Former US President Donald Trump personally intervened with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to overturn a red-card ban for US striker Folarin Balogun, a decision UEFA called 'unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable' and which has sparked widespread criticism over the integrity of the game.
AFC Executive Committee member Shaji Prabhakaran advocates for a balanced, long-term strategy for integrating OCI and PIO players into Indian football, stressing it's not a complete solution but a part of broader development. He also analyses recent World Cup semifinals, highlighting Spain's tactical dominance and Argentina's fighting spirit.
Athletics Federation of India's selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla has dismissed concerns over Neeraj Chopra's recent silver medal, stating that the "country's greatest athlete" should not be scrutinised for an occasional silver after consistently delivering gold for a decade.
Former AC Milan and Italy defender Franco Baresi, one of the most recognisable players of the golden era of Italian football in the 1980s and 1990s, has died at the age of 66, his former club said on Friday.
Julian Quinones continued his remarkable FIFA World Cup campaign with his third goal as Mexico defeated Ecuador to reach the last 16, ending a 40-year knockout drought and inspiring fresh belief among the home fans.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured the All India Football Federation of full government support to host India's biggest-ever international football fixture against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. This historic match will be India's first against a top-five FIFA-ranked nation, offering crucial exposure to the national team despite initial concerns over crowd management.
Legendary Indian sprinter and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards. Other recipients included Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan, and Anju Bobby George, recognising their significant contributions to Indian athletics.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's ambitious plan to sell a 20% stake in a commercial entity managing the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors has been abandoned following widespread opposition, including a boycott threat from UEFA.
Former India women's hockey captain Asunta Lakra has written to the Sports Ministry, SAI, and IOA, alleging institutional protection of sexual harassment and intimidation of women athletes within the sport. She claims she faced threats and a smear campaign after raising concerns about an individual, Sudhir Gola, and has accused Hockey India Secretary General Bholanath Singh of threatening her. Singh denies the allegations, linking them to upcoming elections, while Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey has acknowledged Lakra's concerns and promised an amicable resolution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described sports as an essential aspect of India's journey towards becoming a developed nation, saying that the new National Sports Policy will ensure a sporting growth that covers the farthest school to the elite Olympics.
Ashish Yadav clinched a silver medal in the men's javelin throw, marking India's first medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Pooja Singh also advanced to the women's high jump final, while other Indian athletes competed in various events, including the men's 400m and long jump, showcasing promising talent.
Ashish Yadav secured a silver medal in the men's javelin throw at the World Athletics U20 Championships, marking India's first medal at the event. His throw of 74.09m placed him second, following South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans who won gold. Yadav is now the second Indian to win silver in this event, after Neeraj Chopra.
India's top sprinter, Gurindervir Singh, was eliminated from the men's 100m event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 28th overall in the heats with a time of 10.39 seconds, significantly slower than his national record.
India's top sprinter, Gurindervir Singh, was eliminated from the men's 100m event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing 28th overall in the heats with a time of 10.39 seconds, significantly slower than his national record.
Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra is set to renew his rivalry with Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage at the Lausanne Diamond League, with both athletes vying for a spot in the prestigious DL grand finale in Brussels.
Jamshedpur FC has announced its withdrawal from the Indian Super League (ISL) starting from the 2026-27 season, hours after missing a payment deadline. The club stated its commitment to promoting and developing football at the grassroots level in India. This comes amidst a new agreement between AIFF and ISL clubs for a club-led model of the league.
India concluded its campaign at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships with an impressive haul of five gold, 10 silver, and four bronze medals. The performance highlighted the strength of India's youth boxing programme, with notable gold medal wins by Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, Prachi, and Nisha.
The National Junior (U20) Athletics Federation competition is set to begin in Tumkur, Karnataka, with young athletes vying for a spot in the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong.
Himachal Pradesh's Sawan Barwal broke the 48-year-old national marathon record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam, clocking 2:11:58 and surpassing Shivnath Singh's 1978 record.
