of (Asian) qualifiers for the 2026 (FIFA) World Cup. But, with three wins, one draw, two losses and ten points, we have provided a foundation and momentum to sow hope for a bright future for Malaysian football."

When all is said and done, Kim can certainly look back on his achievements in Malaysia with a sense of satisfaction, especially considering he was far from a high-profile appointment when he was handed the reins.

Having had a decent playing career, where he debuted with Ulsan HD and then briefly featured for fellow K League 1 powerhouses Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors but was never capped by South Korea at any level, Kim's managerial experience prior to Harimau Malaya was almost entirely in Hong Kong, who -- like Malaysia -- are not exactly one of Asian football's bigger nations.

He did well enough to earn backroom roles with the Korea Football Association before the FAM came calling and, as he rightfully listed in his farewell message, did indeed accomplish plenty.

- Gabriel Tan 

STEELERS SIGN COACH MIKE TOMLIN TO 3-YEAR DEAL THAT WILL CARRY THROUGH AT LEAST THE 2027 SEASON

AP Photo 

 PITTSBURGH (AP) — The NFL's longest-tenured head coach isn't leaving Pittsburgh anytime soon.

The Steelers signed Mike Tomlin to a three-year extension on Monday that will carry through at least the 2027 season. Tomlin was about to enter the final year of the deal he agreed to in April 2021.

The 52-year-old Tomlin is 173-100-2 since taking over for Hall of Famer Bill Cowher in 2007. Tomlin has yet to endure a losing season and despite speculation late last season that he was considering taking some time off, he remains intent on trying to help the Steelers stay in the mix in a highly competitive AFC.

“I am appreciative for this contract extension and thankful for Art Rooney II for his support during my first 17 years in Pittsburgh,” Tomlin said in a statement. “We are continuing to work diligently to get back to where we belong — sustained playoff success with the ultimate goal of winning the franchise’s seventh Lombardi Trophy.”

Pittsburgh is coming off an eventful 10-7 season that ended with a first-round playoff loss to Buffalo. Tomlin was asked in the immediate aftermath about his future status and rather than answer he abruptly stormed off the podium.

A few days later the relentlessly energetic Tomlin hardly sounded like someone on the verge of burnout, stressing he was “on go” as he looked to 2024 and beyond.

“I coach football, that’s what I do,” Tomlin said in January. “I’m respectful of the position that I hold. I have no sense of entitlement in terms of what I do. I just got a high level of respect for what we all do in this space, and I try to earn it daily.”

While Pittsburgh has been consistently competitive under Tomlin, the franchise also hasn't won a postseason game since the divisional round of the 2016 playoffs, an eight-year drought that marks the club's longest since the “Immaculate Reception” in 1972.

Tomlin's decision to stick around extends an unmatched level of continuity atop an organization that's had just three head coaches since 1969. Yet the Steelers have also made a series of moves of late that suggest the team is no longer content on merely being in the mix in mid-January.

In the past year alone Tomlin fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada in midseason, the team's first in-season dismissal of a high-level coach since World War II.

Pittsburgh spent the offseason completely overhauling its quarterback room, signing Russell Wilson in free agency, trading away Kenny Pickett and acquiring Justin Fields from Chicago.

Tomlin has used the word “excited” in recent months to talk about Pittsburgh's immediate future. The new contract indicates owner Art Rooney II's commitment to letting Tomlin try and find a difference-maker at quarterback, something that's been an issue since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement following the 2021 season.

“Mike Tomlin’s leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach,” Rooney said in a statement. “Extending his contract for three more years reflects our confidence in his ability to guide the team back to winning playoff games and championships, while continuing our tradition of success.”

The Steelers have mandatory minicamp this week then take a break before reporting for training camp at Saint Vincent College on July 24.

- WILL GRAVES

NFL ROUNDUP: RAVENS THRASH DOLPHINS, GRAB NO. 1 SEED IN AFC

Lamar Jackson. USA TODAY Sports 

Lamar Jackson passed for 321 yards and matched his career high of five touchdown passes and the Baltimore Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 56-19 dismantling of the visiting Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Isaiah Likely had two touchdown receptions and Zay Flowers (106 receiving yards), Justice Hill, Patrick Ricard and Charlie Kolar each had one for the Ravens (13-3). Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon III each rushed for a score for Baltimore, which has won six straight games and 10 of its past 11.

Roquan Smith and Geno Stone had interceptions for the Ravens, who have won eight games by 14 or more points this season. Miami star linebacker Bradley Chubb was carted off with a potentially serious knee injury with 3:05 remaining.

Tua Tagovailoa completed 22 of 38 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Miami (11-5) but sustained an injury to his left (throwing) shoulder. He was injured while sliding during a scramble with 7:55 left and missed the rest of the contest. De'Von Achane rushed 107 yards and caught a touchdown pass for the Dolphins.

