The Portuguese coach made the comments ahead of Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday.

Queiroz believes constantly changing the squad makes it difficult to develop the understanding and stability needed to build a winning team.

“You cannot build a winning team if you change every camp; you change seven, eight, nine players,” Queiroz said.

The 73-year-old stressed that occasional qualification for major tournaments or isolated successes should not be regarded as evidence of a winning culture.

“To win or qualify one team once in a while is not about having a winning team, a culture team, a champions team,” he added.

Queiroz said Ghana must instead develop a side capable of regularly challenging for the Africa Cup of Nations and competing strongly at the World Cup.

He pointed to some of the Black Stars’ notable achievements, including Ghana’s 1982 AFCON triumph and their run to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup, as examples of the successes the country should seek to build on.

“We need more heroes,” Queiroz said.

While the coach acknowledged the importance of Tuesday’s qualifier, he said Ghana’s preparations must also focus on creating a foundation for long-term success.

“We have to win the game tomorrow,” he said. “But at the same time, we have to put the seeds of the future.”

Queiroz called for the development of a settled group of players, backed by clear communication and trust between the Ghana Football Association, the technical team and the squad.

“We need to have the core of the team prepared and ready to come,” he said.

The coach believes greater stability within the national team will help Ghana develop the consistency required to compete at the highest level.

His comments come as the Black Stars attempt to recover from a disappointing start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign.

Ghana lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké in their opening Group C fixture last Thursday and will now face The Gambia, knowing that another difficult result could increase the pressure on the team.

The Black Stars are seeking a return to the AFCON after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, bringing an end to their run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the competition.

With Ghana already trailing in Group C after the defeat in Côte d’Ivoire, Queiroz is demanding an immediate response while also seeking to lay the foundations for a more consistent Black Stars side in the future.

Ghana face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September, looking to recover from their 2-0 defeat by Côte d’Ivoire in their opening Group C fixture.

Queiroz said he would gladly make an agreement with his Gambian counterpart over how the match should be played.

“I’m going to make an agreement with the Gambia coach. Give me the ball for 90 minutes. I promise, we attack. 90 minutes,” the 73-year-old Portuguese coach said.

Queiroz believes Ghana must dominate possession if they are to secure the result they need.

“We know that if you want to win the game, we have to fight to have the ball with us. We have to recover the ball. We have to keep the ball with us,” he said.

The former Portugal and Iran coach also wants his players to be positive and aggressive when they have possession.

“After we keep the ball, we have to play with a positive mind and express our skills to go forward and try to score,” he added.

Queiroz remains confident that a stronger attacking display, coupled with better finishing, can put Ghana in a position to claim their first points of the campaign.

“I am very much confident that with positive football, attacking football, if our performance tomorrow is better, we’re gonna be close to winning the game,” he said.

Ghana’s defeat by Côte d’Ivoire has increased the importance of Tuesday’s encounter as they seek to return to the AFCON after missing the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

That absence ended Ghana’s run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the continental showpiece.

Queiroz will now hope his side can respond against The Gambia and put their qualification campaign back on track with a positive result in Accra.

The four-time African champions are seeking their first points in Group C after opening their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké.

Ghana have won just one of their last 11 matches, while Queiroz has recorded one victory in his first six games since taking charge before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking ahead of the clash at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Portuguese coach rejected suggestions that the Black Stars themselves are the problem.

“Black Stars are facing a couple of challenges, a couple of problems, but Black Stars is not a problem,” Queiroz said.

“Like everything in life, we face challenges, and our duty as professionals is to solve the problems.”

The 73-year-old stressed that difficult periods are part of football and expressed confidence that the team can overcome its current struggles.

“Yes, we are facing some challenges. That is the challenge we have in front of us, but Black Stars was never a problem, Black Stars is not a problem, and Black Stars will never be a problem in the future.”

Ghana will host The Gambia in Accra on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.

Victory would hand the Black Stars their first points of the qualifying campaign and provide a significant lift as they attempt to secure a place at the 2027 AFCON.

The campaign carries added importance after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, ending a streak of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at Africa’s biggest football competition.

The 73-year-old believes the four-time African champions need to build a team capable of consistently reaching major competitions and challenging for trophies over many years.

Speaking ahead of Ghana’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Gambia, Queiroz pointed to the world’s most successful national teams as examples of how lasting success is built through sustained achievement rather than isolated qualifications.

“Qualifying for one or two tournaments is not a sign of success,” Queiroz said.

“The most successful teams don’t also win just one tournament here and there. They win one, go on and win two, three, four and so on.”

His remarks come as the Black Stars prepare for a crucial Group C clash against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.

Ghana head into the fixture under pressure after opening their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké, where goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié handed the hosts victory.

The Black Stars are also seeking to avoid another major setback after missing out on qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, a disappointment that brought to an end a run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at Africa’s biggest football tournament.

The four-time African champions began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 2-0 loss in Bouaké last Thursday, where debutant Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scored to give the hosts victory.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Group C clash against The Gambia, Queiroz admitted the result was difficult to accept but insisted the performance gave him reasons for optimism.

“Just like the fans, I was not happy that Ghana lost to Côte d’Ivoire, but I’m proud that we tried to win the game,” he said.

The Portuguese coach believes the Black Stars displayed the right mentality despite suffering defeat in his first competitive match since returning for a second spell in charge.

Ghana will welcome The Gambia to the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off set for 16:00 GMT.

The defeat in Bouaké left the Black Stars without a point after their opening fixture, increasing the importance of Tuesday’s encounter.

Victory over the Scorpions would give Ghana their first points of the campaign and strengthen their hopes of securing a place at the 2027 AFCON, after missing the 2025 finals in Morocco and ending a run of more than two decades of consecutive tournament appearances.

Ghana return to the Accra Sports Stadium under pressure after opening their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké last Thursday.

The setback has made a positive response against the Scorpions even more important as the four-time African champions chase their first points of the qualifying campaign.

With several senior players unavailable, Queiroz urged supporters to channel their energy into encouraging the squad selected for the match rather than focusing on absent stars.

“It’s better to stay home if you’re coming to the stadium to complain about players that are not here instead of supporting those that are here,” Queiroz said.

Kick-off at the Accra Sports Stadium is scheduled for 16:00 GMT.

The Black Stars have been forced to cope without a number of influential players, including Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo and Nathaniel Adjei, prompting Queiroz to draft in replacements ahead of his first competitive home match since returning for a second spell in charge.

The Portuguese coach believes a strong atmosphere in Accra could help his side bounce back from the disappointment in Bouaké and reignite their qualification hopes.

