EJ Obiena earns 2027 World Athletics Championships berth

FIFA has issued a detailed clarification regarding its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project following concerns raised by several stakeholders. The world football governing body said the proposal is still under discussion and no final decision will be made without consulting all 211 member associations. In an official statement, FIFA stressed that transparency and consultation remain central to its decision-making process. It said every member association will have the opportunity to review the proposal and express its opinion before any final approval is granted. FIFA said no single organisation or group can claim to represent the interests of all 211 member associations. For that reason, it said all major decisions must be taken collectively after a comprehensive consultation process involving its global membership. The organisation also responded to criticism suggesting that the proposed project could result in the commercial sale of football. FIFA strongly rejected those claims and stated that football is not being sold under any circumstances. The governing body said it would never compromise the integrity of the sport or transfer ownership of its commercial operations. It added that the proposed enterprise is intended solely to improve the management of commercial activities while keeping FIFA in full control. According to FIFA, the proposal involves establishing a subsidiary company under the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative. The subsidiary would manage certain commercial operations, but it would remain entirely owned and controlled by FIFA. The organisation said the project aims to generate higher commercial revenue, allowing greater investment in football development programmes across the world. FIFA said the additional income would be distributed among all member associations through its existing development framework. Under the proposal, every FIFA member association could receive up to $20 million in FIFA Forward funding during the 2027-2030 funding cycle. The organisation said the increased financial support would help national football associations strengthen infrastructure, improve grassroots development, enhance coaching programmes and invest in long-term football projects. FIFA also clarified that while the proposal may include external investment, such investment would not affect FIFA’s governance structure, independence or decision-making authority. The organisation said it would retain complete ownership and operational control of the proposed subsidiary. The governing body further stated that the project has not yet been approved and remains subject to discussions with member associations. It emphasised that the proposal could still be amended if member associations recommend changes during the consultation process. FIFA made it clear that if a majority of its 211 member associations do not support the proposal, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project will not move forward.

LONDON: Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has launched legal action against Crystal Palace over a controversial banner displayed by Palace supporters during a Premier League match last year, according to reports. Marinakis’ legal team reportedly filed a defamation claim against Crystal Palace and unidentified individuals at the High Court in London on Monday. The action comes almost a year after the banner was displayed during the clubs’ 1-1 Premier League draw at Selhurst Park. The banner depicted Marinakis appearing to hold a gun to the head of Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. It also contained a message referring to allegations of blackmail, match-fixing, drug trafficking and corruption. Marinakis, a Greek shipping and media businessman, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in relation to such allegations. The incident had already drawn disciplinary attention from English football authorities. In November 2025, the Football Association charged Crystal Palace with failing to ensure that its supporters did not behave in an improper, offensive, abusive or provocative manner. The club was subsequently fined £50,000 ($67,000) over the incident. The dispute comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the two clubs. The match in August 2025 was played after Nottingham Forest replaced Palace in the Europa League, while Crystal Palace were moved to the Conference League following a UEFA ruling related to its multi-club ownership structure. The controversy surrounding the banner has now moved beyond football disciplinary procedures and into the courts, potentially putting the relationship between the two clubs under further scrutiny. Marinakis, 59, is a prominent figure in European football. Besides Forest, he owns Greek club Olympiacos and Portugal’s Rio Ave, making him one of the more influential multi-club owners in the sport. The latest legal action could reignite debate over the limits of fan expression and where football rivalry crosses into potentially defamatory or threatening territory. Crystal Palace have yet to publicly respond to the reported High Court claim. The case could now determine whether the provocative banner amounts to legally actionable defamation.