Council wants to trigger emergency general meeting Members demand review of Balogun decision Gianni Infantino is facing a rebellion from members of the Fifa Council who are attempting to force an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) that could develop into a full blown leadership challenge. The Guardian has learned that moves to call an EGM were already under way before the emergence of Infantino’s abortive plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup, with council members demanding an independent review into the unprecedented decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup, which involved multiple phone calls from Donald Trump. Continue reading...
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is perhaps best placed to fill the void but the coaching contenders are legion as another season looms This used to be a land of giants. This used to be a land where big men fought. This used to be a land where Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger tussled, then José Mourinho joined the fray. This used to be a land where Jürgen Klopp made Pep Guardiola reconsider, and he changed his style and won anyway. Not any more. Next season will be the first since the inaugural Premier League in 1992 not to feature any of the five big managerial beasts – not Ferguson, not Wenger, not Mourinho, not Klopp and not Guardiola. Continue reading...