49ers 27, Commanders 10

Brock Purdy threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns as San Francisco clinched the top seed in the NFC by beating Washington in Landover, Md.

Elijah Mitchell carried 17 times for 80 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers (12-4) locked down the top record in the conference after losses by Detroit on Saturday and Philadelphia on Sunday. Mitchell took over for Christian McCaffrey, who was sidelined with an ankle injury early in the third quarter after rushing 14 times for 64 yards.

Brock Purdy. USA TODAY Sports 

Sam Howell completed 17 of 28 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Washington (4-12), which dropped its seventh straight, its longest single-season losing streak since 1998.

Chiefs 25, Bengals 17

Harrison Butker booted six field goals while Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice each gained over 100 yards from scrimmage as Kansas City clinched the AFC West with a victory over visiting Cincinnati.

Harrison Butker. USA TODAY Sports 

Patrick Mahomes finished 21-of-29 passing for 245 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (10-6), who clinched their eighth straight division title. Pacheco totaled 130 yards on 18 carries and had seven receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown, and Rice finished with five catches for 127 yards.

Justin Watson. USA TODAY Sports 

Jake Browning completed 19 of 33 passes for 197 yards. He threw for a TD and rushed for another for the Bengals (8-8), who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Cincinnati led 17-7 in the second quarter before Kansas City scored the final 18 points.

Bills 27, Patriots 21

Quarterback Josh Allen rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and Buffalo held off a late rally by New England to earn a victory in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The Bills (10-6) will go into the final week of the regular season holding the AFC's second wild-card berth but not yet assured of a postseason spot. Allen put Buffalo up 27-14 with 10:42 remaining in the third quarter when he snuck into the end zone with the help of a push from running back Latavius Murray.

Josh Allen. USA TODAY Sports 

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a 6-yard score early in the fourth to pull New England (4-12) within six, and the Patriots ended up getting the ball back with 6:41 left in the game. However, New England failed to get past its 11-yard line, and the Bills then ran out the clock.

Bears 37, Falcons 17

Justin Fields passed for 268 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 45 yards and a score to lift host Chicago over Atlanta.

The Bears (7-9) relied on a balanced attack that outgained Atlanta 432-307 to win for the fourth time in the past five games. Khalil Herbert led the ground game, rushing 18 times for 124 yards and a touchdown.

The Falcons (7-9) lost for the third time in four games as their dim NFC playoff hopes took a hit. Taylor Heinicke finished 10-for-29 passing for 163 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions before Desmond Ridder entered in relief late in the fourth quarter.

Texans 26, Titans 3

C.J. Stroud passed for 213 yards and a touchdown in his return from a two-game concussion absence and host Houston kept its postseason hopes alive by thumping Tennessee.

Stroud completed 24 of 32 pass attempts and tossed a 12-yard touchdown to Brevin Jordan in the second quarter to extend the Houston lead to 10-0. Eight seconds later, the Texans (9-7) produced their first defensive touchdown of the season when Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble by Titans quarterback Will Levis 13 yards for a score.

Levis suffered a right foot injury while being sacked by Jerry Hughes on the play. Levis labored walking to the sideline and was carted to the locker room. Ryan Tannehill replaced Levis and passed for 168 yards. The Texans recorded five sacks of Tannehill while limiting the Titans (5-11) to 187 yards of total offense.

Colts 23, Raiders 20

Gardner Minshew threw for 224 yards and a touchdown while Jonathan Taylor ran for 96 yards and another score as host Indianapolis kept its hopes for an AFC South title alive by beating Las Vegas.

Matt Gay added second-half field goals of 38, 33 and 45 yards as the Colts (9-7) remained in a three-way tie with Jacksonville and Houston in the division. They will have to beat the visiting Texans next week in their regular-season finale and hope the Jaguars lose at Tennessee to claim a division crown.

Aidan O'Connell hit on 30 of 47 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas (7-9), which was eliminated from playoff consideration. Davante Adams caught 13 passes for 126 yards and two scores.

Jaguars 26, Panthers 0

Brandon McManus kicked four field goals and Jacksonville's defense dominated as the hosts shut out Carolina.

The Jaguars (9-7) snapped a four-game losing streak and moved closer to repeating as AFC South champions. Sunday's win came with backup quarterback C.J. Beathard at the controls for the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence, who sustained a shoulder injury a week earlier, missed a game for the first time since he arrived in the NFL in 2021, ending a string of 49 straight games played.

Bryce Young had 112 yards and an interception on 19-of-32 passing for the Panthers (2-14).

Rams 26, Giants 25

Matthew Stafford passed for 317 yards and a touchdown and Kyren Williams rushed for three scores to help Los Angeles defeat New York in East Rutherford, N.J.

