Rangers, Derek McInnes and the Scottish FA
Wednesday

Rangers will contest Derek McInnes’ four-match touchline ban for calling a late Celtic penalty decision disgusting. The comments were made last season when McInnes was still managing Hearts.

Rangers argue the remarks targeted the decision, not officials personally, and say similar language has drawn lighter punishment before. McInnes is due to miss Rangers’ opening league matches if the sanction stands.

U.S. sportsbooks, FIFA and World Cup bettors
After the 2026 World Cup

U.S. sportsbooks reported record betting activity for the 2026 World Cup, with one executive describing it as the equivalent of ten Super Bowls. DraftKings and BetMGM reported huge growth from 2022.

North American time zones, more matches and host-nation interest helped drive betting volume. Caesars said World Cup bet count topped combined men’s and women’s March Madness by 30%, showing soccer’s growing U.S. gambling pull.

Wolves, Tolu Arokodare and Cesar Peixoto
Monday

Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare forced a training session to be cancelled after refusing to leave the pitch. BBC Sport was told the Nigeria international sat down and demanded the club allow him to join Fiorentina.

Wolves have rejected Fiorentina’s bid while accepting an offer from Trabzonspor. The incident gives new manager Cesar Peixoto an early squad-management issue after Arokodare’s difficult first season following his £24m move from Genk.

Aissa Mandi and Algeria
Wednesday

Algeria defender Aissa Mandi has announced his retirement from international football after the 2026 World Cup. The 34-year-old said representing Algeria had been an exceptional honour but that the right time had come.

Mandi leaves after more than a decade with the national team and was part of the side that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. His exit follows Riyad Mahrez also ending his Algeria career.

Liverpool, FSG, Amit Bhatia and Jeff Bezos
Wednesday

Liverpool’s possible minority investment talks took a new turn after reports said Jeff Bezos had been approached about joining Amit Bhatia’s consortium. FSG declined to comment on whether Bezos was involved.

The development follows confirmation that Bhatia’s group is exploring a strategic minority investment in Liverpool. A potential deal has reportedly valued the club at around £4.5bn, raising questions over FSG’s long-term plans.

Mike Harris, The New Saints and the FAW
Wednesday

The Football Association of Wales charged The New Saints chairman Mike Harris with multiple disciplinary offences over a deleted social media post. The post appeared to show AI-generated video of topless women.

Harris is accused of publishing offensive, insulting and derogatory content that brought Welsh football into disrepute. He has seven business days to respond and was previously punished by the FAW in 2019.

Wrexham, Newcastle United and Steve Nickson
Wednesday

Wrexham are close to appointing Newcastle United recruitment chief Steve Nickson as their new sporting director. Nickson is expected to leave Newcastle this summer and join the ambitious Welsh Championship club in September.

Nickson helped Newcastle sign Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Bruno Guimaraes during 15 years at the club. Wrexham see the move as a next-level appointment as they chase a future Premier League push.

Pep Guardiola, Italy and Giovanni Malago
Wednesday

Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago confirmed talks have taken place with Pep Guardiola over becoming Italy head coach. He also said financial exceptions could be made, though Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo remain among the candidates.

Italy are without a manager after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following a third straight World Cup failure. Guardiola left Manchester City in May, making him a high-profile but expensive option for the Azzurri rebuild.

Spain, Morocco, FIFA and the 2030 World Cup organisers
Ahead of the 2030 World Cup

Spain and Morocco are competing to host the 2030 World Cup final, with Madrid’s Bernabeu and Morocco’s planned Stade Hassan II viewed as the leading contenders for the showpiece match.

Spain has history, football power and established infrastructure, while Morocco is building a 115,000-seat stadium and pushing hard politically. FIFA’s final decision could hinge on control, government support and strategic relationships.

Belgium, Mark van Bommel and Rudi Garcia
Wednesday

Belgium have reportedly reached an agreement for Mark van Bommel to become their next manager. The Dutchman is expected to replace Rudi Garcia, who left after Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final defeat by Spain.

Van Bommel’s deal is said to run until June 2028, covering the next major international cycle. He brings experience from PSV, Wolfsburg and Royal Antwerp, but limited exposure at elite national-team level.