The executive committee reversed its support for the Swiss soccer administrator in a meeting on September 25 after endorsing his candidacy in June.

“The decision follows a comprehensive reassessment of developments over the past few months,” the SFV said in a statement.

Gianni Infantino backs proposal for federation payments from FIFA

“From the SFV’s perspective, various incidents raise fundamental questions regarding leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making processes within FIFA,” it added.

The surgery will take place on Thursday. Spanish media reported that his recovery time will be between two and four months if the operation goes as planned.

Asencio, 23, has been battling injury since the start of the season, and was not included in Real’s match-day squads for their first five games.

He made 34 appearances for Real last season, but lost his starting place in the last three months of the campaign.

Brazil coach Ancelotti says Vinicius deserves ‘patience’

New signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been coach Jose Mourinho’s regular central defenders this season, and he can also call on German Antonio Rudiger. Eder Militao continues to recover from the hamstring surgery that has kept him sidelined since April.

In a repeat of the 2023 Nations League final, which Spain won ‌on penalties, Croatia recovered from conceding an early goal to equalise but were unable to resist a Spanish side fresh from a 3-2 win over England at Wembley on Saturday.

Spain’s first home game since lifting the World Cup in July was preceded by Rodri parading the trophy on the pitch and the celebrations continued in Seville when Lamine, just as he did against England, opened the scoring ​in the second minute.

Alex Baena’s ball into the area was dummied by Fermin Lopez and Lamine curled a first-time low shot inside the far post.

Baena ​then had an effort parried away by Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic as Spain looked set to put the game out of reach ⁠early on but the visitors drew level through Dion Beljo’s 28th-minute header.

Spain took less than three minutes to retake the lead. Lamine whipped a cross into the six-yard ​box from the right wing and Marc Pubill powered a header beyond Livakovic.

Lamine scored his second and Spain’s third in the 63rd minute, collecting Pedri’s pass in the box ​before drilling his shot into the net from a tight angle, and substitute Nico Williams wrapped up the win with an 89th-minute goal.

“He’s a special player,” Williams told Teledeporte about Lamine.

Gordon and kane down czechs

England struggled to find a way past the Czechs in the opening half, even with a numerical advantage, but an early second-half goal from Anthony Gordon sent Thomas Tuchel’s side on their ​way.

Morgan Rogers hit the post and Elliot Anderson’s goalbound follow-up shot was blocked by defender Robin Hranac before England’s chances were boosted by a red card for the ​hosts, with Pavel Sulc given his marching orders for a foul on Anderson in the 23rd minute.

“Strange to get an early red card, not the best for the team and spectators,” England ‌manager Thomas ⁠Tuchel told ITV.

“It’s an awkward one but we kept going, got a win and that’s what counts.”

The Czechs had shown plenty of early promise before the sending off, but then sat back and England failed to create much real danger until taking the lead two minutes after the break.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his first England start in almost two years and just his second appearance under Tuchel, floated the ball into the box and Gordon stooped to guide a header into the bottom corner.

“I make that run time and ​time again and only a certain number ​of players have that ability, technique and ⁠bravery to be willing to make the mistake trying that pass,” Gordon said.

Gordon nearly turned provider minutes later with a cutback for Lewis Hall, but the England defender dragged his shot wide.

Hall then played a cross into the box which Czech captain Ladislav ​Krejci almost turned into his own net, with the ball hitting the upright, but England found the second goal in ​the 69th minute.

Harry Kane ⁠was in the right place at the right time to pounce on a loose ball in the area to sweep his strike into the far corner.

England had chances to increase their lead late on, with Eberechi Eze denied by the keeper, while Alex Scott almost marked his debut in style after coming off the bench, but his effort, after a one-two with ⁠Eze, went ​wide.

In Group B1, Scotland suffered a 3-0 home loss to Switzerland after going down to 10 men ​in the 11th minute.

Jack Hendry was sent off for a foul on Dan Ndoye and from the resulting free kick, Ricardo Rodriguez whipped the ball into the far corner.

Ndoye provided the assists for both Nico Elvedi ​and Zeki Amdouni’s second-half goals as the Swiss made it two wins from two.

In the group’s other match, Slovenia beat North Macedonia 2-0.

Forward Vinicius has scored just one goal in eight appearances across all competitions this season for Spanish club Real Madrid, who sit fourth in the LaLiga standings with 15 points.

However, the 26-year-old showed flashes of his quality in Brazil’s 4-2 friendly victory over Australia in Brisbane on Tuesday, contributing to the third goal and converting a penalty for the fourth.

“I know Vini very well. To me, he is a key player for the national team - a key player for Brazil - and he was a key player in my own footballing journey,” said Ancelotti, who also coached Vinicius when he was in charge of Real Madrid. “He is a key player for the future.

Is he at his best right now? No, he isn’t, but it is the start of the season.

Brazil’s defence remains anyone’s guess after Wesley withdrawal

And Vini, always, even when he isn’t at his best, he can still make the difference, just as he did today.

“The goal that really opened up the game was thanks to him. So, I’m going to be very patient, because he deserves that patience.”

Brazil next travel to Kolkata for a friendly with India on Saturday.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed in Brussels but Olise kept up France coach Zinedine Zidane’s winning start to his new job with a surging run from midway inside the Belgian half before a superb finish to win the Group A1 fixture.

France were without captain Kylian Mbappe and ​Zidane made nine changes to the side that edged Turkey 1-0 last week but it was after bringing on the likes ​of Ousmane Dembele, Rayan Cherki and Olise that the French turned the game in their favour.

“We played a ⁠good game, we deserved to win, and we are all relieved by Michael’s goal,“ said France debutant Lucas da Cunha. “My performance? The coach ​gave me his full confidence and told me to express myself, to do what I do at club level. I felt good on the ​pitch.”

Desire Doue was a persistent danger as he took on the home defence and twice hit the woodwork but Belgium will rue the opportunities they spurned with Mika Godts outstanding for them.

“It is a pity, especially because the goal came so late. We created chances ourselves, looked dangerous, and gave very little away. A ​draw would have been a fairer result,” said Belgium centre back Brandon Mechele.