Victory over The Gambia would lift Ghana off the mark in Group C and provide a significant boost in their bid to secure a place at the 2027 AFCON, after missing the 2025 finals in Morocco and ending a run of more than 20 years of consecutive appearances at the tournament.

The four-time African champions host the Scorpions at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September, seeking their first points after a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast in Bouake left them at the foot of Group C.

Speaking ahead of the match on Monday, the 73-year-old said dwelling on past results would not help his side as they prepare for a crucial home fixture.

“We don’t win games with the past, but we also don’t lose games in the past with what happened yesterday,” Queiroz said.

“We go for results with the ability and will to win the next game, to be well prepared and beat our opponents. This is about the present and the future.

“The past is important because it gives us memories and the learning process we need to progress.”

The former Portugal, Iran and Egypt coach also brushed aside questions over how long he expects to remain in charge, insisting that football ultimately judges managers by results rather than timelines.

“Football has its own god. The gods of football are results,” he said.

“I can’t answer you how many days, weeks, months or years I will be in the job. Only the gods of football can answer that.”

Kick-off for the game is scheduled at 16:00 GMT.

Queiroz is searching for his first competitive victory since taking over the Black Stars, with the defeat in Bouake increasing the pressure on Ghana’s bid to secure qualification for the 2027 finals.

The Black Stars are hoping to return to the continental tournament after missing out on the previous edition in Morocco, making Tuesday’s encounter an important early opportunity to get their campaign back on track in front of home supporters.

The Black Stars return to the Accra Sports Stadium needing a response after opening their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat away to Ivory Coast in Bouake last Thursday.

Speaking after Monday’s training session, the 74-year-old Portuguese coach said his squad was largely in good condition ahead of the 16:00 GMT kick-off.

“We just finished the training session. I can announce that we have 22 players ready to play tomorrow,” Queiroz said.

Donkor, who is in line for his first senior Black Stars appearance, completed only a light training session as he continues his recovery.

Queiroz said the midfielder will be assessed before kick-off and could still be named among the substitutes.

“The only player still in doubt is Ronald Donkor. He had a light training session today, and hopefully he’ll be on the bench for tomorrow’s game,” he added.

“Otherwise, the others trained normally and are in great condition and shape. We are ready for the game tomorrow.”

Ghana will, however, be without defender Alexander Djiku, who has been ruled out after limping off during the defeat to Ivory Coast.

The Black Stars are bottom of Group C without a point and will be aiming to kick-start their qualifying campaign as they seek a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing the previous edition in Morocco.

Ghana began their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat by the reigning African champions at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake last Thursday.

The result leaves the Black Stars bottom of Group C without a point as they prepare for their first home match of the campaign.

Ivory Coast took the lead shortly before half-time when Malick Yalcouyé marked his international debut with a stunning strike from outside the penalty area.

The midfielder created space before unleashing a powerful effort that gave Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi little chance.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 58th minute after being awarded a penalty.

Franck Kessié stepped up and calmly converted from the spot after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was judged to have brought down Yalcouyé inside the Ghanaian penalty area.

The decision prompted strong protests from the Black Stars players, but the referee’s decision stood and Kessié made no mistake from 12 yards.

Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Gasper believes Ghana must put the result behind them as they prepare for their next challenge.

“It is not the result we wanted but it is what it is,” Gasper said.

“Ivory Coast are one of the top teams in Africa; we have to respect that, but we are ready for the next game.”

Ghana now face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.

The Gambians head into the fixture having made a winning start to their qualifying campaign, increasing the importance of Ghana securing a positive result on home soil.

The Black Stars missed out on the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco and are seeking to avoid another setback in their bid to return to the continental tournament.

Carlos Queiroz’s side will therefore be looking for a strong response against The Gambia as they attempt to get their Group C campaign back on track.

The 54-year-old departs after overseeing only four Ghana Premier League matches, bringing an abrupt end to a spell that began in July with expectations of reviving the fortunes of the two-time CAF Champions League winners.

Tinkler was appointed after Kotoko’s eighth-place finish last season and was tasked with leading the Porcupine Warriors in their pursuit of domestic and continental success.

His exit comes a day after Kotoko suffered a 2-0 defeat to Aduana FC, their first league loss under his leadership.

The result left the club ninth in the Ghana Premier League standings, with one win, two draws and one defeat from four matches.

In a statement, Kotoko said its board had accepted Tinkler’s request to leave with immediate effect.

“The Board of Directors of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club has agreed to the request of its Head Coach, Mr Eric Tinkler, to be released from his contract with the Club effective immediately for personal reasons,” the club said.

Kotoko added that both parties had held discussions in an attempt to avoid ending the partnership, but ultimately respected the coach’s decision.

The club thanked Tinkler for his professionalism during his brief tenure and confirmed that the technical team would continue under the leadership of Director of Football Stanley Purl Menzo.

Despite his short stay, Tinkler guided Kotoko to victory over rivals Hearts of Oak in the 2026 Democracy Cup at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Kotoko’s next assignment is a Ghana Premier League Matchday Five fixture against Karela United at the Baba Yara Stadium on Thursday, 1 October.

The experienced centre-back, who plays for Russian side Spartak Moscow, was forced off during Ghana’s 2-0 loss in Bouaké on Thursday and had been hoping to return in time for the second Group C fixture.

Despite expressing his determination to be fit for the match, Djiku has not recovered in time, leaving coach Carlos Queiroz with another defensive headache.

His absence adds to an already lengthy injury list for the Black Stars, who are without Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Alidu Seidu, Nathaniel Adjei, Baba Rahman and several other players.

Djiku had only recently returned to the national team after missing Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign through injury, making the latest setback another frustrating blow for the defender.

Ghana host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT, as they seek their first points of the qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars are bottom of Group C after their opening defeat to Côte d’Ivoire and are looking to revive their bid to return to the AFCON after missing the previous tournament in Morocco.

Williams, captain of Spanish club Athletic Bilbao, announced his retirement from the Black Stars following Ghana’s campaign at the tournament in North America.

Okraku said the GFA was initially concerned by the decision but came to understand the reasons behind it after discussions with the player and his family.

“I was disturbed about his decision. Not only me, but the entire Football Association. However, when you hear him out, you will understand his situation,” Okraku told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

“He has been playing through a lot of pain and injuries, and even at club level, he is being managed.

“As a Football Association, we were disappointed, but we had to understand. His parents spoke to me and the Football Association and we just have to appreciate what he has done for us as a country.”

Okraku also urged critics to look beyond Williams’ relatively modest goalscoring record for Ghana and recognise his contribution to the national team.

“I have seen people quoting his numbers but what we have to do is that we have to appreciate his effort,” he added.

Williams switched his international allegiance to Ghana in July 2022 after previously representing Spain.

