David Owori, SC Villa and Uganda’s national team
Wednesday

SC Villa captain and Uganda international David Owori has died aged 27 after being attacked by suspected robbers near his Kampala home. Police said he was beaten while resisting the theft of his phone and belongings.

Witnesses reported that attackers struck Owori with paving stones before fleeing. He died after being transferred between medical facilities, while police preserved evidence and pursued leads as clubs, officials, supporters and national-team colleagues demanded justice.

Spain’s sports minister, FIFA, Portugal and Morocco
Thursday

Spanish sports minister Milagros Tolon said Spain deserves to stage the 2030 World Cup final rather than co-host Morocco. FIFA has not selected the venue and denied reports that Gianni Infantino had already offered the match to Morocco.

Tolon cited Spain’s tournament experience, transport network, security and status as reigning men’s and women’s world champions. Spain will continue discussions with FIFA in September, while Morocco is promoting a planned 115,000-seat stadium near Casablanca.

Arsenal and Emirates airline
Thursday

Arsenal have extended their strategic partnership with Emirates through 2033. The agreement keeps the airline’s branding on match shirts and training wear while preserving the Emirates Stadium naming rights under the Premier League’s longest-running shirt sponsorship.

The relationship began in 2006 and will pass its 20-year anniversary during the renewed term. Arsenal described the extension as supporting future sporting and commercial ambitions, while both parties plan supporter events and a commemorative promotional campaign.

Ebbsfleet United and the National League
Thursday

Ebbsfleet United’s opening three National League South fixtures have been suspended immediately because of continuing financial problems and an HMRC winding-up petition. Matches against Slough Town, Folkestone Invicta and Chelmsford City will now require rescheduling.

The club must provide satisfactory evidence that its obligations can be met while completing a proposed takeover. Ebbsfleet remain under a transfer embargo, and the National League has informed the Independent Football Regulator about the situation.

LaLiga, DAZN, Disney+ and beIN Sports
Thursday

LaLiga has awarded its French broadcast rights to DAZN and Disney+ for the next three seasons, ending beIN Sports’ coverage after 14 years. Both new platforms will carry every match from each round in France.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said the dual-platform approach should expand audiences and give viewers more choice. BeIN criticised the economics of splitting identical rights packages and questioned the newcomers’ records and positions within the French market.

The Argentine Football Association and Argentina’s national teams
Wednesday

Argentina’s football association officially declared 15 July as National Football Teams Day, commemorating the men’s dramatic 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England in Atlanta. The decision followed a unanimous vote by the association’s executive council.

Argentina recovered through late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez before losing the final to Spain. The commemoration permanently elevates the England victory, despite controversy surrounding the team’s post-match Falklands banner and subsequent FIFA investigation.

Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroon Football Federation and CAF
Wednesday

CAF’s appeals committee has cancelled every sanction imposed on Cameroon federation president Samuel Eto’o following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Morocco. The original punishment included a four-match suspension and a $20,000 fine.

Eto’o had been sanctioned for protesting refereeing decisions and allegedly confronting an official after Cameroon’s defeat. Cameroon appealed immediately, calling the ruling unjustified, and the successful challenge removes both the sporting penalty and all attached legal effects.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s management board and Mattias Grafstrom
Wednesday

FIFA said Gianni Infantino retained the full support of its senior management after a seven-hour crisis meeting in Morocco. The organisation acknowledged mistakes over the abandoned private-investment proposal, apologised to member associations and confirmed that Infantino would remain president.

FIFA will conduct a formal review and present its findings to the council at a scheduled meeting. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney separately said he had lost confidence in Infantino, maintaining significant external pressure despite the internal show of unity.

The Association of European Leagues and FIFA
Wednesday

The Association of European Leagues has formally rejected proposals to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams. The organisation said FIFA should no longer be permitted to make major unilateral decisions that affect domestic leagues, clubs, players and supporters.

The statement adds organised European opposition while FIFA reviews the enlarged format. League representatives argue that further expansion would worsen fixture congestion and undermine existing competitions, increasing pressure on FIFA to abandon the proposal before any formal approval.

Newcastle United and Matthias Jaissle
Wednesday

Newcastle United have officially appointed Matthias Jaissle as head coach on a four-year contract, replacing Eddie Howe. The 38-year-old German arrives from Al-Ahli after Newcastle reportedly paid more than £9m in compensation to release him from his agreement.

Jaissle joins a squad undergoing a major transition following several important departures and Bruno Guimaraes’ expected move to Arsenal. Newcastle selected him for his high-intensity pressing, player-development record and success in Austria and Saudi Arabia.