Chicago Sky forward DiJonai Carrington was ejected from a WNBA game Saturday, Aug. 8, after a hard foul on Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Not long after, Carrington posted two words to her Threads account: "WHITE PRIVILEGE @Indianafever."Carrington's foul caused tension among players and after review, officials upgraded it to a flagrant foul penalty 2, which requires a player exit the game due to unnecessary and excessive contact, according to the WNBA rulebook.Cunningham immediately had words for Carrington and was held back by a teammate. View on Threads

Wasnt expected Barcelona pair left surprised by Hansi Flicks squad callAn insight into the reaction of Barcelona pair Marc Casad and Roony Bardghji to the clubs decision to send them on their way this summer has come to the fore online.This comes amid confirmation that both players have been left taken aback by the handling of the situation.Midfielder Casad and attacker Bardghji earlier today saw their respective futures decided once and for all. After Barcelonas travelling squad for a pre-season mini tournament in Italy was unveiled, neither was anywhere to be seen.It was subsequently confirmed that as much came owing to efforts on the part of the Camp Nou brass to sell the young pair before the window slams shut.And as alluded to above, the harsh treatment to which they have been subjected by their employers over recent hours has come as something of a shock to Casad and Bardghji alike.As per a report from Blaugrana insider Carlos Monfort of Diario Sport:Neither Bardghji nor Casad knew about Flicks decision to leave them out and keep them in Barcelona. It was a surprise, right before heading to the airport. They knew they wouldnt continue, but the decision to leave them out wasnt expected and hasnt been received the same way by everyone.Conor Laird GSFN

Ivan Taylor did not have to rely on first-hand stories to learn about his fathers NFL career. Instead, he could watch it himself.Taylor, an Alabama football safety and the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, grew up studying his father as a player. Sometimes, that meant doing what any other football fan could do: Pulling up YouTube and watching highlights."Scouting my dad, I think a big thing was it was kind of just me on my own," Taylor said. "It was like going to YouTube, just looking at him, how I'm able to really just be like him."Ike Taylor spent 12 seasons with the Steelers, winning two Super Bowls. His son has the goal to not just meet that threshold, but beat it."My biggest thing is just trying to be better than him," Taylor said. "Whatever I'm able to do to do that, I will."Ivan Taylor was exposed to the NFL environment from an early age, working out and spending time around Steelers training camp during his father's playing days. Watching how some of the games best players worked gave him an early education in what it took to succeed.More than any technique or drill, though, Taylor said the biggest thing he took from his father was the value of effort in tough circumstances."The biggest thing for him was just working hard, no matter what," Taylor said.Now Taylor is surrounded by another demanding football environment at Alabama. He enters his sophomore year trying to take another step in the Crimson Tide secondary.Alabama, he said, has reinforced many of the same expectations and standards he's been held to his whole life."You see a whole bunch of consistency here," Taylor said. "Without being here, I wouldn't think it would be as high, but I feel like Alabama holds you to a different standard."That standard has also pushed Alabamas strengthened mentality entering the fall.Taylor knows Alabama has heard the criticism surrounding the program. Rather than shy away from the negativity or heightened expectations, he said the Crimson Tide is embracing them."We speak it into existence, so we're going to be the best," Taylor said. "Our mentality has completely changed. A lot of people have, like, disrespected our names, so we're gonna make sure that we show them."Alabama will open the 2026 season against East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 5, at Bryant-Denny Stadium.Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X atameliahurley_or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ivan Taylor follows successful NFL father's blueprint at Alabama football

Everton have made an enquiry about Marcus TavernierDavid Moyes is at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and Goodison Park with the Toffees. Everton have made an official enquiry about Bournemouth attacker Marcus Tavernier, exploring the parameters of a potential summer move, according to Ben Jacobs.The Toffees have opened dialogue with the players representatives to gauge his interest in a move to Merseyside, but have yet to hold talks with Bournemouth.Tavernier has become a key and versatile player since joining Bournemouth from Middlesbrough in 2022. Able to operate across both flanks, as an attacking midfielder, or in a box-to-box role, his tactical flexibility makes him an attractive target for Everton as they look to build squad depth ahead of next season.Last season, Tavernier enjoyed one of his most productive Premier League campaigns, recording seven goals and four assists in 34 appearances, while creating 54 chances to lead Bournemouths playmaking metrics. His work rate, ball-carrying ability, and set-piece threat make him a crucial figure for the Cherries.Despite Everton testing the waters with Taverniers representatives, striking a deal with Bournemouth will be challenging. The South Coast club are under no financial pressure to sell, having tied Tavernier to a contract until June 2029. Furthermore, with European football ahead after a sixth-place finish last season, Bournemouth are unlikely to part with a key player at this stage of the window.For Everton, establishing direct contact with Taverniers representatives allows the club to determine whether personal terms can be agreed before opening formal negotiations with Bournemouth. If initial feedback is positive, the Toffees could follow up with an official bid to test Bournemouths resolve in the coming weeks.Everton are also exploring a swap deal with Crystal Palace that would see Brennan Johnson arrive at Goodison Park, with Dwight McNeil moving in the opposite direction.