The forward had made one senior appearance for Spain in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016, but later chose to play for the country of his parents.

He received his first Black Stars call-up in September 2022 under then-coach Otto Addo for pre-World Cup friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.

Williams made his Ghana debut against Brazil on 23 September 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 defeat in Le Havre, France.

He was subsequently named in Ghana’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, featuring in all three group-stage matches.

Four years later, Williams was selected by Carlos Queiroz for Ghana’s 2026 World Cup squad in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

He started Ghana’s goalless draw against England and also featured from the start in the Round of 32 defeat by Colombia. He was an unused substitute against Panama and Croatia.

His appearances at the tournament took his World Cup tally to five across two editions.

Williams dramatically scored his first international goal in November 2023, heading home in the 96th minute to give Ghana a 1-0 win over Madagascar in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier.

He scored his second Black Stars goal against Chad in March 2025 during the same qualifying campaign.

Williams finishes his Ghana career with 28 appearances and two goals, having represented the Black Stars at two World Cups and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Kechchaf will take charge of the Group C encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September.

His compatriot Lahsen Azgaou has been appointed as Assistant Referee I, while Tunisian Yassine Saadaoui will serve as Assistant Referee II.

Another Tunisian, Amir Loucif, has been named the Fourth Official for the fixture.

Liberia’s Sekou Wieh Konneh will serve as Match Commissioner, with Nigeria’s Abel Baba appointed as Referee Assessor.

Ghana’s Danny Adotey will oversee media operations in his role as Broadcast Venue Manager.

The Black Stars head into the game looking to recover from their disappointing start to the qualifiers after suffering a 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in Bouake last Thursday.

Ghana were punished by goals from Malick Yalcouye and Franck Kessie as they began their Group C campaign without a point.

Carlos Queiroz’s side will now have to respond against The Gambia, who will also be aiming to strengthen their position in the group.

The fixture is particularly significant for Ghana as they attempt to secure a place at the 2027 AFCON finals after missing out on the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

Tinkler quit the Kotoko job after a shocking defeat to a ten-man Aduana FC on Sunday in the Ghana Premier League.

The club announced that they “agreed to the request of its Head Coach, Eric Tinkler, to be released from his contract with the Club effective immediately for personal reasons.”

Speaking to Luv FM, Addae Mensah said he had predicted that Tinkler would experience a “cultural shock” after moving from South Africa to Ghana, particularly because of the differences in football infrastructure and playing surfaces.

“But when Tinkler was appointed, I said he is going to have a cultural shock. By the time he settles, we probably will be off pace to be able to win this title,” Addae Mensah said.

Addae Mensah, who used to report on Asante Kotoko as a columnist, explained that his view was shaped by his previous experience with the club, particularly during trips to South Africa, where he said the standard of football facilities extended even to schools.

“I was not surprised at all. I said, there you go, because in South Africa, even primary school pitches are top-notch,” he added.

Reflecting on his time with Kotoko, Addae Mensah recalled training at school facilities in South Africa.

“I had this time when I was deep in Kotoko, anytime we go down to South Africa, we were training on pitches for schools, with floodlights and everything,” he said.

Addae Mensah believes the challenges Tinkler encountered surfaced sooner than he had expected.

“So honestly speaking, it has come earlier than I expected. It hasn’t come as a shock to me at all because he’s going to have cultural shock,” he stated.

Eric Tinkler won one game in 4 Ghana Premier League games and led Kotoko to win the 2026 Democracy Cup, beating arch-rivals Hearts of Oak on penalties.

The decision follows a successful protest by Ampem Darkoa over the failure of match officials to apply the competition regulations during the original final in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 5 September.

The two sides drew 2-2 after 90 minutes, but the match went directly to a penalty shootout after the game coordinator instructed that penalties be taken without extra time.

Edo Queens won the shootout 4-1 to claim the WAFU-B qualification place for the main CAF Women’s Champions League tournament.

Ampem Darkoa subsequently protested the decision, while the Ghana Football Association (GFA) lodged an official complaint with CAF over the handling of the match.

CAF’s organising committee for women’s football has now ruled that the tournament regulations were not correctly applied.

Under Article 72.4 of the competition regulations, a final that remains level after 90 minutes must go into 30 minutes of extra time, consisting of two 15-minute periods.

A penalty shootout should only be used if the scores remain level after extra time.

CAF also referred to Article 13.1, which states that the technical criteria governing the final tournament apply to the zonal qualifying competitions as well.

As a result, CAF has annulled the penalty shootout result and ordered the match to resume from where it ended after 90 minutes.

The two teams will therefore play the additional 30 minutes of extra time, with penalties to follow only if the scores are still level after extra time.

CAF rejected Ampem Darkoa’s request for the entire match to be replayed.

The governing body has also directed that the continuation of the final should take place at the same venue in Ouagadougou, with the date and kick-off time to be announced by the WAFU-B executive committee.

The winner of the decisive encounter will retain the region’s qualification place for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.

Edo Queens were Nigeria’s representatives at the Women’s Champions League in 2024. Nigeria did not have a representative in the 2025 edition after Bayelsa Queens were eliminated by Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas in the WAFU-B qualifying competition.

The ruling gives Ampem Darkoa another opportunity to secure a place in the continental competition after the Ghanaian club initially lost the qualification tie on penalties.

The discovery adds to growing concern over violence against women in a country long plagued by violent crime, while police work to establish whether the killings are connected.

The semi-naked body was found near a cemetery in the Tembisa township, police said.

“At this stage, we can only confirm the discovery of the body. Crime scene management and all the necessary role players are currently on the scene,” police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili said.

Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said the victim appeared to have been stoned to death, and a post-mortem examination would be conducted to determine the cause of death.

“We have put highly capable investigators on this case,” he told reporters at the scene, vowing to find those responsible for the killings.

The nine other victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s, with some found stripped of their clothes and showing signs of sexual assault.

The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. A suspect was arrested two days later.

Two other suspects, women aged 31 and 38, were arrested in connection with the ninth victim and charged on Monday.

Police have said that killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter.

Police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, while the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, has put up a further $31,000.

Gender-based violence is endemic in South Africa, despite years of government pledges to tackle the problem and the declaration of gender-based violence as a national disaster.

Last week, the South African government said the national Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Command Centre received 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16, an average of 424 a day. 

That was a 21 percent increase from the same period in August, when the centre averaged 350 calls a day.

South Africa, a nation of 62 million people, has one of the world’s highest murder rates, with more than 60 killings a day on average.

His comments came after a public exchange with Okraku, who questioned the Member of Parliament’s football knowledge and challenged him to explain what he had done to improve football facilities in his constituency.

