Andros Townsend joins PT Prachuap FC

Chelsea have continued their active summer transfer business by completing the signing of Argentine defender and midfielder Valentin Barco on a seven-year contract. The 22-year-old becomes the club’s seventh signing of the current transfer window, further highlighting Chelsea’s determination to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season under head coach Xabi Alonso. Barco arrives from French side Strasbourg, becoming the second player to make the move from the Ligue 1 club to Stamford Bridge this summer after striker Emmanuel Emegha. The transfer also adds to the growing number of deals completed between Chelsea and Strasbourg since both clubs came under the same ownership group. Since the beginning of last season, the two clubs have conducted several player transfers as part of their long-term sporting strategy. Known for his versatility, Barco is capable of playing as a left-back, wing-back or central midfielder. His technical ability, attacking mindset and composure on the ball have made him one of Argentina’s promising young talents. Chelsea believe his flexibility will provide valuable options across multiple positions during the upcoming campaign. Barco is no stranger to English football. He previously joined Brighton & Hove Albion but struggled to establish himself in the Premier League. Seeking regular first-team football, he moved to Strasbourg on loan in 2024 before making the switch permanent the following year. His performances in France helped Strasbourg secure qualification for the UEFA Conference League, with Barco becoming one of the team’s standout performers. His consistent displays earned praise for his defensive work, creativity and ability to contribute in attack. On the international stage, Barco has also continued to build his reputation. He was part of Argentina’s squad that reached the FIFA World Cup final, gaining valuable experience alongside some of the country’s biggest stars. During the tournament, he attracted attention after an emotional exchange with England midfielder Jude Bellingham following Argentina’s passionate celebrations in front of England’s players after the semi-final victory. Chelsea’s latest signing reflects the club’s continued focus on recruiting young players with significant long-term potential. The Blues have invested heavily in emerging talent in recent transfer windows, aiming to build a squad capable of competing for major honours over the coming years. Barco joins a growing list of new arrivals at Stamford Bridge this summer. Chelsea recently confirmed the signing of experienced striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton, adding leadership and attacking depth to the squad. The club have also strengthened their defence with the arrival of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, while Morgan Rogers has joined from Aston Villa to boost the attacking midfield options. In addition to those signings, Chelsea have secured the services of Marco Palestra, Emmanuel Emegha and Geovany Quenda as part of their extensive recruitment drive. With pre-season preparations continuing, Chelsea hope the arrival of Barco and several other new faces will help the team adapt quickly to Xabi Alonso’s tactical approach. Expectations are high as the Blues look to challenge strongly in domestic competitions while returning to the top level of European football. Barco’s versatility, energy and international experience are expected to make him an important addition as Chelsea prepare for the new season.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a strong defence of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of focusing on controversy while overlooking what he described as a tournament that united millions of people around the world. In an open letter published on Monday and shared on his personal social media accounts as well as FIFA’s official platforms, Infantino responded to criticism surrounding the tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and won by Spain. The FIFA chief argued that many detractors ignored the positive impact of the competition and instead concentrated on negative narratives. He praised the atmosphere created by fans and highlighted football’s ability to bring people together across generations. Addressing critics directly, Infantino wrote, “To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents, and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness.” He continued, “Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.” The 56-year-old also appeared to criticise journalists and commentators, claiming that while FIFA had worked tirelessly to organise a successful tournament, others had focused on spreading misinformation. “To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world,” he wrote. Infantino pointed to what he described as the tournament’s outstanding security record. According to the FIFA president, nearly seven million spectators from more than 200 countries attended matches throughout the competition. “We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness,” he said. Despite the successful attendance figures, the tournament faced criticism over travel and visa restrictions affecting supporters and officials from several participating nations, including Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Somali referee Omar Artan was also reportedly denied entry to the United States after not receiving a visa. Responding to those concerns, Infantino said, “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.” The FIFA president also addressed debates over refereeing decisions, player suspensions and disciplinary rulings during the tournament. He argued that controversial officiating is common across football and questioned why FIFA had received such intense scrutiny. “Potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” he said, adding, “It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.” Concluding his message, Infantino urged critics to focus on football’s ability to unite people rather than dwell on controversy. “To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions,” he wrote, ending with the message, “May football rise above all hate.”