UFC Fight Night returns to Las Vegas on Saturday, August 8, as Mateusz Gamrot takes on rising Australian lightweight Quillan Salkilld in the main event at the Meta APEX.Jun 7, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Quillan Salkilld (red gloves) fights Yanal Ashmouz (blue gloves) during UFC 316 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesHow to Watch UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs SalkilldDate: Saturday, August 8, 2026Time:8:00 PM ETTV Channel:Paramount+Live Stream: Paramount (watch now)Gamrot enters the matchup as the established contender, bringing years of experience against high-level competition into another important lightweight main event. The Polish veteran has built his UFC reputation around his wrestling, scrambling ability and relentless pace, making him a difficult matchup for opponents who cannot keep him at a distance. Saturday gives Gamrot an opportunity to halt the momentum of one of the divisions fastest-rising fighters and reinforce his place among the lightweight contenders. Watch UFC Fight Night on Paramount+ Salkilld, meanwhile, gets the biggest opportunity of his career as his rapid UFC rise leads to a five-round matchup with Gamrot. The Australian has generated attention with his finishing ability and now faces a major increase in competition against an experienced opponent accustomed to competing near the top of the division. The contrast between Salkillds dangerous offense and Gamrots grappling-heavy approach gives the main event plenty of intrigue, with Salkilld looking for a breakthrough victory and Gamrot attempting to turn back another emerging lightweight. The main card begins at 8:00 p.m. ET and streams on Paramount+.Live stream UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs Salkilld with Paramount+:Start your subscription now!Paramount+is now the exclusive streaming service for the UFC, marking a shift away from the traditional payperview model to bringing premier fight cards directly to subscribers. Sign up now to never miss a second of the action. You can now live stream everything from the press conferences and weigh-ins to the prelims and main event, all in one place.Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead

VfB Stuttgart reach full agreement with Wolfsburg over Dzenan Pejcinovic transferKicker reports that VfB Stuttgart are finally on the verge of completing the signing of Wolfsburg striker Denan Pejinovi after the two German clubs reached an agreement on a 25m transfer. Wolfsburg sporting managing director Dieter Hecking confirmed after Saturday evenings 0-0 draw with Kaiserslautern that the relegated Bundesliga club had agreed terms with another team over the 21-year-olds departure.We have reached an agreement with a club, Hecking told Kicker.He declined to identify Pejcinovics destination, but Kicker reports that Stuttgart have finally secured their primary attacking target following several weeks of difficult negotiations. The transfer is expected to be completed provided no problems arise during the strikers medical. Pejcinovic was named among the substitutes for Wolfsburgs opening 2. Bundesliga fixture against Kaiserslautern, but head coach Tobias Strobl deliberately declined to use him as the transfer approached completion.Stuttgart finally meet Wolfsburgs Pejcinovic demandsWolfsburg rejected Stuttgarts opening 18m proposal before VfB subsequently increased their offer for Pejinovi to approximately 22m. The striker had already made Stuttgart his preferred destination and reportedly informed Wolfsburg of his desire to move approximately one month ago. Interest from elsewhere in the Bundesliga and abroad failed to alter his position.Porto were among the clubs prepared to challenge Stuttgart, but Pejcinovic continued to favour a move to Swabia. VfBs Champions League participation, the opportunity to work under Sebastian Hoene and the prospect of moving considerably closer to his native Munich all reportedly appealed to him.Stuttgart eventually submitted a third offer