Two senior Indian volleyball players have quit the national camp in Ahmedabad, citing concerns over incompetent coaches, poor facilities, and politics within the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI).
Morocco's impressive rise in global football is uniquely funded by its vast phosphate reserves, with the state-owned OCP Group investing heavily in national team development. This strategic investment, driven by a royal directive, supports training academies and infrastructure, contributing to the nation's recent successes like reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The country's abundant phosphate resources provide a stable economic base for these ambitious sporting endeavours.
England's football team received a hostile welcome upon arriving at their Mexico City hotel for their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against hosts Mexico. Fans used loudspeakers and chants to disrupt their sleep, a tactic previously used against Ecuador. Security has been heightened following disturbances and post-victory violence. The match is set to kick off as scheduled despite weather concerns.
India's National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has provisionally suspended 24 athletes across various sports, including cricketer Bhupen Lalwani, weightlifter Ajith Narayana, wrestler Sahil Jaglan, and national record holder runner KM Deeksha, for failing dope tests. The suspensions highlight ongoing challenges with doping in Indian sports.
Roberto Mancini has returned for a second spell as Italy coach, vowing to revive the Azzurri's fortunes after the nation missed the last three World Cups and failed to win a major trophy since Euro 2020 under his previous leadership.
Randhir Singh, a prominent figure in Indian sports and the Olympic movement, has died at the age of 79. He was known for his contributions as an athlete, administrator, and advocate for Indian sports on the international stage.
A 51-day national rowing camp for women has commenced in Gorakhpur to strengthen the team's preparations for the Asian Games in Japan later this year. The camp, organised by the Sports Authority of India, focuses on training rowers for the continental event.
Viswanathan Anand will not seek re-election for a third term as Deputy President of FIDE.
AIFF and ISL clubs have reached a landmark agreement that hands commercial rights to clubs while the federation retains regulatory control, paving the way for a club-led Indian Super League from the 2026-27 season.
Indian judoka Arun Kumar has been withdrawn from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after failing an out-of-competition dope test. He has received a provisional suspension from NADA, reducing India's contingent size.
Indian judoka Arun Kumar has been withdrawn from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after failing an out-of-competition dope test. He has received a provisional suspension from NADA, reducing India's contingent size.
Kosovo is on the brink of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time, a significant achievement after overcoming a sporting ban during Serbian rule in the 1990s.
India's prominent table tennis player, Manika Batra, has been excluded from the national squad for the upcoming Asian Games due to her absence from domestic events, which impacted her national ranking. The Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) cited adherence to its selection criteria, which prioritises both national and world rankings.
Andrea Pirlo, a 2006 World Cup winner and former Juventus manager, has reportedly been appointed as the new head coach of the Italian national football team on a four-year deal.
Sawan Barwal broke the national marathon record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam, clocking 2 hours 11 minutes and 58 seconds, surpassing the previous record set in 1978.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is implementing the new BWF 3x15 scoring format across all domestic tournaments from this month. This change aims to familiarise Indian shuttlers with the revised system before its international adoption next year, impacting all age groups and national championships.
Guided by Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, the duo have established themselves among the world's elite through a series of impressive performances on the WTT circuit.
Asia No. 1 trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu has been left out of the Indian shotgun contingent for the Asian Games, despite his World Championships bronze medal and top international scores.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is holding a crisis meeting with top officials in Morocco to address the fallout from his failed attempt to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, a move that has led to widespread criticism and calls for his removal.
India's men's volleyball team achieved an unbeaten run to the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup semi-finals, propelling them to World No. 42. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic attributes this success to discipline and a structured system but stresses the need for consistent international exposure, longer national camps, and a robust development pathway to sustain and build upon this momentum, especially amidst administrative uncertainty in Indian volleyball.
Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav admitted that his 'overconfidence' and attempt to outdo both Sri Lankan gold winner Rumesh Pathirage and compatriot Neeraj Chopra during the Commonwealth Games final led to his seventh-place finish, stating he should have curbed his ambition.