Italy lost last Friday’s opening fixture of their Nations League campaign 2-0 at ​home to Belgium in a false start for Roberto Mancini on his return to the coaching job, but in the rain in Bursa they looked a ‌very different ⁠outfit.

Alessandro Bastoni gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead from a corner and 13 minutes later Davide Frattesi pounced on a rebound after Michael Kayode’s shot from the left was parried by goalkeeper Altay Bayındır.

Italy were 3-0 up in the 27th minute as debutant Kayode hit home a low effort and the visitors finished the half with 10 attempts such was their dominance.

Frenetic game in the rain in Turkiye

The frenetic nature of the ​game continued after the break as ​Barıs Alper Yılmaz pulled one ⁠back for Turkiye, who made three substitutions at halftime, but Italy’s three-goal advantage was restored as Pio Esposito headed home a fourth in the 50th.

“The team played well, pressed high, kept possession and played the ball ​through. We had to focus on this match, which was a difficult one,” said Mancini, whose team ​go to Paris ⁠on Friday to face the French.

Bosnia registered an emphatic 4-2 win away to Romania in Bucharest in Group B4 as former great Gheorghe Hagi suffered another setback on his return to the manager’s post.

But Sweden lead the group two points above Bosnia after a second home win, this time 3-1 over Poland ⁠in Stockholm.

The ​two Group B2 fixtures ended goalless with Ukraine away in Georgia and Northern Ireland ​home to Hungary.

Montenegro’s Aleksa Latkovic scored a last-minute winner as they won 3-2 in Armenia to move three points clear of their opponents on six points atop Group C2 where ​Latvia and Cyprus drew 0-0 in Riga to each pick up their first point.

On Monday, a soccer source confirmed media reports that an independent panel had found City guilty of all but one of 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.

City, who have always denied any wrongdoing, could face sanctions ranging from fines and a points deduction to relegation.

“Whatever punishment (they choose), it’s impossible to turn back time. It’s done a lot of damage,” Pochettino, now coach of the US men’s team, told reporters on Monday.

“At the end of the day many clubs followed the rules and some didn’t … What are they going to do? An economic punishment? Docking points? It’s really hard. It’s sad. “At the end of the day, we went through something where sporting fairness didn’t exist … If it’s true all of the 114 rules that were broken, we’ve lived through a period of deception.”

Earlier this month, Pochettino said Chelsea should be stripped of their 2016-17 Premier League title and that it should be handed to Tottenham following the Stamford Bridge club’s record fine for rule breaches this year.

The Argentine manager pointed to Tottenham’s complete lack of transfer activity for a spell during his tenure, when they were constrained by the financial demands of building a new stadium.

“I think we were the only team in the history of the Premier League with 18 months without (making a transfer),” he added.

“They were so strict with us but also so lenient with others. Because of that, that’s why I say, it’s all very strange.”

Manchester City did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment outside regular business hours.

The amount of the distributions to individual nations will be on the agenda of the FIFA Council’s Oct. 15 meeting, according to a letter Infantino sent to the heads of the six confederations, The Athletic and ESPN reported on Monday.

“I will not prejudge the amount,” Infantino wrote, according to The Athletic.

“I will support the greatest level of additional funding that can responsibly be delivered through FIFA’s proper governance process, applied fairly and supported by transparent and auditable arrangements.

The ambition is welcome.

UEFA’s legal move ‘massive escalation’ in bitter Infantino feud

The financial evidence, governance and implementation must now support it.

“A single figure can begin the discussion, but it cannot complete a global policy. I have therefore instructed the Secretary General to consolidate all submissions into one integrated assessment for consideration by the FIFA Council. …” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s Victor Montagliani recently wrote a letter to FIFA seeking payments such as the one Infantino addressed Monday.

Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, head of the Asian Football Confederation, made a similar request, per The Athletic.

The financial discussion comes in the wake of UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC calling for Infantino to resign over his plan to sell approximately 20% of a proposed new entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), focused on the commercial and operational facets of the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments.

Among the investors in FFE was to be Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump is a close ally of Infantino.

Infantino subsequently abandoned the private equity plan, but he has refused to resign, and he plans to run for re-election in March.

With seven weeks remaining for candidates to announce their intention to oppose Infantino, no challenger has stepped forward.

Had Infantino’s FFE plan gone through, each member nation would have received at least $20 million.

The letter from UEFA and CONCACAF asks for every member association to get a minimum of $10 million from FIFA’s reserves, according to ESPN.

The Spanish World Cup winner wants the Dutch side playing with more of the attacking intensity that paid off last Thursday when their persistent forays forced a late equaliser against Germany in Amsterdam.

This was followed by their first victory under Xavi, a 2-1 defeat of Serbia on Sunday.

“It is always most important to get the three points, I’m happy that we managed to do that. But we do need to play better, because, especially in the first half, we did not press well,“ he said.

“Nevertheless, I’m very satisfied after a week of work.”

Greece stun Germany 1-0 in losing home debut for Klopp

Xavi singled out AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink, who made his a debut as a substitute against Germany and then marked his first start for the Dutch by scoring both goals against Serbia.

“Mexx is a very hard worker who understands how we want to play,“ Xavi said. “He helped the team with more than just his goals, although those certainly helped.

The work he did for the team was fantastic.” The Dutch side face Greece next, in Thessaloniki on Thursday, then entertain Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday.

Xavi was clear about where improvements on last week were needed.

“For example, there were many moments when we needed to attack the spaces, but we didn’t do it.

That is something we need to improve. But also things such as making the pitch wider and moving the ball around more quickly,“ he said.

“But the most important thing is that we are creating a lot of chances. The players feel comfortable on the pitch with the structure we are playing in, so a lot of things are also going well.“

Van Bommel got off to a dream start in ‌his first game in charge of Belgium with a 2-0 away win over Italy in their Group A1 game on Friday and said he wants his side to keep up the attacking approach they showed in Rome.

“I started (my ​coaching tenure) last Monday by emphasising intensity and willingness to work,” he told a ​press conference on Sunday.

