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FUNCHAL: Hundreds of Cristiano Ronaldo fans reportedly gathered outside a historic cathedral in Portugal over the weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of the football superstar on his wedding day — only to discover that they had arrived for someone else’s ceremony. Rumors circulating on social media and in media reports claimed that Ronaldo was set to marry his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on Saturday in Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeira island. Although Ronaldo’s family reportedly denied the claims, the speculation was enough to send scores of excited fans and journalists to the city’s historic Sé Cathedral. Many waited outside for hours, holding mobile phones and cameras in anticipation of the arrival of the Al Nassr star and Rodriguez. But the expected celebrity wedding never happened. Instead, the cathedral was preparing to host the wedding of a local couple, Nicole and Fabio. Fabio had already arrived at the church, while Nicole faced an unexpected challenge: getting through the crowd that had gathered outside believing Ronaldo would soon appear. The unusual situation created confusion around the cathedral, with tourists, fans and members of the media filling the surrounding streets. The Sé Cathedral administration later addressed the incident on its official Facebook page, congratulating the newly married couple while explaining that the large number of journalists and tourists had caused considerable confusion. The church eventually had to be closed while the wedding ceremony took place. In another post, the cathedral described the scene outside as something it had never experienced before, noting that the bride had difficulty entering the church because of the crowd. The guests also appeared to find the situation amusing. One guest joked to local media that they suddenly felt like celebrities themselves. Another questioned how anyone could have believed Ronaldo would arrive for a wedding without significant security arrangements. Ronaldo himself appeared to see the funny side of the episode. The footballer reportedly reacted to an Instagram post about the confusion with laughing-with-tears emojis, giving fans a glimpse of his reaction without directly confirming or denying any future wedding plans. Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been together for years and became engaged last year. Reports have previously claimed that Ronaldo presented Rodriguez with an expensive engagement ring featuring a large diamond. Despite the latest frenzy in Madeira, the couple has not announced a wedding date. For now, fans hoping to witness Ronaldo walk down the aisle will have to wait — and perhaps check the guest list before heading to the church.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed criticism after three major football confederations jointly challenged his leadership and decision-making. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a strongly worded letter on Monday. They stressed that football is a collective institution and should not be controlled by any single individual. The latest criticism follows Infantino’s controversial proposal to allow private investment in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The plan was withdrawn only days after it was announced following strong opposition from several football bodies. The three confederations had previously criticised the proposal. Their latest statement indicates that tensions with FIFA’s leadership have not eased despite the withdrawal of the plan. The organisations argued that leadership in football should be based on responsibility, transparency and collective decision-making. They accused FIFA’s leadership of failing to meet those standards. The dispute could become particularly significant ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election. Infantino is expected to seek a fourth and final term in office. The election is scheduled to take place in Rabat next March, while candidates must declare their intentions by November 18. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is considered a potential challenger to Infantino. Infantino had previously appeared likely to face little opposition after FIFA oversaw a successful 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. However, the private investment controversy has changed the political landscape within world football. UEFA played a major role in forcing the proposal off the table. European football officials had warned that they could consider boycotting World Cups if the investment plan went ahead. Such a move could have seriously affected the tournament because it could have involved major football nations, including Spain, France and England. The three confederations said FIFA’s own explanation of the controversy had focused too heavily on communication problems. They argued that the issue was more serious and reflected what they described as a failure of judgment. They also questioned an emergency meeting in Morocco where senior FIFA officials expressed support for Infantino. According to the confederations, the meeting did not adequately address their concerns because only selected members of FIFA’s management leadership were involved. They argued that FIFA’s leadership should engage directly with its wider institutional structure and staff. Infantino still retains support in several parts of the football world. The Confederation of African Football has backed him, while South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL remains broadly supportive. Support for him also exists within CONCACAF and the AFC, although the confederations do not vote as unified blocs in the FIFA presidential election. The dispute comes after Infantino spent a decade at the helm of FIFA and oversaw major changes to the World Cup and the organisation’s distribution of financial resources. The three confederations acknowledged that football had experienced significant growth during the past decade. However, they stressed that these developments were achieved through cooperation between FIFA, continental confederations, national associations and thousands of people involved in the sport.