Speaking on Luv FM, the lawmaker questioned why the defender was called into the national team, and why he has not returned to the squad.

According to him, Baffour was not playing regularly at the time, but was called into the team.

“There was a time when a certain player, Philemon Baffour, was added to our national team, even though he was not playing. What was the use? What was the plan? Where is Philmon Baffour now?” he asked.

The MP further questioned the consistency of the selection process, arguing that the player’s previous inclusion should be matched by another call-up if he is currently performing at a high level.

“Why hasn’t he been called to the national team again, if he’s really doing well? Because even when he was not doing well and playing any serious football, he was a member of our national team. So, sincerely, if he’s playing, shouldn’t he be in our national team?” he asked.

Philomon Baffour, who was playing for Dreams FC at the time, was included in Ghana’s squads for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and later named in the final squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.

His repeated selection despite limited playing time sparked public debate, with questions raised over his continued inclusion in the national team.

However, several high-ranking football officials, including GFA President Kurt Okraku, defended his selection on multiple occasions, maintaining that the defender had earned his place in the Black Stars squad on merit.

The MP also questioned the extent of GFA President Kurt’s involvement in club football, arguing that the interests of football administrators must be subjected to scrutiny.

He pointed to the availability of football infrastructure in his constituency, while also acknowledging the construction of Astro Turfs under the previous administration.

“Manhyia South thankfully has three Astro Turfs, and under the Nana Addo Dankwa and Dr Bawumia’s government, over 100 Astro Turfs were constructed nationwide,” Awuah said.

He, however, argued that infrastructure alone does not address the wider challenges facing Ghana football, particularly the development and motivation of young players.

“The fact is that there are a lot of players who don’t have the desire or the passion like it was in the past because they can’t play,” he said.

Awuah also challenged Okraku to engage him on the issues he has raised, insisting that his concerns are based on observations he has made over time.

“If Kurt wants us to debate this issue, I’ve observed what is happening for a long time, and I can speak to so many things,” the MP said.

He has consistently maintained that the sport has declined from the standards of previous generations and has called for reforms in its administration.

“Ghana football has collapsed; it’s not doing well. This is not the Ghana football we know,” he said.

Inusah described the appointment as a great honour and expressed gratitude to the GOC for entrusting her with the role ahead of the multi-sport event.

“I am truly humbled and honoured to be appointed as Chef de Mission for the 2027 Youth Commonwealth Games in Malta,” she said.

“A heartfelt thank you to the Ghana Olympic Committee for this incredible privilege and honour.

“I look forward to serving with dedication, supporting our young athletes, and proudly representing Ghana on this important international stage.”

The eighth edition of the Youth Commonwealth Games will take place from 29 October to 4 November 2027 in Malta and Gozo, bringing together around 1,200 athletes aged between 14 and 18 from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories.

The GOC said Inusah’s appointment aligns with its commitment to women’s empowerment and efforts to increase the representation of female leaders in sports administration.

A member of the GOC board, Inusah also serves on the organisation’s Games and Technical Committee as well as its Women in Sports Commission.

She made history as the first woman to lead the Ghana Rugby Football Union and has previously served as Secretary General of the Ghana Triathlon Federation. She is also a member of Rugby Africa’s Women’s Advisory Committee.

In a further boost to her growing profile in international sports administration, Inusah has been selected for the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) in the United States. The programme is organised by the University of Delaware in partnership with Olympic Solidarity and is designed to develop future sports leaders and administrators.

The Premier League side’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak responded to press reports that City have been found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges of financial rule breaches by insisting on Saturday that the club are innocent.

They have been accused of failing to provide accurate financial information or details of payments to players and coaches, breaches of financial sustainability rules, and failing to cooperate with an investigation.

“What has happened again shows that economic controls, transparency and the same rules for all are essential to protect football’s integrity and sustainability,” Tebas said in a lengthy post on social media.

Tebas said he had been one of the voices back in 2017 to speak up about “financial doping” in relation to clubs like City and Paris Saint-Germain being able to lean on the huge economic resources of Gulf countries to boost their competitive ambitions.

The La Liga president has often been accused of trying to protect the financial advantage of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are the two richest clubs in the world according to Forbes and Deloitte.

After playing in Portugal’s win over Wales on Thursday, Manchester United captain Fernandes was not in the squad for Sunday’s fixture against Norway.

Prior to the match, boss Jorge Jesus revealed Fernandes had “played through the pain” against Wales and “wasn’t his usual self”.

“He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United,” he said. “He really wanted to play against Wales.”

Meanwhile, both Fernandes’ United teammate Dorgu and Liverpool striker Gakpo suffered injuries during games for their respective countries on Sunday.

Gakpo had to go off just 17 minutes into the Netherlands’ 2-1 win against Serbia, grimacing and holding the lower part of his right leg.

He has started the season well for Liverpool with two goals and four assists in six appearances across all competitions.

Netherlands boss Xavi Hernández confirmed Gakpo will have a scan on Monday.

“It’s his ankle, that’s all I know,” he said. “Tomorrow we will know, but hopefully it’s not too important.”

Dorgu, meanwhile, lasted 30 minutes before he limped off in Denmark’s 2-0 win against Wales.

The first international break of the 2026-27 men’s football season is lasting a week longer than it usually does, with the traditional October break now scrapped.

There is now a three-week gap for international fixtures across late September and early October, where countries will play four international matches instead of two.

Who else has been injured?

Gakpo’s injury adds to Liverpool’s woes after Alexander Isak withdrew from Sweden duty with a minor thigh injury.

The striker played the full 90 minutes and scored a goal in his side’s 2-1 win on Friday over Romania in the Nations League.

However, he will not be involved in Sweden’s remaining three matches in this international break and assessed by his club’s medical staff.

On Thursday, Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey both went off injured in the same game as the Netherlands drew with Germany.

German Havertz was caught on the knee by a high boot from Quinten Timber in Amsterdam and had to be replaced.

Netherlands forward Brobbey – off the back off a hat-trick in Sunderland’s 5-3 Premier League defeat by Manchester City – then appeared to suffer a muscle injury.

A further blow for Sunderland on this international break came as Dan Ballard suffered a hamstring injury late in Northern Ireland’s 1-0 win over Georgia on Friday.

Boss Michael O’Neill has confirmed the injury will rule him out of the national team’s remaining fixtures in this international break.

It is not just Premier League teams who are being impacted by injuries to their players while on international duty.

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out for at least two weeks after injuring his knee while scoring the winner in Zinedine Zidane’s first game in charge of France.