containing just under 23.5m guaranteed and bonuses capable of taking the package beyond 25m. Even that proposal did not immediately satisfy Hecking. The sides remained approximately 1.5m apart in guaranteed terms, with Wolfsburg continuing to insist upon a package worth around 25m.Leipzig intervention may have accelerated dealStuttgart also faced the prospect of fresh Bundesliga competition late in negotiations. RB Leipzig entered the picture after their25m signing of Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani unexpectedly collapsed following the players medical. Kicker reports that Leipzig subsequently showed interest in Pejcinovic, potentially prompting Stuttgart to eliminate any remaining doubts and conclude their agreement with Wolfsburg. VfB had already begun examining alternatives while negotiations dragged on.Fenerbahe youngster Sidiki Chrif emerged as one option, with Get German Football News reporting that Stuttgart were prepared to move elsewhere if Wolfsburg maintained their position. Pejcinovic nevertheless remained Stuttgarts preferred No. 9 throughout. Existing strikers Ermedin Demirovi and Deniz Undav had also publicly welcomed another high-level attacking addition, with Stuttgart preparing for the additional demands created by Champions League football.Wolfsburg make huge profit on Dzenan PejcinovicThe transfer will represent an enormous return on Wolfsburgs original investment. Pejcinovic joined the Wolves from Augsburg in summer 2022 for just 1.25m but initially struggled to break through at Bundesliga level. He managed only five top-flight appearances during his first two seasons before a 2. Bundesliga loan spell with Fortuna Dsseldorf helped restart his development.Returning to Wolfsburg, Pejcinovic eventually established himself as an important first-team striker. His breakthrough included a memorable Bundesliga hat-trick against Freiburg and a prolific spell during which he emerged as one of the clubs few reliable attacking threats.Pejcinovic finished Wolfsburgs relegation campaign with eight goals from 30 Bundesliga appearances. He added three more across two DFB-Pokal matches and another goal during the ultimately unsuccessful relegation play-off, giving him 12 goals across all competitions.Those performances also helped establish him with Germanys U21 national team and significantly increased his transfer value. Wolfsburgs relegation ultimately made retaining him difficult. Pejcinovic made clear that he wished to remain in the Bundesliga, and Stuttgart remained equally persistent in their pursuit despite several rejected approaches and competing options.After nearly a month of negotiations, both parties have now got what they wanted.Pejinovi is set to continue his Bundesliga career with Stuttgart.GGFN|Peter Weis

On a beautiful Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees beat the Braves, 5-4 the final score, to clinch the series victory.Here are the takeaways...-Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale faced off against each other for the third time in their illustrious careers.-The Yankees opened the scoring in the second inning, when Spencer Jones singled home Trent Grisham - who had doubled a few batters earlier - with two outs. Sale wasn't fazed, however, and the southpaw retired each of the next seven Yankees batters he faced.-The Braves roared back to take the lead in the fifth inning, scoring two runs before Cole could record a single out. The first RBI came off the bat of Mike Yastrzemski, who doubled over the head of an ill-positioned Heliot Ramos in left field to bring home Mauricio Dubon. Austin Riley then singled to put Atlanta runners on the corners, before rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis roped a line drive into right field to bring home Yastrzemski and make the score 2-1 Braves. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone kept the faith in his veteran right-hander, and Cole battled back to retire the next three batters in order to escape the jam, including two strikeouts. Cole's strikeout of Braves slugger Matt Olson was his 1,000th in just 139 games with the Yankees, making him the fastest to reach that milestone in franchise history.-Leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, George Lombard Jr. successfully challenged two straight pitches to turn a strikeout into a walk. Jonesgot the best of Sale yet again, driving a front-door slider into the gap for a triple which easily brought home Lombard to tie up the game. Much to the chagrin of Sale and Braves manager Walt Weiss, the umpire ruled that Sale balked, and Jones was allowed to walk home from third base. Weiss was ejected in the ensuing argument. Austin Wells kept the momentum rolling for the Yanks with an opposite-field double, but Ramos grounded into a double play to end the inning with New York leading 3-2.-Cole faced the minimum of nine total batters as he cruised through innings five, six, and seven. He finished his start having allowed two earned runs on six hits, tallying nine strikeouts and zero walks across 82 pitches.-Sale was relieved by right-hander Victor Mederos in the seventh inning, who promptly surrendered a leadoff solo shot to Lombard, who clubbed his hanging cutter the opposite way and over the short porch in right field. Later in the inning, Wells was issued with a strike after the umpire judged that Jose Caballero - who had just been walked - took to long to get to first base. The umpire got an earful from an irate Boone. Wells was subsequently hit by a pitch, and the Yankees baserunners executed a double steal to put two runners in scoring position, but Mederos struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Ramos to strand them both.-Lefty setup man Brent Headrick relieved Cole in the eighth inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. launched a solo shot to cut the Yankees lead to 4-3, and Michael Harris II slapped a two-out single to extend the inning and force the Yankees to call upon right-handed reliever Paul Blackburn to record the final out and hold the lead entering the final frame.-Facing left-handed reliever Danny Young, Ben Rice broke his 11-game long ball drought with a leadoff bomb to straightaway center field. His 32nd homer of the season extended the lead to 5-3 for the Yankees. Lombard and Jones stayed hot to ignite a two-out rally with a single and a walk, respectively. They each reached base in three of their four at-bats on Saturday, combining for three of the team's five RBI.-After issuing a one-out walk to Yastrzemski and a two-out RBI single to pinch-hitter Dom Smith, Yankees closer David Bednar persevered to seal the 5-4 win, his second save in as many days and his 26th save of the season.Game MVP: Spencer JonesThe rookie right fielder notched the fourth multi-hit game and second multi-RBI game of his young career, a much-needed showing as the Yankees offense looks to get back on track.HighlightsSpencer Jones gives the Yankees a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single off Chris Sale, scoring Trent Grisham pic.twitter.com/F9bCS1Zzvs SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 8, 2026Spencer Jones triples to bring home George Lombard Jr. and tie the game! pic.twitter.com/qdt1eu6jIm SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 8, 2026Amed Rosario gets up to make a leaping grab for the third out of the inning pic.twitter.com/4mMvmznP09 SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 8, 2026George Lombard Jr. puts the Yankees ahead with a big-time homer to make it 4-2! pic.twitter.com/Xh9bvlbAiO SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 8, 2026Ben Rice hits his first home run since July 26! pic.twitter.com/2uI6OF5yvE SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 8, 2026What's nextThe Yankees and Braves conclude their series on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:35 p.m.Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.26 ERA) takes the mound for the Yankees, while the Braves will hand the ball to Grant Holmes (7-4, 3.67 ERA).