“The idea has to remain the same. Of course, you ⁠have to take the quality of the opponent into account, but that does not change our ​style of play.

“If you are beaten in a situation, that’s not a problem. As long as ​everyone knows what they have to do.”

It will also be a second game in charge for Zidane, whose France debut on Friday was a 1-0 win in Turkey where goalscorer Mbappe was injured.

“It is special to coach against someone ​like that,” Van Bommel said.

“He was an exceptional footballer and I played against him once, with ​Barca (Barcelona) against Real Madrid. If a dribbling move is named after you, then you must have done pretty well. ‌As ⁠a coach too, of course.

He is a good coach, that’s clear.

“I think it’s a shame that Mbappe isn’t there, because you always want to have the best footballers playing against you. I don’t know exactly what injury he has, but I would have liked him to be there,” the ​Belgium coach added.

The France ​captain has since returned ⁠to Real Madrid, who said he had suffered a hyperextension of the left knee.

On the eve of his debut as Belgium coach, former Dutch international ​Van Bommel watched his son Ruben debut for the Netherlands and set up ​a dramatic last-gasp ⁠equaliser against Germany in Amsterdam on Thursday.

“As a father, you see your son make his debut for the Netherlands, that is already something special,” Van Bommel told reporters.

“We happened to be watching on the ⁠phone with ​a large part of the coaching staff, and then he ​provides an assist like that. It’s fantastic. I would have liked to have been in the stadium. We then also ​beat Italy. It was two wonderful days.”

Ireland has been one of Europe’s most outspoken critics ‌of Israel’s war in Gaza, and protests calling for the team to boycott the fixture prompted Bazunu to make himself unavailable.

The game went ahead only after a majority of the Irish players voted to play.

Shlomi Barzel, the Israeli Football Association’s communications chief, said on Saturday that “football ​has won” after the players decided to fulfil the fixture despite calls for a boycott.

Bazunu’s withdrawal led coach ​Heimir Hallgrimsson to name defender Jimmy Dunne as Ireland’s emergency third goalkeeper. The Football Association of ⁠Ireland (FAI) has also faced fierce criticism from fans and political figures, many of whom accused it of failing to provide ​the players with sufficient direction.

With Israel’s home games taking place in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, the game unfolded in a ​subdued atmosphere reminiscent of the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when attendance restrictions left stadiums largely empty.

There were a few hundred Israeli supporters and a handful of Irish fans in the ground, and the shouts of coaches and players could be clearly heard throughout.

The Irish players ​wore black armbands in memory of all those killed in the conflict and bowed their heads during the Israeli ​national anthem. There was no exchange of pennants or pre-match handshakes.

Striker Troy Parrott netted the opener in the 14th minute, with Adam Idah ‌scoring ⁠two minutes later and Jack Moylan adding a well-taken third in the 25th minute.

Black armband

Moylan ran towards the corner flag after scoring and removed his black armband before kissing it and the badge on his shirt as supporters in the stand booed.

After losing their opening game 1-0 to Kosovo on Thursday, Ireland enjoyed a much-needed boost. They are now third in ​the group on three points, ​three behind leaders Austria, who ⁠beat second-placed Kosovo 3-1 earlier in the day.

Any relief provided by the victory, however, may prove short-lived.

Angered by the decision to play, many Irish supporters chose not to watch the ​match. Public broadcaster RTE featured no studio panel and no analysis, nor did the ​station sell any ⁠advertising around its coverage.

FAI chief executive David Courell said a significant majority of the squad had voted to fulfil the fixtures.

“Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended ⁠to ​fulfil the fixtures,” he told a media conference on Saturday.

Ireland are due ​to face Israel again on October 4 in a nominal home fixture that has been moved to Serbia and will be played behind closed doors, meaning ​the debate over whether the national team should face Israel is almost certain to reignite.

It was the first ever victory for the Greeks in 11 matches against the Germans, and they now lead their group on six points from two matches. Germany are on one point.

The hosts were in control for most of the game and had close to 80% possession in the first half ​alone but they were ultimately punished for sloppy defending, especially in the second half, which gave the Greeks space to attack.

Klopp, who took ​over in July after Germany’s early World Cup exit, has now failed to win either of his two matches ⁠in charge following a 1-1 draw against the Dutch in Amsterdam on Thursday.

“I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot ​lose such a game,” Klopp said. “We have been together for a week now, all mixed together, and that needs time.

England’s Tuchel says calls for rotation are ‘madness’

“The result is not cool but ​it is absolutely part of the process,” he said. Germany next play Serbia on Thursday before travelling to Greece three days later.

Two wins in a row for Greece

Despite enjoying a dominant first half it was only after they upped their tempo and started pressing higher that Germany carved out scoring chances.

Felix Nmecha fired wide in the 54th, ​a minute after Greece keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis had palmed a Joshua Kimmich free kick over the bar.

The Greeks, however, almost scored in the 66th ​after Kimmich lost possession in his own half but substitute Fotis Ioannidis fired just wide of the post.

They did better in the 74th with Kourbelis’ deflected low ‌drive that ⁠gave them the win to make it two victories in a row after their last-gasp 2-1 win over Serbia on Thursday.

In the same group, Netherlands earned a 2-1 victory over Serbia thanks to Mexx Meerdink’s double strike on his second appearance for his country.

It was the first win under new coach Xavi Hernandez following their draw with Germany on Thursday.

“It’s a boyhood dream. I actually don’t have any words for it,“ Meerdink said. “Everything is happening ​so quickly. You just don’t realise ​what can happen in the space ⁠of a week. It’s also great that we managed to win here.

“Sometimes you need a bit of luck. This time it went my way. Then you have to be there and be important for the team. ​I did feel a little pressure, I was a bit nervous. But you play that out of your ​system. And then ⁠to be allowed to score two is fantastic.“

Joao Felix scored for the second consecutive Nations League match as defending champions Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench throughout, edged past hosts Norway 2-1 to top Group A4 with two wins from two matches so far.

The Norwegians cancelled out Felix’s 17th-minute lead with ⁠Erling Haaland’s ​equaliser before Goncalo Ramos’ chip won it for the visitors.