He scored a record-extending 67th goal from Michael Olise’s pass to sink Turkey, but he was limping immediately and had to be replaced five minutes later.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala suffered a muscle injury during the warm-up for the game against the Netherlands and had to withdraw.

Two years and 10 days since the hearing began, and 1,329 days after City were charged, we now know a verdict has been reached, with the club guilty of the majority of financial rule breaches.

That is not because the Premier League or Manchester City have told us – it is thanks to the Athletic finding out and breaking the story., external

BBC Sport was later told the verdict was sent during the week to club executives, who had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to open the file.

A process can appear to be completely watertight, as this one certainly had been, but when the circle of trust is expanded, the chance of information getting out increases.

Despite this, public silence from the Premier League continues.

City did not address whether they had been found guilty in a statement making it clear – with an appeal expected – that the “process remains ongoing” from their point of view.

It all points to the suggestion that the long-awaited decision of the independent panel was not a case of this process nearing an end, but perhaps instead reaching the end of the beginning.

It appears the chaos and uncertainty is only going to increase now.

City fans, and the rest of football, are left to guess what the punishment might be. And when this all might reach a definitive conclusion.

The charges are so serious that some form of points deduction now appears inevitable, subject to the appeal by City, who have always insisted they have done nothing wrong.

When and how any punishment is applied will be crucial not just for City, but the Premier League as a whole.

And that’s before we get to the prospect of clubs suing City for compensation.

Enzo Maresca’s side go to Liverpool on 11 October when the Premier League resumes after the international break. They could go six points clear at the top. But is that now rendered meaningless?

Let’s look at possible scenarios – none of which are particularly appealing.

Scenario one: Nothing is announced this season on punishments

Deciding the punishment should be quicker than ascertaining guilt, but nothing is certain in this case.

As the charges have been denied, it will have to go to a sanction hearing convened by the independent panel.

BBC Sport has been told this hearing could still be months away, and the result may not be published until the appeal is completed.

At the hearing, everything will be on the table. Fines, points deductions and even demotion.

This differs from Chelsea’s case earlier this year, as the Stamford Bridge club self-reported and admitted guilt. That allowed them to negotiate with the Premier League and reach a sanctioning agreement.

It is possible that City could decide to hold their hands up and try to agree a deal – which would be better for the league – though that seems unlikely given the club’s consistently strong denials over many years.

The panel will have to comb through the hundreds of pages of evidence and determine the punishment.

Remember, Everton were docked six points, reduced from 10 on appeal, and then two points in separate cases for breaches of profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Nottingham Forest were deducted four points.

These were considered to be minor breaches, while City faced seven separate charges on PSR breaches in the Premier League alone, as well as a further five related to Uefa competitions.

This aspect alone suggests a large points penalty.

That is before you get into the inflated sponsorship revenue allegedly channelled through the companies’ accounts as a means of meeting financial fair play rules, payments to players and managers, and a failure to comply with investigations.

Take all this into account, and it places an asterisk against the Premier League between 2009 and 2018.

Chelsea and Manchester City, two of the competition’s most successful clubs, have been part of that. While Chelsea admitted effectively cheating, City have been found guilty. They got around the financial rules to put them in a position to be able to sign more expensive players than their finances should have permitted.

And if this season passes with no decision on the sanction while it is known City were guilty of the majority of counts, what does that mean for the integrity of the competition?

Could a penalty be backdated to this season when finally awarded? Unlikely.

So what if Manchester City win the league?

Coventry are third from bottom right now. What if they finish in that position, are relegated, but would have stayed up had City’s punishment come this season?

This inertia is terrible news for the Premier League as a competition.

There’s a strong argument that a sanctioning agreement is the cleanest way out of this.

But that may not be palatable to the league as they would have to negotiate with City, who would presumably want a lesser punishment.

Scenario two: Man City punishment is levied this season but they appeal

The usual process when any points penalty is handed down is that it is applied immediately, subject to appeal.

It could be a points deduction so large that it is effectively a relegation.

Alternatively, if City’s membership of the Premier League was revoked, it is unclear how that might be applied mid-season.

It could also be that the punishment is a huge fine, although that would seem unlikely given points deductions to other clubs.

The question would be how soon we hear, and how long after the appeal is heard.

Usually, the league asks for an expedited process from the independent arbitration company which handles disciplinary cases.

But, as ever in this case, the complexities indicate this is not straightforward.

There is the chance, though slim, that the punishment is only applied to the league table after the appeal.

That would surely lead to protests from impacted teams this season, who will demand it should, as usual, come into effect immediately.

Scenario three: Appeal is heard quickly and full decision announced

For the integrity of the Premier League, so all clubs know what they are playing for, this would need to happen sooner rather than later.

Last season, a points deduction for West Bromwich Albion related to breaches of profit and sustainability regulations was not announced until 24 April.

While ultimately they stayed in the Championship, it plunged them back into a relegation fight when they thought they were safe. It also gave some hope to the teams in the relegation zone.

The Premier League does not want this to drag on until the penultimate month of the season, but nothing is guaranteed in this story.

In this scenario, let’s not forget City could also win their appeal, like they did over Uefa’s punishment back in July 2020.

While this would be celebrated at Etihad Stadium it would likely not be the end of the acrimony over the case.

Scenario four: Even after the case is closed, this is not over

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Manchester City won seven domestic trophies during the period of the alleged offences

Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice about compensation from Manchester City over the case.

One source, who held a senior executive position at two Premier League sides, said they expected clubs to submit individual compensation claims against Manchester City.

Another leading lawyer told the BBC that process could even be centralised by the league.

Premier League rules allow clubs to seek legal action against each other for compensation.

In June, Everton were told they must pay Burnley £35m after they broke PSR over a three-year period.

Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated with being relegated.

Everton are appealing, with sources previously saying they would “robustly and thoroughly” contest the ruling, but it provides an interesting backdrop to the Manchester City case.

There is uncertainty over a statute of limitations, which would set a cut-off point for claims.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly preserved their rights to claim compensation two years ago.

This is not just about Manchester United (twice) and Liverpool, who finished as runners-up to City in their title-winning seasons.

It is about those clubs who just missed out on the Champions League, or failed to make Europe, or even those who were relegated.

And it could even result in claims over the prize money for each Premier League place, or the potential commercial earnings lost by rival clubs.

Kieran Maguire, professor of football finance at the University of Liverpool, told BBC Sport it would be considered a “denial of an opportunity” by complainants.

Maguire explained that the “statute of limitations is not referenced” in the Premier League’s traditional handbook, though that could be subject to a legal challenge from City.

But what of the compensation? Just looking at Champions League qualifying could bring huge financial claims.

“The Champions League in those days was worth a minimum of £30m,” Maguire said. “I think by the time we got to 2018, it was probably worth £60m or £70m, and that’s in prize money.