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Julian Sayin is back, bigger and stronger for a second season as the starting quarterback at Ohio State.Will he be better?That is among the biggest questions facing the Buckeyes, who finished No. 5 in the Associated Press poll last season after spending most of the year at No. 1.From a statistical standpoint, improving will not be easy.Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 2025, when he won the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year award and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.He set single-season Ohio State program record with a completion percentage of 77.0, good for third all time in the NCAA behind Bo Nix and Mac Jones, but he was possibly a quarter, a drive or even a throw away from winning the Heisman.With the Buckeyes trailing Indiana 13-10 in the third quarter of the Big Ten Championship Game in December, Sayin got them to the Indiana 5, but they turned it over on downs when his knee went down short of the line to gain on a 4th-and-1 quarterback sneak.On the following drive, Sayin then got them back to the Indiana 9, but his third down pass to Bennett Christian was broken up in the end zone, and Jayden Fielding missed a short field goal that would have tied the game with 2:48 left.That meant the Big Ten championship and Heisman Trophies went to Indianas Fernando Mendoza instead, and the IU signal-caller went on to lead the Hoosiers to the national title before becoming the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.At the other end of the spectrum, Sayin and the Buckeyes endured a long offseason after an upset loss to Miami (Fla.) in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, but head coach Ryan Day said he liked what he saw in his quarterback at the end of the offseason program last month.Youve experienced ups and downs, youre not going to ride the emotional roller coaster that maybe you would as a young player, Day said during Big Ten Media Days in Chicago July 29. When you look in his eye now, you see a different person, you see a different body. Hes worked hard. Hes gotten stronger. Hes found his voice even more, and hes got a great look in his eye. I think hes poised for a great season.The different body is thanks to another offseason with Ohio State director of football sport performance Mickey Marotti, who also counts cultivating quarterback leadership among his developmental duties.Julians taking strides in that area for sure, and how do you know? Because his teammates talk about him that way, Day said.The 6-1, 214-pound Sayin never will be a physically imposing figure like Josh Allen or even Joe Burrow but more strength and bulk should help him navigate another season at the top level of college football more smoothly.Coach Mick pushed me pretty hard, and I think the extra weight has helped me in throwing the ball and running the ball, Sayin said.He was already displaying more zip on his passes during red zone drills Saturday.I think stronger base and a little bit stronger legs is able to help increase that pace, Sayin said. Coach Day always says theres nobody open in the red zone. Everythings going to be tight, so you have to throw with a ton of pace and weve gotta make great catches.Sayins words figure to carry more weight in his second season as a starter, be it barking out plays or directing choice words at guys on the other side of the ball during another hot practice day in Columbus. I think if youre the quarterback and youre out there trash talking the defense, the O-line loves it and they feed into it. Its a lot of fun, Sayin said.___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBaseballs a funny sport. Old-Timers Day activities had us awash in the nostalgia of past Yankee greatness. Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole were starting today, two of the defining pitchers of their rapidly-closing era. Yet as our attention turned to the past, then to the ever-fleeting present, it was the future of the Yankees that delivered a win today; George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones and Ben Rice paced New York to a Saturday afternoon victory over the Braves, 5-4 your final.Trent Grisham got us started in the second, with a booming double over Michael Harris IIs head in center field. Spencer Jones knocked the Yankee centerfielder in to put the Yankees up early, the first of three strong PAs for the hulking rookie.We really missed Cody Bellinger in this one, though. Heliot Ramos plays a very shallow left field as it turns out, and a soft fly ball off the bat of Mauricio Dubn leading off the fifth ended up over Ramos head. A more competent outfielder would make the catch, but Dubn was on and Atlanta followed with three more hits to go up 2-1. This isnt to take the blame off Cole, who started to leave some pitches out over the zone and was hit hard all four times, but starting the inning with an easy out rather than a runner on is a significant difference.The Yankees picked up their dad in their half of the frame though, with the kids on the squad acting as chaos agents. Lombard Jr. had a great plate appearance to lead off the bottom of the fifth, challenging two consecutive called third strikes to work a walk instead:View LinkUp next, Spencer Jones, recalled to the plate after a challenge overturned what could have been a hit by pitch, drilled a triple to bring Lombard in:View LinkMaybe that set something off in Sale who famously plays with, uh, emotion as the lefty balked to bring Jones in to score. Austin Wells knocked a double to left field with the bases empty, and while he was stranded, it was the kind of high-energy inning the Yankees have sorely been lacking over the last six weeks or so.Given the lead again, Cole tossed