Ben Davies scored a 53rd-minute own ​goal and Gustav Isaksen added another on the hour as Denmark eased past Wales 2-0 to earn their first points in Group A4.

In a politically charged encounter in Group B3, Ireland scored ​twice in three minutes early in the first half to ease past Israel 3-0.

England will play four Nations League matches during the extended international window.

Tuchel’s side lost to World Cup champions Spain on Saturday in the first of those games.

They next visit the Czech Republic on Tuesday and Croatia on Saturday, before playing the Czechs again at home on October 6, with the packed schedule leading to calls for some players who had short summer breaks due to the World Cup to be rested.

Asked if any club managers had reached out to him, Tuchel told reporters: “I don’t take calls from Premier League managers. I never called any national team coach (when he was in club football).

“I cannot manage (the minutes of) the players. It’s just impossible. Why would I do this and start giving the players the impression that it’s OK to take a step back or share a half or to rest one match? I would never. It’s madness.

Man City chairman rallies fans after reports club found guilty of 114 charges

“We want to win the next match… An ideal scenario would be to go again and go again and go again. With six or seven players minimum that start again – to put the responsibility on them and for them to feel the trust.”

Tuchel said his team would go all out against the Czech Republic in Tuesday’s match at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, adding:

“We need to be proactive. “There is no room for managing (the players) or an economic style. It’s how the team want to play, how we want to play, so let’s go.”

The France captain has left the national team, having been forced to come off shortly ​after scoring the winner in ​Friday’s 1-0 Nations League victory over ⁠Turkiye.

The 27-year-old was treated after the ​goal and briefly returned to the pitch ​but went down again moments later and was unable to continue, prompting France coach Zinedine ​Zidane to replace him in ​the 58th minute of his first game in ‌charge.

“After ⁠the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid’s Medical Services, he has been diagnosed ​with a ​hyperextension ⁠of the posterior capsule of his left knee,” read the ​statement.

The French Football Federation initially ​said ⁠Mbappe was suffering from a “knee tendon injury” and had returned to Madrid for ⁠further ​assessment.

Real next host Villarreal ​in LaLiga on October 10.

Egypt were held to a ​goalless draw by Angola at Cairo International ⁠Stadium on Friday in their opening qualifier.

Salah, ​who joined Turkey’s Trabzonspor from Liverpool recently, started ​against Angola but did not complete the match after coach Hossam Hassan substituted him midway through the second ​half.

“The Egypt national team’s technical staff, led ​by Hossam Hassan, has decided to rest Mohamed Salah ‌for ⁠the match against South Sudan scheduled for September 29 because of the playing surface,” EFA said on social media.

“It was agreed between the ​national team’s ​technical staff ⁠and Mohamed Salah before the Angola match that he would not ​play against South Sudan, and the ​technical ⁠staff preferred this approach in order to protect the player,” EFA added.

The match between South ⁠Sudan ​and Egypt will be played ​at Juba Stadium, which has an artificial turf surface.

In an open letter to supporters on ‌Saturday, Al Mubarak said the process was far from over and City’s confidence in proving the club’s innocence “is just as strong as when this began”.

“Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and ​responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I,” Al Mubarak said.

“Here’s what I ​said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way ⁠to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as ​when this began.”

Man City found guilty on all but one of 115 charges, reports say

City, who have always denied any wrongdoing, are expected to appeal the decision of the independent ​panel in a case that has hung over English football for years.

A guilty verdict would rank among the most significant rulings in the sport’s history, raising far-reaching questions about financial regulation, competitive integrity and the league’s ability to enforce its ​rules against one of its most successful clubs.

Al Mubarak said he was limited in what he can ​say about the case because of the strict confidentiality of the legal process.

“Even this letter underwent several legal checks ‌to make ⁠sure it complies,” he said.

“I ask you to please carefully read the statement … which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 …” which he included in the open letter. “Every word matters and holds true.”

The February 2023 statement said the club was surprised by the alleged breaches, “particularly given the ​extensive engagement and vast amount ​of detailed materials that ⁠the EPL (English Premier League) has been provided with.

“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of ​irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.”

After court battle, Man City look to make peace with UEFA

City reiterated that statement ​on Friday.

The Premier ⁠League has declined to comment.

“It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all,” a spokesperson said.

Al Mubarak asked for patience from supporters.

“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so ⁠much noise ​swirling around us, nothing has changed,” he said.

“We have faced ​challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give ​them that opportunity.”

Less than 10 weeks after lifting the World Cup, Spain, unbeaten in 39 games, made England pay in scoring their first two goals.

Teen sensation Lamine Yamal struck in the second minute when Marc Guehi was caught in possession deep inside his own half. Alex Baena scored on the hour after Nico O’Reilly’s misplaced pass handed possession back to the visitors.

Oyarzabal, who also got the ​winner against England in the 2024 European Championship final, struck the decider in the 74th minute with a clever dink over goalkeeper James ​Trafford.

“There are many matches within a match and we’ve known how to play them all at every moment,” Spain coach ⁠Luis de la Fuente said. “England has a lot of talent to hurt at any moment, but we’ve controlled the game.”

Spain’s victory spoiled what had briefly ​looked like being a memorable England comeback – and a small measure of redemption after their heartbreaking World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina.

England had turned the game on its ​head in a thrilling four-minute span, with Anthony Gordon’s 36th-minute equaliser sparking a blistering spell that culminated in captain Harry Kane heading the hosts in front.

“We’re playing against the world champions, the European champions, and we went toe-to-toe,” Kane told ITV. “On another day for sure we’d have won that game.”

Kane was left shaking his head though after firing a second-half penalty off ​the inside of the crossbar when his left foot slipped upon planting.

Spain win it late to give Ronaldo bitter end to World Cup career

“Terrible start, the worst start possible,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said. “Makes it so, so ​difficult to be behind against this kind of team. The reaction was very good, very good.

“The third goal was the only one they really scored – the others were from ‌individual, big ⁠mistakes.”