“On top of that, you could claim for loss of gate receipts, loss of sponsor bonuses. This is highly unlikely, but it’s certainly being discussed.

“Players get bonuses for qualifying for the Champions League. Those bonuses, if you talk to people connected to the elite clubs, are normally in the region of 25%.

“An average salary in those days would probably, if you go back to 2012, be in the region of £80,000 or £90,000 a week. Twenty-five percent of that is four or five million pounds a year. That’s how the issues stack up.”

Points deductions, fines, and compensation claims.

This is an extremely messy situation for the Premier League, and it does not look like being resolved anytime soon.

After the final remained goalless following extra time, Spain triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shootout thanks to two saves from goalkeeper Laia López.

The final in Lodz was a meeting of the last two winners of the competition, with Spain winning the title for the first time in 2022 before North Korea took the crown for a third time two years ago.

The contest also featured a number of players who took part in the 2024 U17 Women’s World Cup final, when North Korea beat Spain on penalties.

Sunday’s result continued Spain’s recent domination of the women’s game. The country has won two U17 World Cups, two U20 World Cups and the senior World Cup title in the past decade.

That success has been mirrored on the men’s side, with Luis de la Fuente’s team the current world and European champions.

North Korea relinquished their title despite becoming the first team not to concede a single goal during a U20 Women’s World Cup.

The round of fixtures began on Saturday, 26 September, and concluded on Sunday, 27 September, with several dramatic late goals and standout performances across the country.

Saturday’s biggest talking point came at the Aliu Mahama Stadium, where Karela United ended Hearts of Oak’s unbeaten start to the season with a narrow 1-0 victory.

Mohammed Zaidan struck in the 88th minute to settle a closely contested encounter, leaving the Phobians empty-handed after looking set to extend their unbeaten run.

Sunday brought another major upset as Aduana FC defeated Asante Kotoko 2-0 at the Baba Yara Stadium despite finishing the match with 10 men.

Stephen Amankona handed the visitors the lead before half-time after punishing a costly mistake from Kotoko goalkeeper Ibrahim Danlad.

Kotoko dominated possession after the restart but were unable to find an equaliser. Deep into stoppage time, Seidu Saana broke away on the counterattack to wrap up an impressive victory for Aduana.

FC AshantiGold claimed a 2-1 home victory over Debibi United at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium.

Abdul Samed Yakubu opened the scoring in the 38th minute before Clement Nketiah restored parity before the break. Frederick Twumasi netted the decisive goal in the 61st minute to secure all three points.

Bechem United also made home advantage count, defeating Dreams FC 1-0 at Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.

Atta Derrick Afriyie’s first-half strike proved enough to hand the Hunters victory while condemning Dreams to another disappointing result.

Berekum Chelsea were denied victory in dramatic fashion as Vision FC earned a 1-1 draw at Golden City Park.

After a goalless opening half, Seidu Abubakar put Chelsea ahead in the 58th minute, but Ruben Quaye rescued a point for the visitors with a stoppage-time equaliser.

Newcomers Port City FC continued their impressive start by defeating Bibiani Gold Stars 2-0 at DUN’s Park.

First-half goals from Emmanuel Intori and Richard Gyamfi sealed another notable victory for the debutants while extending Gold Stars’ difficult start to the campaign.

Defending champions Medeama SC produced the most emphatic performance of the weekend with a 4-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars at TNA Park.

The visitors made the brighter start when Patrick Ocran opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but Medeama responded with four first-half goals.

Prince Owusu, Emmanuel Annor, Kelvin Nkrumah and Kingsley Braye all found the net before the interval as the champions turned the contest on its head in ruthless fashion.

Swedru All Blacks were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Samartex at Swedru Stadium.

Salis Mohammed gave the hosts an early lead after nine minutes, but Kwaku Owusu levelled in the 54th minute to earn Samartex a valuable away point.

Heart of Lions left Wenchi with all three points after defeating Young Apostles 2-1.

Samuel Prempeh gave the hosts a half-time lead, but Francis Odoom equalised five minutes into the second half before Mustapha Yakubu struck in the 90th minute to complete the comeback.

At the end of Matchday Four, FC Samartex, Hearts of Oak, Port City FC and FC AshantiGold occupy the league’s top four positions.

At the other end of the table, Bibiani Gold Stars, Young Apostles and Dreams FC remain in the relegation zone after another challenging weekend.

Full Time Results

Karela United 1-0 Hearts of Oak 

Asante Kotoko 0-2 Aduana FC

FC AshantiGold 2-1 Debibi United

Bechem United 1-0 Dreams FC

Berekum Chelsea 1-1 Vision FC

Bibiani Gold Stars 0-2 Port City FC

Medeama SC 4-1 Basake Holy Stars

Swedru All Blacks 1-1 FC Samartex

Young Apostles 1-2 Heart of Lions

Carlos Queiroz’s side held a recovery and training session less than 48 hours after returning from Bouaké, where Ghana opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday.

The loss left the four-time African champions chasing their first points of the qualifying campaign, making the home fixture against The Gambia an early test of their bid to secure a place at the 2027 tournament.

The squad trained on the Accra Sports Stadium pitch as Queiroz and his technical team began fine-tuning their plans for the Matchday Two encounter.

Ghana are expected to hold one final training session on Monday before taking on The Gambia on Tuesday, 29 September, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 GMT.

The Black Stars are aiming to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing out on the previous edition in Morocco, ending a run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the continental finals.

The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The encounter, which kicks off at 14:00 GMT on Monday, September 28, could prove decisive in Ghana’s hopes of progressing, with the final standings also hinging on results elsewhere.

Speaking to the media, Adarkwa acknowledged that Ivory Coast will draw confidence from playing in front of their home supporters but insisted his team has devised a plan to overcome the challenge.

“Cote d’Ivoire are a very good side and very strong physically,” he said.

“We know they are playing at home with their supporters, so we will map our strategy to beat them and take the three points.”

With Nigeria’s result also likely to influence the group’s outcome, the Ghana coach stressed that his players cannot afford to focus on anything other than winning.

“We don’t know what will happen to Nigeria, so we have to win and move forward,” Adarkwa said.

“We are here for a win, nothing else. We will match them boot for boot.”

The Black Maidens have used the WAFU B tournament as part of their preparations for upcoming international assignments, and Adarkwa praised the regional body for providing valuable competitive experience.

“We are happy to be here. Without this tournament, we wouldn’t have had such good preparation,” he added.

“Thank you to WAFU for this wonderful tournament.”

Ghana will now hope to back up their coach’s confidence with a result against the hosts and keep their hopes alive in the competition.

“Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid’s medical department on our player Kylian Mbappe, he has been diagnosed with a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee,” the Spanish club said in a statement.

The forward left the pitch shortly after opening the scoring in a 1-0 French win against Turkey on Friday.

New France coach Zinedine Zidane said France were “not going to take any risks” and that he would not use Mbappe in the three Nations League matches scheduled over the next 10 days.

France travel to Belgium on Monday before hosting Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France on October 2 and 5.

Real Madrid’s first game after the international break, with Villarreal on October 10, might be too soon for an Mbappe return, but Spanish daily AS reported Saturday that he would certainly be ready for the Clasico with Barcelona on October 25

City were accused of a wide range of rule breaches, centring around claims they inflated sponsorship revenue from connected companies and made other “off the books” payments to circumvent financial regulations.

On Friday, it was announced City had been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges brought against them and Al Mubarak has responded with a letter to fans on the club’s website.

“Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I,” Al Mubarak said.

“Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.

“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position.

“But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.”

Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice about compensation relating to the charges, while BBC Sport has been told City will appeal.

Sanctions on the club are yet to be announced, but repercussions could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a huge fine.

Al Mubarak, who was appointed as City’s chairman after their 2008 takeover, also said his club was being “undermined”.

“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed,” he added.

“There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Christian Purslow, a former Liverpool managing director and Aston Villa chief executive, who also held a senior role at Chelsea, said the City case could begin a chain of events that would be “appalling for the game”.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Purslow appeared alongside football law expert Paul Gilroy KC, who described the case as a “seismic moment for world football”.

Purslow said: “It’s a sort of ‘where does this end?’ because if you look at every single season – the nine seasons which we now know Manchester City breached rules – then all of their 19 Premier League rivals in that season, to differing extents, suffered easy-to-compute losses. Whether it was a place in the Premier League – every place was worth £3m.

“Teams that came fifth who didn’t make the Champions League maybe lost tens of millions of pounds – and of course teams that were relegated. Let’s say the team that finished 18th would’ve finished 17th if Manchester City weren’t there. And they, of course, suffered a huge loss.

“If you add all those claims up, over nine years, and that’s just in the Premier League, you can see that the potential here for this to spiral out of control is huge.”

Gilroy added that, so far, four clubs have put in protective claims “reserving the right to claim compensation if City are found guilty”.

‘Very unsettling for football fans’

The news, broken by the Athletic, came 1,327 days after City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 following a four-year investigation, and 22 months after a hearing by an independent commission concluded.

No official announcement has been made by the Premier League, which has declined to comment.

Manchester City declined to comment on whether they had been found guilty, instead providing a statement which read: “The Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has urged the Premier League to come to a quick resolution.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think most football fans will be feeling that this is not a good moment for football as a whole and I think Manchester City fans will be feeling very, very anxious about what happens next.

“It’s very unsettling for football fans, and I hope that it can be resolved as swiftly as possible.

“I will obviously look very closely at what comes out of this, but we can’t apply those rules for the Premier League. They have got to do it themselves and are going to have to resolve this as swiftly as possible – not just for the sake of Manchester City but for the sake of football.”

Former chairman Bernstein feels ‘absolutely awful’

City won eight trophies in the period covered by the case, including three Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup.

The charges cover the managerial tenures of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, and the first two years under Pep Guardiola, who left the club at the end of last season after 10 years in charge.

David Bernstein, who was Manchester City chairman from 1998-2003, told Times Radio he felt “absolutely awful” on hearing the news of City being found guilty – but admitted any punishment would have to be “more drastic” than a fine.

“To see all this tarnished in this way is very sad,” he said.

“I feel particularly bad for the wonderful supporters of the club who’ve stayed with the club through thick and thin.

“This whole process has taken too long already. So the appeal process now has to be done quickly because you’ve got the club playing with this cloud over its head and it’s just not viable.

“The appeal process cannot go on for year after year; I think that would be a disaster, not just for this particular case but for English football generally. The timing is crucial.”

He continued: “I can’t give a view on the punishment. If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of 115 charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty.

“All I would say is that money is not sufficient, it would have to be something, unfortunately, more drastic than that.”

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Noel Gallagher says he is “shocked” at the news and it is “quite sad” for players and fans.

“A little surprised when I heard it on the radio. Surprised because the club have assured us all along that they vehemently denied any of these charges,” the Oasis star and City fan said on the Let Me Talk podcast.

“So it was a bit of a shock to find out that we’ve been found guilty. But really overall just quite sad really. Sad for the fans and for the players.”

Should City be stripped of the eight trophies they won between 2009 and 2018, the period in which they were accused of breaking Premier League financial rules?

Judging by social media, many fans of rival clubs are now hoping for such an outcome.

However, BBC Sport has been told there has been little appetite from within the Premier League – both the organisation and clubs – for past titles to be stripped from City

Does that put an end to it?

Not quite, as the decision will be made by an independent panel which is yet to hold a “sanction hearing”. That means it cannot be ruled out, although a points deduction, huge fine or possibly even expulsion from the Premier League are thought to be more likely.

Here, BBC Sport analyses this difficult issue and decision the panel is now facing.

“I think we still have a chance to win that league… and then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal.”

It was almost two years ago that Jose Mourinho mischievously raised the possibility that his former club Manchester United could be handed the 2018 Premier League title held by Manchester City.

Under Mourinho, United finished second to City by 19 points in 2018, his final full campaign in charge at Old Trafford.

City have always denied wrongdoing. But now we know they have been found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges; was Mourinho right?

Premier League rules do not directly make reference to such a sanction, with a fine, points deduction or expulsion listed as possible punishments. However, they also allow for a disciplinary commission panel to impose a penalty “as it shall think fit”. That theoretically could include retrospectively applied points deductions, or the stripping of titles.

Many will argue that if upheld after any appeal, the nature and scale of the wrongdoing City have been found guilty of warrants such sanctions on the basis that titles were won unfairly, and any misrepresentation of revenue and costs gave them a crucial competitive advantage.

City were accused of a wide range of rule breaches, centred around claims that they inflated sponsorship revenue from connected companies and made other “off the books” payments to circumvent football’s financial rules.

So with a cloud hanging over the trophy-laden era City have enjoyed since the takeover of the club by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour in 2008, could asterisks now be applied to the titles City won during the period in which they have been found to have broken the rules?

Could they be left blank? Or, as implied by Mourinho, reallocated to those teams who finished runners-up to City?

Those clubs are:

Premier League

2011-12: Manchester United

2013-14: Liverpool

2017-18: Manchester United

FA Cup

2010-11: Stoke City

EFL Cup

2013-14: Sunderland

2015-16: Liverpool

2017-18: Arsenal

Community Shield

2012-13: Chelsea

Such a move would threaten to open the proverbial can of worms, raising questions over other accomplishments.

