The FIFA World Cup has produced unforgettable goals, legendary players and historic triumphs—but it has also been marked by moments of controversy that sparked global debate. From disputed refereeing decisions and infamous handballs to shocking fouls and political protests, these incidents have become part of football folklore. Here are some of the most controversial moments in World Cup history. 1. Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ (1986) Perhaps the most famous controversy in football history occurred during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina
Barcelona’s new wage structure for the 2026/27 season has placed teenage superstar Lamine Yamal at the top of the club’s salary rankings, following his long-term contract extension signed in 2025. According to the latest available salary estimates, Yamal is now the highest-paid player in the Blaugrana squad. Is Lamine Yamal Barcelona’s top earner? Yes. Based on current salary estimates, Lamine Yamal is Barcelona’s highest-paid player for the 2026/27 season. His reported earnings include: The figures relate to his fixed salary and exclude performance
Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) has successfully concluded its 2026 Modern Sailing Summer Camp after four weeks of intensive training, welcoming children and young participants from diverse nationalities as part of its ongoing efforts to develop marine sports and nurture the next generation of sailing talent. The programme was held at Bulgari Beach Dubai and targeted children aged 6 to under 15. The camp combined classroom instruction with practical on-water sessions under the supervision of experienced Emirati coaches, giving participants a solid foundation
Lionel Messi made a successful return from injury as Inter Miami battled to a 2-2 draw against Columbus Crew in a thrilling Major League Soccer (MLS) encounter, marking the Argentine superstar's first appearance after missing several matches. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a muscle injury, receiving a warm welcome from fans as he helped Inter Miami earn a valuable point in a hard-fought contest. Messi Back in Action Messi had been sidelined in recent weeks,
For nine years, one name sat at the top of almost every Liverpool list — goals, assists and, invariably, wages. With Mohamed Salah now gone, that has changed. The Egyptian left Anfield as a free agent at the start of July, ending a glittering nine-year spell after agreeing to end his contract a year early, and his departure has reshaped the top of the club’s pay structure. So who is Liverpool’s highest earner for the 2026/27 season? The new No. 1: Virgil van
Pakistan women's cricket captain Fatima Sana met England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham during Birmingham Phoenix's The Hundred fixture at Edgbaston on 1 August 2026. Bellingham was present at the venue in his role as a minority part-owner and investor in Birmingham Phoenix. Instagram Post Goes Viral Fatima Sana shared a carousel of photos from the day on Instagram, including a picture with the Real Madrid midfielder, who has recently gone viral online following the popular "Jude aura" trend. She captioned the
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing mounting criticism after his proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup, was withdrawn following widespread opposition from regional football confederations. The backlash has prompted UEFA and CONCACAF to publicly question Infantino's leadership, raising concerns over governance, transparency and the future direction of world football. Controversial World Cup Rights Proposal Withdrawn The controversy centred on FIFA's reported $4.2 billion proposal to sell stakes in a new commercial entity
India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is likely to miss the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka later this month, with the BCCI medical team reportedly advising him to extend his recovery from a left-knee issue. According to reports, no replacement has been named yet. Recovery Continues After England Tour Bumrah has not bowled since the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16. He was ruled out of the final ODI at Lord's after sustaining an impact injury while fielding during
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the 12 venues that will host the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, marking the tournament's long-awaited return to Africa after more than two decades. Co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, the 50-over World Cup will feature 14 teams competing across October and November 2027. Africa to Host ODI World Cup After More Than 20 Years The 2027 edition will be the first ODI World Cup held in Africa since the 2003 tournament, bringing world-class
European football's governing body, UEFA, has warned that it will boycott the FIFA World Cup if FIFA proceeds with plans to allow private investors to acquire stakes in a new commercial entity overseeing its major competitions. In a strongly worded statement, UEFA said the World Cup "is not for sale" and insisted that football's governance should never be influenced by private investment. UEFA Warns of World Cup Boycott UEFA stated that no UEFA national teams would participate in any FIFA competition if the
Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala produced another impressive performance by defeating defending champion Leylah Fernandez to book her place in the Washington Open quarterfinals on Wednesday. The 21-year-old defeated the seventh-seeded Canadian 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), overcoming a dramatic second-set deficit to continue her remarkable run on the WTA Tour. Eala Fights Back from 5-1 Down Eala dominated the opening set 6-2, capitalizing on a series of unforced errors from Fernandez. The momentum shifted in the second set as Fernandez raced to a 5-1
FIFA has announced disciplinary charges against three members of Argentina's national team following the heated conclusion of the FIFA World Cup final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Midfielder Leandro Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala are facing assault-related allegations stemming from incidents that occurred after the final whistle. Assault Allegations Against Argentina Trio According to FIFA: Ayala later apologized for the incident but claimed he reacted to something Olmo
West Indies produced a dominant bowling performance to defeat Pakistan by 90 runs in the opening Test of the two-match series in Trinidad on Tuesday. Chasing 211 on a challenging fourth-day pitch, Pakistan were bowled out for 120 in just 40.2 overs, suffering their fourth consecutive Test defeat and eighth straight loss away from home. Pakistan's batting struggled for the second innings in a row, collapsing to 71 for 9 before a last-wicket stand of 49 runs between Babar Azam (58 not out)
FIFA has announced plans to establish a new commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), valued at $20 billion, in a move aimed at expanding football's commercial growth while continuing to invest in the sport worldwide. The proposal will be presented to FIFA's 211 Member Associations and the FIFA Council for approval. According to FIFA, FFE will consolidate the organization's commercial and event-related operations, while FIFA will retain full control over football governance, competitions, regulations, and the international match calendar. The governing body
Top British Athletes Prepare For Home Soil Competition Great Britain proudly named Keely Hodgkinson and Dina Asher-Smith to their 98-strong squad. These talented athletes will compete at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. Many high-profile British competitors skipped the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. They chose to focus entirely on this highly anticipated European event. Olympic champion Hodgkinson and sprinter Asher-Smith want to defend their European titles. They will race at Alexander Stadium next month. Britain hosts these prestigious championships for the first
McLaren Secures Victory As Mercedes Encounters Race Struggles Lando Norris drove brilliantly to win the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position. This incredible achievement marks his first victory since becoming world champion. Max Verstappen drove a solid race to secure second place for Red Bull. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli completed the podium by finishing in third place. However, Lewis Hamilton endured a highly frustrating race for Ferrari. Race officials handed Hamilton a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. He eventually crossed
Contract Decisions Loom Large For The Veteran Driver Fernando Alonso must make a major career decision very soon. His current contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of the year. He turns 45 this week and boasts an incredible 25-year racing career. He wants to ensure he makes the correct choice regarding his future. He knows he will not return to Formula 1 if he leaves now. Alonso politely discusses his mindset regarding his future with the press. He fully plans to
Major Tennis Champions Join The Mixed Doubles Draw Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will team up for the US Open. Organizers completely revamped this mixed doubles event last year. They designed the new format specifically to attract superstar pairings. The exciting two-day tournament begins on August 25 in New York. Fans eagerly anticipate seeing these global icons share a court. Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka bring star power to the US Open. The revamped mixed doubles tournament offers massive financial rewards for top
A Rare And Surprising Gap Between Tournament Victories Scottie Scheffler has not won a single golf tournament in six months. The world number one last triumphed at the American Express Open in January. He previously earned a staggering 14 victories over the past two seasons. The four major championships passed this year without a Scheffler victory. Fans remain surprised by this sudden halt in his incredible momentum. He recently missed his first cut in 78 consecutive events. This rare stumble ended the longest
A Decade-Long Wait Finally Ends In Joyous Celebration Jenny Shin happily won the Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links this weekend. She successfully held off fellow South Korean A-Lim Kim to secure the title. Shin shot a respectable three-over-par 75 in the final round. She finished the grueling tournament on nine under par overall. Her friends rushed the final green to celebrate with water and champagne. This incredible achievement marks her first championship victory in more than ten years. She earned only her






