England and Spain had arrived at Wembley with very different World Cup memories. The Spaniards looked to build on their triumph, while Tuchel’s men were still feeling the scars of defeat and aiming to show they could narrow the gap.

Evergreen modric leads by example

In Saturday’s other Group A3 game, Croatia gave new manager Slaven Bilic a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic as evergreen captain Luka Modric once again proved influential before Marco Pasalic struck the decisive goal.

The 41-year-old Modric, still the heartbeat of the Croatia side more than two ​decades after his international debut, put the ​visitors ahead two minutes after ⁠the break.

The Czechs responded through Adam Karabec in the 54th minute but Pasalic restored Croatia’s advantage with 13 minutes remaining to secure all three points.

The game marked a new start for both sides.

Bilic is back in charge of Croatia ​after Zlatko Dalic’s departure following their round-of-32 World Cup defeat by Portugal, while Spaniard Santi Denia was appointed the Czechs’ ​boss after their group-stage ⁠exit.

Scotland began life under Sebastien Pocognoli with a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia in Group B1, offering glimpses of the more attacking style the Belgian hopes to implement following manager Steve Clarke’s departure after Scotland’s World Cup exit.

Oli McBurnie, back in the Scotland fold after a five-year absence, had some of the best chances but a string of brilliant saves from ⁠Jan Oblak ​had the Scots settling for a point.

Switzerland made an impressive start to their first League ​B campaign, with Remo Freuler opening the scoring and Zeki Amdouni netting the first of his two goals before halftime en route to a 3-0 win away to North Macedonia.

Finland’s Joel Pohjanpalo scored ​a hat-trick to help his country to a 7-0 thrashing of San Marino in Group C1.

The club are expected to appeal, the reports added.

The Premier League declined to comment. “It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all,” a spokesperson said.

City did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, but told the BBC that the inquiry into allegations “remains ongoing.”

The outcome, if confirmed, would represent one of the most significant rulings in English football history and bring a major development in a case that has overshadowed the league for more than three years.

The proceedings have raised questions about financial regulation, competitive integrity and how the league enforces its rules against its most successful clubs.

Manchester United expects higher fiscal 2027 revenue on Champions League boost

Allegations spanning more than a decade

The Premier League referred City to an independent commission in February 2023 over alleged breaches of financial rules spanning the 2009-10 to 2022-23 seasons. The club have consistently denied wrongdoing.

Among the most serious allegations was that City failed in each season from 2009-10 to 2017-18 to provide accurate financial information giving a “true and fair view” of revenues, including sponsorship income, and operating costs.

City hired lawyer David Pannick to lead their defence, while the Premier League was represented by Adam Lewis KC, according to British media reports.

The hearing began on September 16, 2024, and concluded nearly three months later on December 6. The case was heard by an independent commission composed of three people appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel.

City were banned from the Champions League for two years by European football’s governing body UEFA in 2020 after being found to have overstated sponsorship revenue between 2012 and 2016. The club, however, successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which overturned the ban.

Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, the Champions League, four FA Cups and seven League Cups.

City top the Premier League after winning each of their opening five matches.

The stakes are particularly high because other clubs have already faced sporting sanctions for breaching financial regulations.

Everton were docked a total of eight points during the 2023-24 season after two separate breaches of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, while Nottingham Forest were deducted four points for a breach of the same rules in March 2024.

Newcastle United narrowly avoided potential sanctions after selling players before a June 30, 2024, financial reporting deadline to comply with spending regulations.

The allegations against City are far broader and cover more than a decade, making the case unprecedented in scale. Lawyers, club executives and supporters across the league have spent years awaiting a verdict.

The 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder’s World Cup tally set a record for an England men’s player at a major tournament as the Three Lions secured their best finish at the competition since 1966 by finishing third.

“It feels great,” Bellingham said. “It’s a huge honour to be recognised by the fans again. So not something you think about when you’re playing for your country, but it’s obviously a beautiful little addition to the great summer we had, and the honour of playing for my country.”

The award was decided by supporters voting on the official England app.

Bellingham’s World Cup tally included doubles in the thrilling round-of-16 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium and in the quarter-final win over Norway in Miami.

He also became the youngest European player to feature at four major tournaments.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said Bellingham was “one of the players of the tournament, not only for us but of the whole tournament.”

Barcelona forecast €700m in sales from fresh VIP seat packages

“He lived up to his full potential; you could just see what a competitor and what a machine he is,” Tuchel said. “He just thrives under pressure, he just loves these moments, he loves these stages and it brings out the very best in him.”

Captain Harry Kane was England’s top scorer for a seventh consecutive season after netting 12 goals across all national team competitions, matching his best tally for England.

Kane called the achievement a “showcase of consistency” and thanked his teammates and coaches for their support.

The VIP seats will be offered under 15- or 30-year licences, with buyers making an upfront payment. Barcelona expect all the seats to be sold over the next two-and-a-half seasons.

The projected revenue would be generated over the duration of the contracts, Barcelona said, as the club seeks to turn its redeveloped stadium into a major source of income.

In December 2024, Barcelona agreed deals covering 475 VIP seats for up to 30 years, valued at €100 million.

Manchester United expects higher fiscal 2027 revenue on Champions League boost

Barcelona said they have commercialised nearly 5,000 VIP seats, representing more than €380 million in committed revenue, with contracts for those seats varying in length.

Reuters reported on Thursday that Barcelona were exploring two new sources of financing amounting to €510 million to cover rising costs and a shortfall in revenue related to the renovation of their stadium. Work on the stadium is projected to be completed for the 2028-29 season.

Messi announced his retirement from international football in August, just over a month after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the World Cup final.

However, the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward was called up weeks later by Scaloni to make a final appearance in a home friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on October 6.

“I believe that a player like him deserves this. Personally, I did my part because I wanted to be at his farewell,” Scaloni told reporters on Thursday.

“Since I don’t know if I would be here later, we pushed hard so that he could be in this match. We knew everything he was going through and even so, he put in the desire and effort to want to come and be able to say goodbye with his people, with the people who love him so much.

“If we have to pay tribute, we have to do it at this moment. With him, it will never stop, but later, the magic might not be the same.”