consecutive eight-pitch shutout innings, although he was helped a little bit by defensive specialist Amed Rosario:View LinkAll told Cole threw seven innings, allowed a pair of runs, and struck out nine including getting slugger Matt Olson twice, the second time for his 1,000th Yankee strikeout. Unsurprisingly, doing it in his 139th game makes Cole the fastest in franchise history to do so. The Yankees have their three best starters lined up for this big series, and both Max Fried and Cole have delivered in their outings.Lombard continued to impress, knocking his second home run of his short career to give the team an insurance run, going deep against his fathers original team.View LinkThat would loom large for New York, as Ronald Acua Jr. took Brent Headrick deep in the eighth to make it a one-run game again,Paul Blackburn was called upon to get Ozzie Albies and end the threat, a perfect tee-up for Ben Rice in the home half:View LinkIt had been 11 games Rice was sitting on 31 home runs, and after breaking the RBI-less streak last night with that clutch single, you had to imagine a major weight is off his shoulders now. Ive felt like Rice has been pressing for a couple of weeks as often the only representative MLB-level offensive threat, so maybe having contributions from guys hitting in the back half of the lineup has the lefty slugger a little more relaxed. If thats the case, its a big plus for a Yankee team that finally looked like they could control their at-bats.David Bednar had a bit of a rocky ninth, walking Mike Yastrzemski who later scored on pinch-hitter Dom Smiths single. Stellar catcher Drake Baldwin put up a fight with two out, finally flying out to none other than Spencer Jones in right to end the game. The Yankees have taken two out of three against a very good, very likely playoff team, and it feels as though the momentum from Friday nights heroics followed New York into this one even if the last two innings were a little hairier than wed like. As they say, momentum is only as good as the next days starting pitcher, but the Yankees have a pretty good next days starting pitcher. Cam Schlittler will look to keep pace with Dylan Cease atop the AL Cy Young race, and managing an emerging home/road split will be key for him against a good Atlanta lineup (and opposing starter Grant Holmes). First pitch in tomorrows series finale comes at 1:35pm Eastern.Box Score

Fifa has hit out at what it described as attempts to undermine its embattled president, Gianni Infantino.Infantino has faced calls to resign from his role in the aftermath of a saga that saw him abandon a proposed plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions.That proposal brought the threat of a boycott from Uefa, European footballs governing body, with Englands Football Association (FA) among those to officially withdraw their support for the Fifa president.Infantino is due to seek re-election in March of next year. He has received backing from South American body Conmebol and the Confederation of African Football (Caf).Fifa president Gianni Infantino is under pressure (AP)Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter as president of Fifa in February 2016 having previously served as Uefas general secretary for seven years, and the organisation has again given the 55-year-old its strong backing.Echoing the recent statements of Conmebol and Caf, as well as discussions with Fifa Member Associations and Confederations from around the world, Fifa will not support, facilitate or tolerate any process concerning the election of the Fifa President that is inconsistent with Fifas Statutes, democratic procedures and established governance framework, a Fifa spokesperson said. The Fifa President was democratically elected by Fifas Member Associations and continues to serve with their mandate.Fifas management board backed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday (Sam Corum/PA) (PA Wire)It is increasingly evident that there is a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine Fifa and its President. Those who do not have the support of FIFAs Member Associations should not seek to achieve through allegation, insinuation or misinformation what they cannot achieve through Fifas established democratic processes.Recent reporting has included unsubstantiated assertions and demonstrably false claims concerning Fifa and its President. Speculation and insinuation should not be presented as fact, and repetition does not make an allegation true.The Fifa President has dedicated more than 30 years of his professional life to European and world football, contributing to significant change in the game and, in particular, to broadening access, resources and opportunity across world football. Change inevitably challenges established interests, but disagreement with that change cannot justify efforts to undermine the democratic mandate of Fifas President or the institution he was elected to lead.Fifa welcomes legitimate scrutiny. But scrutiny is not a licence to distort facts, amplify unsubstantiated allegations or manufacture distractions designed to undermine progress. Where reporting is inaccurate or misleading, Fifa will challenge it directly and vigorously.Fifas responsibility is to its 211 Member Associations and to football around the world. We will not be distracted or diverted from strengthening the organisation, delivering for our Member Associations and continuing the work of making football truly global. Through the FIfa President and the Fifa administration, our focus remains firmly on that mission, and we are more determined than ever to fulfil it.Uefa has said that its threat to boycott remains in place despite the abandonment of the sell-off plans.Fifas management board backed Infantino at a meeting in Morocco on Wednesday.