Savannah DeMelo and Racing Louisville
14 September 2026

Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo is suing University of Louisville Health and two physicians, alleging they failed to diagnose a heart condition before she suffered cardiac arrest during an NWSL match in September 2025. She has not played since.

DeMelo said an undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia caused her collapse, revealing the diagnosis publicly for the first time on the incident’s one-year anniversary. Her lawsuit alleges the condition was missed before the Seattle match, which was stopped when she collapsed.

Al-Taawoun, Ruben Neves and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation
15 September 2026

Saudi Arabia’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee fined Al-Taawoun 100,000 riyals and ordered two consecutive home matches behind closed doors over offensive chants aimed at Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves and referencing the death of his friend Diogo Jota.

Al-Hilal had filed an official complaint after the incident, while Al-Taawoun publicly rejected the conduct and described it as individual behaviour. The disciplinary committee said the punishment is final and cannot be appealed, closing the federation’s formal process into the chants.

Lionel Messi and Eldense
15 September 2026

Lionel Messi has signed an agreement to purchase all shares in Spanish second-division club Eldense, according to the supplied report. The transaction would make the Inter Miami forward the club’s sole owner, subject to approval from Spain’s Sports Council.

The purchase agreement is already under review, leaving regulatory approval as the remaining hurdle. Eldense have around 3,500 season-ticket holders and were recently promoted to the second tier, while Javi Calleja is identified as the leading coaching candidate.

Raheem Sterling
15 September 2026

Raheem Sterling pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possessing nitrous oxide and failing to provide a breath specimen after a May crash in Hampshire. Prosecutors said the free agent had been inhaling the class C drug while driving during morning rush hour.

Police found six nitrous oxide canisters in Sterling’s vehicle after motorists reported his driving before the crash. A judge adjourned sentencing until November 25 and said all sentencing options remain open, meaning a custodial sentence has not been ruled out.

Alex Morgan, Marta and other women’s footballers
15 September 2026

Alex Morgan, Marta, Crystal Dunn and more than a dozen leading current and former players signed an open letter asking FIFA to place the U20 Women’s World Cup inside the international match calendar, allowing clubs to release eligible players without scheduling conflicts.

Several professional teenagers are absent from the 2026 tournament because clubs are not required to release them outside a FIFA window. The players argue calendar alignment would strengthen national squads, improve tournament quality and give clubs greater certainty when planning seasons.

Patrick Vieira and Senegal
15 September 2026

Patrick Vieira has been named Senegal’s new national-team head coach, taking his first job in international management. The Dakar-born former France captain said he was honoured and proud to lead his birth nation and will be formally presented on Friday.

Vieira replaces Pape Thiaw after Senegal’s World Cup exit and will announce his first squad at his unveiling. His opening competitive tests are upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mozambique and Ethiopia, with Senegal also pursuing an appeal over their stripped title.

Juan Manuel Ferrel, Guabira and Club Always Ready
15 September 2026

Guabira coach Leonardo Eguez said goalkeeper Juan Manuel Ferrel received death threats against himself and family members before Sunday’s 6-0 defeat to Club Always Ready. Ferrel was allegedly told to pay money or concede three goals to avoid violence.

Bolivia’s professional footballers’ union called for an immediate investigation, while Club Always Ready’s legal adviser said authorities should intervene because the match result’s validity was now in question. Guabira had not issued an official statement at the time of reporting.

Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission and Mexican Football Federation
14 September 2026

Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission has opened a formal investigation into possible monopolistic practices in professional football, focusing on the continued absence of promotion and relegation. The probe follows complaints and protests from second-division clubs and players seeking access to Liga MX.

Promotion was suspended in 2019 with an agreement to restore it by 2026, but no active return plan exists. The commission said sufficient evidence justified an ex-officio investigation and warned the Mexican Football Federation could face fines if liability is established.

Matt Donohue, Blake Antrobus and Pro Ref
14 September 2026

Manchester derby VAR Matt Donohue and assistant VAR Blake Antrobus have not been appointed for this weekend’s Premier League matches after Pro Ref admitted an error in awarding Erling Haaland’s winning goal for Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Pro Ref said the officials failed to recognise the likely impact of offside-positioned Enzo Fernandez and should have recommended an on-field review. The decision means Donohue and Antrobus will not handle another top-flight match until October 10 at the earliest.

Marcelo Gallardo and Ecuador
13 September 2026

Ecuador have appointed Marcelo Gallardo as national-team coach ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle. The Ecuadorian Football Federation announced the agreement after Gabriel Beccacece’s departure, handing the former River Plate manager responsibility for the 2028 Copa America and World Cup qualification.

Gallardo arrives after leaving his second River Plate spell in February, having won seven domestic titles, two Copa Libertadores trophies and a Copa Sudamericana across his time there. His Ecuador debut could come against South Korea on September 24.