The obvious question many are asking is: how did this happen? FIFA’s disciplinary code says Balogun should face a minimum two-match suspension for serious foul play. World Cup rules do not permit appeals against red cards. FIFA’s announcement gave no rationale for pausing Balogun’s ban, citing only “Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.” Article...

Burnham has often confronted the Premier League and football’s governing bodies. In 2023, he wrote to the league urging that Everton’s 10-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules be voided. He has expressed confidence in the future of the independent football regulator, established by Nandy and now starting to exercise its powers. In 2020,...

With the group stage of the 2026 World Cup complete, 26 of the 48 teams have been eliminated and 32 have advanced. Among the first 16 to go, 12 finished last in their groups: Czech Republic, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Panama. The other four early exits...

To grasp how Rodri, Anderson, and a player like Bouaddi could fit together, you first need to understand Maresca’s tactical blueprint. A devotee of positional play, he often compares football to chess. “There are many parallels,” Maresca said. “The key is positioning and strategy. “A coach has to think like a chess player: craft a...

Referee Anthony Taylor tells BBC sports editor Dan Roan why he is stepping back from officiating. The 47-year-old discusses the toll of the often toxic debate around officiating and the intense scrutiny referees face. READ MORE: Taylor says criticism from former referees fuels a culture of fear

Available for more than a year Argentina rallied from 2-0 down with only 11 minutes to play to beat Egypt 3-2 — yet VAR stole the headlines. Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith team up with the BBC’s Football Issues Correspondent Dale Johnson to unpack the contentious calls that overshadowed a remarkable comeback and to ask...

A Golden Boot chase for the ages has the ideal ending — it all comes down to the tournament’s final match. Kylian Mbappe’s two goals in France’s wild 6-4 loss to England in the third-place play-off moved him two clear of Lionel Messi, but the Argentine still has one game to respond. They’re also level...

Former Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas believes Shea Charles’ record-breaking move to the Premier League is smart business for both Fulham and the player. Charles became the most expensive Northern Irish footballer this week with a £30m transfer from Southampton to Craven Cottage. The 22-year-old started out at Manchester City before joining Championship side Southampton...

After inheriting a faltering Real Madrid, Mourinho immediately mounted a challenge to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup across his first two seasons at the Bernabéu. Madrid’s 100-point league haul in 2011-12 has never been bettered in La Liga. His third season unraveled. Madrid finished the...

Norway has urged Gianni Infantino to step down as FIFA president after his shelved plan to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors, even as he continues to receive backing from Mexico and the head of South American football. The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has gone beyond the positions of England, Wales, Croatia...

Lionel Messi’s father is dealing with a health issue, the family announced in a statement on Thursday. “At this time, he is under medical supervision, recovering and progressing favourably within the condition he is experiencing,” the statement said. Messi was in tears after scoring his first goal in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in their...

Police chiefs are calling on football clubs to shoulder a greater share of match-day policing costs to reduce the burden on taxpayers. Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK’s lead for football policing, says the current approach—where clubs are not charged for policing outside stadiums—can no longer continue. Home Office figures published on Thursday, external show...