Scaloni, who guided Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and two Copa America triumphs, will be out of his contract in December.

Asked if he had received an update on his future, Scaloni said he would meet with Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia in the coming days.

“It is a dream come true, but that doesn’t mean I have to cling to the job forever,” the 48-year-old said.

“There are certain conditions we need to discuss with the president and we’ll see if we can reach an agreement.”

Senior figures in world football increasingly see the crisis triggered by Infantino’s abandoned private-investment plan shifting away from the question of succession and towards a struggle over the terms of his continued presidency.

One outcome could be a governance compromise under which Infantino remains in office but gives up some power.

The other possibility is a prolonged “hot-cold war” in which clubs, confederations, player representatives and national associations challenge FIFA repeatedly over competitions, money and control of the international calendar.

“What is clear now … is that he’s going nowhere,” a senior world football executive told Reuters. “A hot-cold war is a very real problem for FIFA and for world football.”

A veteran international sports executive, who has spent decades working with governing bodies, offered a similar assessment, saying Infantino was “hanging on” but questioning how FIFA could operate if many of the game’s most powerful countries and institutions remained opposed to him.

“You would have effectively a civil war within the governance which I cannot recall in a sports body before,” the executive said. “Unprecedented.”

Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reform

That possible scenario of a prolonged and potentially damaging cold war within world football was independently corroborated to Reuters by two other senior football officials.

The prospect points to a potentially paradoxical outcome to a crisis that at its height threatened Infantino’s position: he could survive politically while presiding over a governing body in which some of football’s biggest stakeholders seek to constrain what he can actually do.

“Does he become a lame duck?” the veteran executive asked.

Trust still broken

There is little indication that Infantino’s attempt this week to draw a line under the crisis has repaired the rupture.

In a letter to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations, Infantino proposed that the Council consider commissioning an independent external review of FIFA’s governance framework for major strategic initiatives.

He also proposed consultations with confederations, associations and other stakeholders over strengthening decision-making and said he remained fully committed to leading FIFA.

Several European federations quickly dismissed the move, and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin issued a stern assessment on Wednesday.

FIFA chief Infantino confirms Iran playing at World Cup in US

“The project that shattered the unity of world football may be abolished, but the trust it broke has not returned,” Ceferin said in a video address to the Portugal Football Summit.

“Trust in our sport rests on three pillars: unity, transparency, and governance that serves the many, not the few.”

“Football is not for sale,” he added.

Ceferin did not name Infantino but his remarks were a clear reference to the proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA’s commercial rights, including rights linked to the World Cup, to private investors.

The project was dropped in July after opposition from European soccer’s governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and North American confederation CONCACAF.

Attrition

For 56-year-old Swiss-Italian Infantino, that leaves one route to a less confrontational settlement, which is a reform substantial enough to persuade his opponents that power inside FIFA has genuinely shifted.

The senior world football executive said one possible outcome could be the creation of a new body or structure that diluted the authority of the president.

Infantino’s governance proposals were the “bare minimum” needed to give him room to remain in office, the executive said, adding that the question was whether he would accept meaningful changes.

FIFA says review of shelved investment plan to be presented to Council

How far any compromise could go would depend on “how much Infantino is willing to cede” and how much his opponents were willing to fight to take away, the world football executive said.

There is historical irony in such an outcome.

Reforms introduced after the downfall of former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter were intended in part to reduce the power concentrated in the presidency.

Yet senior figures now see another battle developing over how much authority the FIFA president should wield.

If no settlement is reached, the alternative could be attritional rather than spectacular.

The world football executive said clubs could fight FIFA over the Club World Cup, financial distributions and player release; player representatives could challenge the calendar; national associations could obstruct initiatives; and major confederations could contest attempts to expand or reshape FIFA competitions.

“Maybe it seems like we’re boiling down to two options now,” the executive said.

“One, a compromise where Gianni gives up some of his power and there are some new bodies that are created or, two, a permanent hot-cold war where all the stakeholders just fight every issue.”

That could include expanded World Cups, bigger or more frequent Club World Cups and commercial distribution decisions, the executive said.

The result would not necessarily be a formal break with FIFA. Instead, opponents could make every major initiative harder to deliver.

The veteran sports executive said the challenge went to the heart of how global governing bodies function.

“The importance of unity. Keeping these monster sports organisations together, they are not political parties,” the executive said. “This will be new territory.”

Infantino rebuilds

There is another reason the focus is shifting towards life with Infantino rather than replacing him: his position appears to have strengthened since the crisis first erupted.

A national association president, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, believes Infantino’s opponents missed their best opportunity when the backlash was at its peak and that he is now rebuilding support ahead of the March election.

The FIFA president has a succession of opportunities in the coming months to meet national association leaders at tournaments, congresses and confederation events, including several gatherings in Africa.

The association president expects Infantino to use those meetings to maintain support among football leaders through to the FIFA presidential election in March 2027.

The political significance of smaller associations has also been highlighted by a proposal from Ceferin and CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani for FIFA to distribute at least $10 million from its reserves to each of its 211 member associations during the next financial cycle.

For many associations heavily reliant on FIFA funding, such sums could be transformative.

If Infantino is reelected, the association president believes some federations that have opposed him may eventually become less hostile, concluding there is little to gain from four years of permanent confrontation.

That possibility means a “cold war” is not inevitable.

Kane had previously expressed his interest in pursuing careers in ‌golf and American football. Now the 33-year-old is giving more serious thought to a future in the NFL, though he stressed any potential move to the United States is still several years away.

“That is something I will ​try and look at a bit more seriously,” Kane told reporters at England’s training ​camp. “It all depends on what happens in my career over the next five ⁠or six years. The NFL is a lot more realistic than the golf one, let’s ​put it that way.”

The Bayern Munich striker said his penalty-taking experience could give him a head ​start as an NFL kicker, though switching sports would take serious preparation.

“I take penalties and it is a very similar pressure and technique,” he said. “In terms of training, I would be closer to that more than any ​other sport.

“But, with all elite sports, when you watch it on TV, people make it look ​easy; you think it is possible, but that is not always the case.