Stafford completed 24 of 34 passes with two interceptions, Williams rushed for 87 yards on 20 carries and Puka Nacua caught five passes for 118 yards for the Rams (9-7), who have won six of their past seven.

Tyrod Taylor passed for 319 yards and a touchdown and Darius Slayton caught four passes for 106 yards and a long touchdown for the Giants (5-11), who have lost three in a row. New York failed to convert a two-point conversion try to take the lead with 3:27 left, and Mason Crosby missed a 54-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining.

Cardinals 35, Eagles 31

James Conner rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 32 seconds to play and Arizona stunned host Philadelphia to leave the NFC playoff picture in disarray.

Needing a stop to halt their December slide, the Eagles saw their defense fall flat, allowing touchdowns on all four second-half possessions to permit 29 points as Philadelphia (11-5) dropped out of first place in the NFC East.

Kyler Murray was rarely pressured after a first-half interception and completed 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and three TDs for Arizona (4-12). Conner had 26 carries for 128 yards. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles had only 275 total yards to Arizona's 449.

Saints 23, Buccaneers 13

Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, New Orleans forced four turnovers and the visiting Saints stayed in contention for a postseason berth with a win over Tampa Bay.

Baker Mayfield was 22-of-33 passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns but had two interceptions. Tampa Bay (8-8), which had won four in a row, missed an opportunity to clinch its third consecutive NFC South title, but can still do so with a victory at Carolina next weekend.

The Saints (8-8), who avenged a 26-9 home loss to the Buccaneers in Week 4, can win the South with a win over Atlanta and a Bucs loss to the Panthers in Week 18.

Steelers 30, Seahawks 23

Najee Harris rushed 27 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns as Pittsburgh continued its playoff push with a victory against host Seattle.

Mason Rudolph, starting for the injured Kenny Pickett, completed 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards for the Steelers (9-7). Geno Smith was 23-of-33 passing for 290 yards and one touchdown for the Seahawks (8-8), who had a two-game winning streak snapped and saw their postseason chances diminish.

The Seahawks reached the red zone before stalling, settling for Jason Myers' 24-yard field goal with 2:01 remaining to make it a one-possession game. The Steelers recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Broncos 16, Chargers 9

Jarrett Stidham threw for 224 yards and a touchdown in his first start in nearly a year, but Denver was eliminated from the playoff hunt despite beating visiting Los Angeles.

Stidham took over starting duties from Russell Wilson this week after the Broncos (8-8) lost three of their previous four games, and he completed 20 of 32 passes without a turnover. Denver was eliminated when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.

Easton Stick completed 24 of 38 passes for 220 yards in his third straight start for the Chargers (5-11) since Justin Herbert went down with a broken right index finger against the Broncos on Dec. 10. Alex Erickson caught seven passes for 98 yards for Los Angeles, which has lost four in a row and seven of eight.

Packers 33, Vikings 10

Jordan Love passed for three touchdowns and rushed for one more and Green Bay cruised to a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Love completed 24 of 33 passes for 256 yards for Green Bay (8-8), which boosted its playoff hopes while reducing the Vikings' chances to near zero. The Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Jayden Reed had six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay.

Nick Mullens completed 13 of 22 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (7-9), which lost its third game in a row. Mullens entered the game in the second half as a replacement for starter Jaren Hall, who completed 5 of 10 passes for 67 yards and an interception.

--Field Level Media

TUG-OF-WAR ADDED TO PRO BOWL GAMES SKILLS EVENT

USA TODAY Sports 

The tug-of-war will make its debut in the 2024 Pro Bowl Games skills competitions, the NFL announced.

The Pro Bowl Skills Show will take place in the Nicholson Fieldhouse at UCF in Orlando, Fla.

Teams of five players representing both the AFC and NFC will compete in a best-of-three format. This league's intent is likely to capture the attention of the offensive linemen, who may not be as willing to participate in the flag-football competition.

The tug-of-war will join "Madden NFL" head-to-head, gridiron gauntlet and move the chains events (offensive, defensive linemen strength and speed competition) is slated for Feb. 4.

Precision passing, best catch, closest to the pin, high stakes, dodgeball and a kick-tac-toe kicking competition are scheduled for Feb. 1.

--Field Level Media

NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MIC'D UP

FULL PRO BOWL GAMES: AFC VS NFC

NFC VS. AFC PRO BOWL HIGHLIGHTS

PRECISION PASSING: PRO BOWL SKILLS SHOWDOWN

EPIC PRO BOWL DODGEBALL: PRO BOWL SKILL

NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: NFC & AFC

FIFA: FIFA CONFEDERATIONS

 

KANSAS CITY WINS THE AFC WEST TITLE | NFL PLAYOFFS