Palestinian clubs have resumed organised competition through the Thousand Martyrs Cup after a suspension lasting about 3 years, with more than 200 clubs taking part in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, amid movement restrictions, damage to sports facilities and financial pressures facing players and clubs.
La Liga president Javier Tebas defended the key decisions in the Madrid derby, insisting that Real Madrid did not lose to Atlético because of refereeing. He criticised the protests made by the club and its manager José Mourinho, and described Real Madrid's coverage of referees as an unfair and harsh means of putting pressure on them.
The Israeli Football Association attacked Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson after he said his team would play ‘against genocide’ in the two Nations League fixtures between the sides. The teams are preparing to play in Hungary and Serbia, amid reports that the Israeli FA is considering filing a complaint with UEFA.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the withdrawal of a proposal concerning investment in a minority stake, confirming that it would not proceed. He said he would ask the FIFA Council to commission an external body to conduct an independent review of the governance framework, with proposals submitted by 15 October potentially considered during a council meeting.
Juventus secured a deserved 2-0 win over Atalanta, while Milan beat Lecce 3-0 in the fifth round of the Italian league. Napoli drew 1-1 with Fiorentina. Frosinone inflicted Como’s first defeat of the season, while Parma recorded their first win against Genoa.
The Spanish Football Federation is considering moving or suspending its under-20 team’s match against Mexico, scheduled to take place in Ceuta on 30 September, after the Interior Ministry requested a change of venue over security concerns and political tensions. Officials are searching for an alternative stadium as disputes linked to the city have spread to other football matters.
Mohamed Salah scored three goals and set up the fourth as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray 4-0 in the sixth round of the Turkish league. The Egyptian star was praised by his club’s management, manager and team-mate Fabinho, as well as analysts and journalists who said his pace and quality in transition settled the match.
Joshua Van won his rematch against Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja by unanimous decision in Los Angeles, securing his second defence of the UFC flyweight title. The victory came months after their first bout ended with Pantoja suffering an injury after just 26 seconds.
Barcelona came from behind to beat hosts Sevilla 3-1 in the seventh round of La Liga, with Raphinha scoring all three of his team’s goals. The Catalan club moved to 21 points and secured an eighth consecutive win in all competitions, while the Brazilian forward reached 12 goals in seven league matches.
Inter Milan announced the death of former striker Sandro Mazzola, who spent his entire 17-year professional career with the club. Mazzola scored 158 goals in 565 appearances, won four Italian league titles and two European Cups, and lifted the European Championship with Italy in 1968.
Chelsea suffered a 3-0 defeat by Brentford in the Premier League, leaving them with only two wins from their opening five matches. The game exposed defensive and attacking problems and a lack of balance in the team, while also raising questions about manager Xabi Alonso’s tactical choices.
Luis de la Fuente has announced Spain’s first squad since winning the 2026 World Cup, ahead of four Nations League matches. The squad includes the returns of Fermin Lopez and Dean Huijsen, as well as first call-ups for goalkeeper Josep Martinez and forward Roberto Fernandez.
Eight teams are preparing to compete in the 2026 Gulf Cup, hosted by Jeddah from 23 September to 6 October 2026. The squads announced by Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates feature a mix of young and experienced players, while Salem Al-Dawsari is absent from Saudi Arabia’s squad.
Benfica opened their Europa League league-phase campaign with a 2-0 away win over Milan, recording their first-ever victory against the Italian side. Lyon also returned from Belgium with a 2-1 win over Anderlecht, while Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar and Bayer Leverkusen defeated Celje.
Hossam Hassan announced Egypt’s squad for the matches against Angola and South Sudan in the opening of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as well as a friendly against South Africa. The squad includes Mohamed Salah and Hamza Abdelkarim, while injuries ruled out Mohamed El Shenawy, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet and Yasser Ibrahim.
The Ballon d’Or race has entered its decisive phase as voting closes, with nominees and public-relations teams leading campaigns to boost their chances. Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé have each declared themselves worthy of the award, while Paris Saint-Germain has 10 nominees after retaining the Champions League title.
Guabirá and its goalkeeper Juan Manuel Ferrel filed a complaint with Bolivia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office after the team’s coach said the goalkeeper had received threats to kill members of his family unless he paid money or allowed at least three goals to be scored during the match against Always Ready, which Guabirá lost 6-0.
The experiences of several prominent footballers show how changing positions expanded their roles or rescued their careers, from Thierry Henry’s move into attack and Andrea Pirlo’s shift into a holding role to Joelinton’s transition into midfield. The cases show that success depends on the team adapting and making use of the player’s skills, not on the tactical decision alone.
Former executives of the Cameroon Football Federation have accused its president, Samuel Eto'o, of transferring more than 567,000 euros from fees for a 2023 friendly against Russia to his personal account. Reports say Eto'o has consistently denied the allegations, while the officials said they had filed complaints with FIFA's Ethics Committee.
The body responsible for Premier League referees admitted an error in assessing Enzo Fernandez’s impact during the goal that gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over Manchester United. It said the video assistant referee should have recommended a review after Erling Haaland’s goal was awarded despite initially being ruled out for offside.
The United States won the Women’s Basketball World Cup for the fifth consecutive time after beating France 97-79 in Sunday’s final. The U.S. extended its tournament winning streak to 36 games, while France achieved the best result in its history at the competition by finishing runner-up.
Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Sunderland to move to 12 points, while Liverpool drew 0-0 with Fulham. The fourth round also saw Chelsea draw 2-2 with Hull City, with Algerian Mohamed Bachir Belloumi scoring twice.
Egyptian club Zamalek reached the African Champions League round of 32 after beating Djibouti’s AS Port 4-0, with Abdullah El-Said scoring three goals. They were joined by Tunisia’s Club Africain and MC Alger, who respectively overcame Mali’s Djoliba and Nigelec in the first preliminary round.
Kylian Mbappé said Paris Saint-Germain has become the team that Real Madrid and the rest of the Champions League contenders must beat after winning the title twice in a row. The French striker insisted that moving to the Spanish club was not a mistake, but fulfilled a personal dream of playing in a Real Madrid shirt.
Mohamed Salah scored three goals and set up the fourth as Trabzonspor beat Galatasaray 4-0 in the sixth round of the Turkish league. The Egyptian star was praised by his club’s management, manager and team-mate Fabinho, as well as analysts and journalists who said his pace and quality in transition settled the match.