“If I was to do it, ‌it ⁠is something I would take seriously. I would take maybe six months to a year of trying to practice before.”

Brazil and Australia meet in double-header to start rebuilds

Kane also suggested a move to MLS could provide a way to combine the two sports.

“Maybe if I am in the MLS in the future or somewhere like that it ​might be a thing ​where you could connect ⁠the two maybe with the seasons,” he said.

There are already examples of soccer players making the switch. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey was a ​first-round MLS draft pick by Toronto FC in 2017 but never ​made an official ⁠appearance for the first team. Jake Bates also played college soccer before becoming a kicker for the Detroit Lions.

Kane’s immediate future, however, remains in soccer, with talks over a new contract at Bundesliga ⁠champions Bayern ​progressing and an announcement expected soon.

“We’re in good talks,” ​Kane said. “There’s still some things that we need to iron out. I’m happy there. I think it won’t be too long ​before there’s some sort of announcement.”

Brazil take on the Socceroos in Townsville on Friday before a second clash in Brisbane next Tuesday.

It will be both countries’ first outings since their World Cup campaigns ended in July.

The Socceroos bowed out in the round of 32 while five-time champions Brazil suffered a shock loss to Norway in the last 16.

Brazil coach Ancelotti has responded by selecting only nine players from their World Cup squad for the two Australian matches and a friendly against India in Kolkata on October 3.

Chelsea forwards Joao Pedro and Estevao were recalled, while Ancelotti has included several new faces, among them goalkeepers Pedro Morisco and Otavio, defender Mauro Junior, and midfielders Breno Bidon and Gabriel Bontempo.

Man Utd put chunks of Old Trafford up for sale

Several of Brazil’s established stars will be in action, including forwards Vinicius Junior and Raphinha, Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and central defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos.

Guimaraes said this week that it was important that new faces had been included.

“We are constantly refining talent in our country,” he said.

“It’s crucial to have that solid foundation, so the coach can keep discovering new talent.

“Of course we respect Australia and hope we have a great game,” he added.

“Things haven’t been great recently, but from my perspective, the only way to turn the situation around is by playing well and winning games.”

Australian coach Tony Popovic also swung the selection axe, omitting 10 players from the Socceroos’ World Cup squad, including veteran goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan, and striker Cristian Volpato, who was fined this month after testing positive for cocaine.

Popovic named seven uncapped players in the 25-man squad, which was rocked by the injury-forced withdrawal of in-form Norwich City striker Mohamed Toure.

Australia are building towards the Asian Cup in January-February.

Experienced midfielder Jackson Irvine said the two Brazil matches were a good chance for new players to prove themselves on a big stage.

“I think it’s a really exciting one for us, to come off the back of the World Cup and progress even further with our football, with new players, a chance to take the next step again,” he said.

“We need to take another step.

“We did amazing things over the summer, but we’ve got another tournament coming and for us to grow, we have to look to progress.”

The 20-time English champions have spent more than a decade trying to replicate the success they enjoyed under manager Alex Ferguson. British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s minority owner, has cut jobs and raised ticket prices to cut debt and revive profitability.

“We will continue to take a disciplined approach to ensure our finances remain sustainable,” CEO Omar Berrada said in a statement.

Manchester City beat Sunderland in humdinger to maintain 100% start, Man Utd scrape draw

The club expects revenue of between £740 million and £760 million ($982.8 million to $1.01 billion) in the year to June 30, 2027, compared with £677.6 million reported in fiscal 2026.

It reported an annual net loss of £43 million, up from £33 million a year ago.

Old Trafford, known as the “Theatre of Dreams,” has been United’s home since 1910 and was the stage for some of the most significant moments in the club’s history, including their record 13 Premier League titles.

“Wins and losses, successes and failures, highs and lows. We’ve seen it all. Now, supporters can own a piece of the pitch,” United said in a statement on their website on Wednesday.

“Don’t worry, there aren’t holes in the pitch right now.

This is all possible because the Old Trafford pitch was completely dug up and stripped back to its foundation in June, for the first time in 14 years.

“That meticulous project was completed by award-winning groundsperson Tony Sinclair and his team of experts, all to regrow the surface to improve player welfare and water drainage.

“As part of the process, sections of the pitch were carefully preserved and, later, placed into glass cubes to create a special memento for Reds.”

The initiative comes at a difficult time on and off the pitch for United.

They finished third in the Premier League last season, but have made a sluggish start to their campaign and sit 12th in the table with just one win from their first five league games.

On Wednesday, the club also reported a seventh straight annual loss, as costs related to player acquisitions and the sacking of former head coach Ruben Amorim this year pushed them deeper into the red.

Reijnders, who joined the Saudi Pro League side in a surprise 61 million euro ($69.70 million) move, had wanted to play as a dynamic midfielder, moving between attack and defence, but increasingly ​found himself playing more as an attacking midfielder.

“In pre-season, I noticed that things ​were heading in that direction again at City, and I started ⁠thinking about whether I wanted another season like that,” he told reporters as ​the Dutch national team prepared for Thursday’s Nations League game against Germany.

“The honest answer ​was no. I wanted to look elsewhere, and then I heard from the club that I was allowed to do so.

“I think a lot of people have the idea that your career ​as a top footballer is over when you make a move like this. ​I initially felt that way too,” he said of the Saudi switch.

Discussions with Al Qadsiah coach ‌Brendan ⁠Rodgers convinced him otherwise.

No bitterness over World Cup omission, Azmoun says after Iran recall

“He said I could have three or four very enjoyable years here and then return to Europe. There are enough examples of that now. That is my goal too,” Reijnders, 28, said.

“With all the big names, I actually rate ​the Saudi league higher ​than the Eredivisie (Dutch ⁠league). If people want to judge the football there, they should watch it first.”

Reports said Reijnders had signed a deal worth ​around 100 million euros over four years in Saudi Arabia.

“You ​can always ⁠play the moralist, but I think everyone would say yes to that,” he said.

“I don’t want to have to work anymore after my career. I didn’t need to after ⁠City ​either, but now I can also set up ​future generations of my family well.