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning that removing the football chief would be a “terrible mistake” as opposition to Infantino grows within several major football confederations. Trump’s intervention came after UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly criticised Infantino in an unusually strong open letter, accusing him of damaging trust and placing his authority above the wider football community. “If, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said on Truth Social, “FIFA would be making a terrible mistake.” The US president described Infantino as “fantastic” and praised his leadership of the expanded 2026 World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Trump also argued that the tournament had been the most successful World Cup ever and warned that FIFA could struggle to maintain the same level of success and profitability without Infantino. The public backing is significant because Infantino is facing growing resistance over a controversial proposal to bring private investment into FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The plan was eventually withdrawn after fierce opposition from European football authorities. UEFA had threatened to boycott future World Cups if the investment proposal went ahead, describing the arrangement as an opaque and questionable deal. The pressure ultimately played a major role in Infantino abandoning the plan. The FIFA president received renewed support from senior officials during an emergency meeting in Morocco last week. However, UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC dismissed that backing, arguing that the meeting did not address the concerns raised by the confederations. The three bodies accused Infantino of failing to uphold the principles of accountability and collective leadership. They stressed that football’s governing structure should not revolve around one individual. The dispute could have major consequences ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March 2027. Infantino, who has led FIFA for a decade, is seeking a fourth and final term. Candidates must declare their intentions by November 18. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is regarded as a potential challenger, although Infantino continues to enjoy support from several influential football bodies. The Confederation of African Football has backed him, while South American governing body CONMEBOL remains broadly supportive. Several individual national associations have also expressed support. However, FIFA’s voting system means individual member associations—not confederations—will ultimately decide the election. Infantino’s position had appeared secure after the successful 48-team World Cup, but the private investment controversy has dramatically changed the political landscape. The latest confrontation has therefore turned the road to the 2027 FIFA election into an increasingly intense power struggle, with Trump now openly backing Infantino while several major football authorities demand greater accountability and collective decision-making.

LONDON: Pakistan has produced a historic performance at the 7th F-Class World Championship in the United Kingdom, emerging as the highest medal-winning nation in the FTR category after securing 4 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals during the opening individual competitions. The championship, being held at the renowned Bisley National Shooting Centre, began on 12 August and has brought together 207 elite long-range shooters from 24 countries. The first phase featured individual matches over distances of 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Competing with a modest contingent of just 12 shooters, Team Pakistan outperformed much larger international teams, underlining the country’s rapid rise in long-range target shooting. The achievement comes only three years after Pakistan entered the international F-Class arena, making its emergence as a major force all the more remarkable. The standout performer was Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Ali, who delivered a world-class performance to claim the coveted Individual FTR World Champion title. He won three gold, one silver and one bronze medal, finishing ahead of all 207 competitors through exceptional consistency across all three shooting distances. His triumph marks the biggest individual achievement in Pakistan’s F-Class shooting history. Sepoy Muhammad Waleed added another gold and a bronze medal to Pakistan’s tally, while Huzaifa Gill excelled in the Under-25 category with three silver and two bronze medals. Ahsan Gill also secured a bronze medal. Pakistan’s impressive depth was reflected in the overall standings, with seven shooters—Lt Col Junaid Ali, Muhammad Waleed, Obaid, Qasim, Huzaifa Gill, Junaid Waqas and Ahsan Gulrez—finishing among the championship’s top 100 competitors. The latest success follows another outstanding performance at the F-Class British Open 2026, held at Bisley earlier this month, where Pakistan won seven gold, two silver and four bronze medals, signalling the country’s growing stature in international long-range shooting. Attention now turns to the prestigious 16-member World Championship Team Match, scheduled for 15–16 August, where Pakistan will compete across 800, 900 and 1,000 yards with hopes of adding to its remarkable medal haul. Pakistan’s performances at Bisley have established the national team as one of the fastest-rising forces in world F-Class shooting and brought considerable pride to the country on the international stage.