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has avoided giving a long-term commitment about his leadership ahead of the 2027 ICC World Cup, saying that he remains captain “for now”. Speaking at a joint press conference with the captains of the teams participating in the National Champions Cup, Shaheen was asked whether he had received assurances that he would continue leading Pakistan until the World Cup. His response was brief. “For now, I am the captain,” he said. The left-arm fast bowler also stressed the importance of the Champions Cup in preparing Pakistan for the global tournament. He said the competition would help the national team build a wider pool of players and identify suitable replacements in case of injuries. Shaheen pointed out that injuries have frequently affected Pakistan’s World Cup campaigns. He said having additional players ready would make it easier for the team management to deal with any fitness concerns before the 2027 tournament. He added that the Champions Cup would allow players to perform in their preferred positions while competing against strong domestic opposition. According to Shaheen, the tournament will be important not only for individual players but also for assessing the overall strength and fitness of the national squad. He said the performances of players during the competition would help selectors identify those capable of contributing to Pakistan’s World Cup plans. “Our focus is on the World Cup,” Shaheen said, stressing that consistent performances and fitness would be key factors in selection. The National Champions Cup is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at Multan Cricket Stadium. Four teams will participate in the competition: Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold. Each team will face the others once during the league stage. The top two sides will qualify for the final, which is scheduled for August 18. The tournament’s trophy unveiling ceremony was held earlier, with the captains of all four teams attending the event. Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading Pakistan Gold, while Sahibzada Farhan is captaining Pakistan Blues and Saim Ayub is leading Pakistan Whites. Faheem Ashraf represented Pakistan Greens at the ceremony in place of their regular captain, Shadab Khan.

Pakistan’s difficult start to the Masters Hockey World Cup continued on Monday as Ireland handed them a crushing 11-0 defeat in their second Group D match. The one-sided result leaves Pakistan searching for answers after another disappointing outing in the tournament. Ireland dominated proceedings and repeatedly breached the Pakistani defence, eventually finishing with an emphatic 11-goal victory. Pakistan struggled to create a meaningful attacking threat throughout the contest, while Ireland maintained pressure and capitalised on their opportunities. The Pakistani side failed to find the net despite efforts to regain control of the match. The defeat was particularly disappointing for a team featuring experienced former Olympians. Olympians Shahbaz Senior and Khalid Hameed were unable to produce the kind of performance that could inspire a turnaround as Ireland maintained their control from start to finish. The 11-0 scoreline also highlights the challenge facing Pakistan as they attempt to recover from back-to-back defeats at the competition. Pakistan will now have little time to regroup. Their next Group D assignment is scheduled for August 11, when they will face Wales. The upcoming match could provide Pakistan with an opportunity to put the heavy defeat behind them and restore some confidence. However, they will need a much stronger defensive display and greater attacking organisation if they are to avoid another difficult outing. For Pakistan, the focus now shifts from the disappointment against Ireland to the immediate task of responding against Wales. With the tournament moving quickly, the team will be hoping to turn the page and produce a more competitive performance in its next appearance.

Don Nelson, one of the most influential coaches in NBA history and the league’s second-winningest coach, has died at the age of 86. His family confirmed that the basketball icon passed away peacefully on Sunday surrounded by loved ones. In a statement, Nelson’s family said friends and relatives had gathered around him during his final days, sharing memories and celebrating a life that left a deep mark on basketball. Nelson’s career stretched across more than three decades. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, compiling an extraordinary regular-season record of 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses. His total ranks second all-time behind Gregg Popovich. Known for his fearless approach and willingness to challenge traditional basketball thinking, Nelson became synonymous with “Nellie Ball.” His system emphasized speed, spacing and versatile players, often sacrificing size for athleticism and offensive flexibility. The strategy became particularly influential during his time with Golden State and Dallas, where he repeatedly pushed opponents into uncomfortable matchups. Before becoming a coaching legend, Nelson enjoyed an outstanding playing career. He spent 14 NBA seasons and won five championships with the Boston Celtics, making him one of the most decorated players of his generation. His No. 19 jersey was later retired by Boston. Nelson also earned the NBA Coach of the Year award three times and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2025, he received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, another recognition of his extraordinary coaching career. Nelson never won an NBA championship as a head coach, but his ideas helped reshape how the game was played. His legacy lives on in the pace, spacing and positionless basketball that define much of today’s NBA.