“If this choice means my grandchildren can also live comfortably, why wouldn’t I ​do it?”

Azmoun ‌is his country’s second-leading scorer of all time with 57 goals in 91 games but was left out of the squad for the World Cup in North America with state news agency IRNA saying he ​was injured.

However, other media reports said he had upset government supporters by posting ​a picture of a meeting with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler ⁠of Dubai, shortly after the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran.

On Monday, ​Azmoun was called up to the squad for friendlies against Uzbekistan and Russia as part ​of Iran’s preparations for next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. The Iranian Football Federation posted a picture of Azmoun smiling during a meeting with its president, Mehdi Taj.

“From 2014 until today, I’ve lived ​through so much in this jersey. I came, I went, I was cut, I ​came back,” Azmoun, 31, wrote in a post on social media.

Infantino says he is open to talks over FIFA reform

“I won, I lost, I laughed, I ‌cried. But ⁠never, not even when I was away, did I ever see myself as separate from the national team …

“Maybe after all these years and all these games, getting called up to the national team should be routine for me. But it isn’t. Today when I ​found out I was ​called up again, ⁠my happiness was just like the first time.”

Iran were eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup after drawing all three of ​their matches.

Azmoun, who plays for UAE side Shabab Al-Ahli, said he ​did not ⁠resent anyone for leaving him out of the World Cup squad.

“I’m not upset with anyone, nor do I have anything to prove,” he added. “I’m just happy to have the chance again. ⁠The ​chance to fight with all my heart for the ​country I love.”

Iran are in Group C with Syria, Kyrgyzstan and China at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. ​The tournament begins on January 7.

“First, I will ask the Council whether it wishes to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s current governance framework for major strategic initiatives and recommend potential improvements,” Infantino wrote to the FIFA Council and all 211 member association ​presidents in a letter seen by Reuters.

He also said he would propose consultations with confederations, member associations and other ​stakeholders on strengthening FIFA’s decision-making.

The proposals would examine who has a say in major initiatives, including the ⁠respective roles of the president, Bureau, Council and Congress, and how to improve transparency and accountability.

Infantino faced a fierce backlash over ​his proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA’s commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors. The plan was abandoned ​in July after opposition and boycott threats, with UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF subsequently calling for changes to FIFA’s leadership.

His opponents have been struggling to find a candidate to challenge Infantino, who will be running for re-election in March in Rabat. Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters this ​month that he still had enough votes to win, prompting opponents to focus on curbing his powers.

Infantino said the abandoned plan had ​explored whether selling a minority stake in a FIFA-controlled commercial company could raise more money for football development. It would not have involved giving ‌up control ⁠over sporting decisions, he said.

But the proposal became public before it could be presented in full to the Council and member associations, according to Infantino.

“I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not,” he wrote in the letter sent on Monday.

“It remained a proposal, not a decision, and was always subject to ​the necessary approvals of the ​Council and the Member Associations. ⁠It has now been withdrawn and will not proceed.”

Infantino said he had heard differing ideas about who should decide major strategic questions. Some favoured requiring unanimous agreement in the Bureau, while others wanted ​such matters put directly to Congress and the member associations.

“My role is not to pre-judge that ​discussion. Those who ⁠support a particular model should have the opportunity to set out their case clearly,” he wrote.

Suggestions received by the October 15 Council meeting could be discussed there, with later submissions also considered within a deadline yet to be specified. Any changes to FIFA’s statutes would need ⁠Congress approval.

Infantino ​also said member associations’ positions on proposals or governance matters would not affect ​their treatment by FIFA, whose development and solidarity programmes would continue under existing rules.

“No association’s treatment will depend on its position on any proposal or institutional matter,” ​he wrote.

“I remain fully committed to leading FIFA and confident in what we can achieve together.”

Last week Mbappe referred to Zidane as “the player who most embodies the France team”, noting that he left an indelible mark on French football. Mbappe is a key figure for the current generation of French footballers, having led Les Bleus to their second World Cup in 2018, and helping them back to the final in 2022. Zidane confirmed last week that Mbappe would continue as France captain.

Speaking to Spanish paper AS, Mbappe explained that Zidane was present in his career from his formative years.

“Yes, years ago (he took me to Real Madrid’s training ground),” said Mbappe. “He was the first, to pick me up and take me to Real Madrid, to the training complex. I was 13 or 14, it was ages ago.”

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“And now he’s my national team coach. It’s like something out of a movie, but he’s top-level.”

Zidane replaced his former France teammate Didier Deschamps after the World Cup, ending a 14-year spell in charge for the latter.

“It’s a new phase with a new coach,” said Mbappe. “It’s going to be a new experience for everyone, since we’ve only ever had Deschamps. It will be a change for us, but I think everything will turn out very well.”

France face Turkey in the Nations League on Friday in Zidane’s debut as France manager, before fixtures against Belgium and Italy.

The decision was reached jointly by the player and SFV leadership after Xhaka issued a public statement acknowledging his actions.

“In this agitated emotional state, I acquired a vaccination certificate instead of clarifying my open questions through the intended path,” Xhaka wrote in a statement on social media. “Today I see clearly that this path was not right. It was a mistake. I am sorry.”

Xhaka, 33, added that he was cooperating fully with the relevant authorities. The midfielder, who plays for Sunderland in the Premier League, made his international debut in 2011 and is Switzerland’s all-time record appearance holder with 152 caps.

SFV President Peter Knaebel welcomed Xhaka’s willingness to take responsibility.

“Granit Xhaka informed us about the situation yesterday evening and told us at the same time that he would comment publicly on it and take responsibility,” Knaebel said in a statement. “We welcome Granit taking this step. At the same time, we came to the joint conclusion that it is in the best interest of the team to complete this gathering without him.”

Knaebel added that the focus must shift to maintaining calm ahead of the team’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Switzerland gathered in Belek, Turkey, on Monday to prepare for away matches against North Macedonia and Scotland, followed by home games against Slovenia and North Macedonia.

The SFV said it will reassess the situation with Xhaka after the conclusion of the international window.