For instance, there is now scepticism towards the various trophies Chelsea won in the 2010s, after the club were found to have made a catalogue of secret payments to agents over transfers, between 2011 and 2018.

Some will ask that if retrospective action is applied to City, should the same not happen to Chelsea?

It is impossible to know exactly to what extent City benefited on the field from their rule breaches. And which players they may not have been able to afford if they had adhered to the regulations.

And what about the period between December 2018 and February 2023, when City stand accused of a failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations?

Should retrospective action be applied then too? Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool finished runners-up to Pep Guardiola’s City twice during that time, by a single point in both 2019 and 2022. Last year, the German coach joked he would host a party in his garden if his former club were suddenly awarded those titles.

Some will conclude that the rule breaches between 2009 and 2018 helped City to lay the foundations on which Guardiola built to achieve so much success, culminating in the Treble triumph of 2023.

Does that era come into scope? Where does it end?

For some, the mass reallocation of titles over such a long period would risk making a mockery of Premier League history, jeopardising its reputation and commercial viability. Others would argue that some 17 years after the first alleged breach, and with City accused of distorting the competition over multiple seasons, serious damage has already been done to the league’s standing.

And while there is no Premier League precedent, such concerns have not prevented such punishments from being applied before in football. Juventus had the Serie A titles they won in 2005 and 2006 revoked as a result of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal – when five Italians teams were penalised for attempting to influence results by picking certain referees. The first title was left blank by authorities, with the second reallocated to Inter Milan.

There is also a British precedent. Elgin City won the 1992-93 Highland League, but were later stripped of the title after having been found to have fielded ineligible players.

There are examples in other sports too. In 2012, Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles by the UCI, cycling’s governing body, for doping. And the reallocation of medals has become commonplace in athletics as a result of positive drugs tests that can emerge long after events have taken place.

In cases such as City’s, involving financial rule breaches, the argument for such a punishment is more complicated. Many will see it as unfair that players and fans unconnected to any rule breaches should suffer by losing titles.

And with some suggesting that relations between the United Arab Emirates and the UK could be put under serious pressure by this ruling, one can only imagine the diplomatic tensions if past titles were then taken away from the club.

On Friday, former City midfielder Rodri dismissed talk of the club being stripped of some of the titles they won.

“What we did, they cannot take out of us,” he added.

“It’s something that is not paid for with money. It’s paid with effort, with the damage, with, you know, being shoulder to shoulder every day.

“I can tell you that everything was deserved, and I’m glad that I could live one of the best eras of English football in here.”

Others, however, will insist the rewriting of history is the only way of restoring the competition’s official record, and rewarding clubs that competed within the rules.

In terms of retrospective action, the compensation claims for lost earnings that several clubs are known to be considering launching against City are more likely than the stripping of titles.

A lawyer told me: “The question isn’t whether the clubs can take legal action… it’s: Where does the line of people who have a case actually end?

“The clubs who didn’t win/qualify/stay up; the players who didn’t get bonuses, contract extensions; the staff who missed out on bonuses; the agents who didn’t get their uplift on their player deals…

“It’s endless and potentially so destructive to the whole ecosystem.”

Whatever happens, more division and disruption seems guaranteed.

The late strike at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium ended Hearts’ unbeaten start to the season after four matches and handed Karela a valuable three points on Matchday Four.

The encounter produced an entertaining contest, with Karela United looking the more threatening side for long periods but initially struggling to turn their chances into goals.

The home side started with greater attacking intent and created several promising opportunities during the opening half. However, their finishing let them down as Hearts of Oak’s defence managed to withstand the pressure.

Hearts also had chances of their own but were unable to match Karela’s attacking threat consistently.

The two sides went into the interval level at 0-0 despite an action-packed first half.

Karela continued to push forward after the restart as they searched for the breakthrough, while Hearts looked to remain organised and frustrate their hosts.

The decisive moment finally arrived in the 88th minute.

Zaidan produced a fine individual effort, dribbling his way through the Hearts defence before keeping his composure to fire a low shot into the net.

The goal sparked jubilant celebrations inside the stadium as Karela held on during the closing stages to claim all three points.

The victory provides Karela United with an important boost early in the campaign, while Hearts of Oak suffered their first defeat of the season after four matches.

Karela United will hope to continue their impressive performance when they travel to play Asante Kotoko, while Hearts of Oak travel to play Dreams FC in the next round of games.

The selected players are expected to report to the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, as Ghana begins preparations for the qualifying campaign.

The Black Meteors will use the initial camp to intensify their preparations and are expected to play a series of friendly matches as Ofei assesses his squad ahead of the qualifiers.

The team is scheduled to remain in camp until the start of the qualifying campaign in November, although players could be temporarily released to their clubs to fulfil domestic or continental commitments before returning to the national team.

Ghana have received a bye into the second qualifying round and will face either Togo or Libya.

The first leg of the second-round tie is scheduled for 9 November 2026, with the return leg set for 17 November.

If Ghana overcome their second-round opponents, they will progress to the final qualifying round, where they will meet the winner of the tie involving São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea and Niger.

The final round of qualifying is scheduled to take place between 22 and 30 March 2027.

The three-round qualification process will determine the seven teams that join hosts Egypt at the eight-team U-23 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

For Ghana, qualification carries added significance as it could provide the Black Meteors with a route back to the Olympic Games.

The Black Meteors have not featured at the men’s Olympic football tournament since the 2004 Athens Games, meaning a successful qualification campaign would end a more than two-decade wait for an Olympic appearance.

Ofei’s preparations will therefore be closely followed as Ghana seeks to build a squad capable of navigating the qualifying rounds and securing a place at the 2027 U-23 AFCON finals.

The tournament in Egypt will also serve as the pathway for African nations seeking qualification for the men’s football competition at the 2028 Olympic Games.

Squad below:

Speaking on Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM, the lawmaker claimed important decisions affecting the sport are being taken behind closed doors and expressed concerns about the condition of playing surfaces used for domestic competitions.

“Ghana football is not being played on a level playing field. Decisions are being made behind closed doors, and Kurt Okraku wants to destroy the game,” Assafuah said.

The MP also questioned the quality of pitches across the country, arguing that some venues are unsuitable for competitive football, particularly after heavy rainfall.

“Why should we continue playing when, after heavy rain, the ball can’t even bounce properly on the pitch?” he asked.

Assafuah further suggested that the concentration of power within the game was creating doubts about the integrity of football administration.

“Even as the Minority, we will continue to do our best to contribute to the progress of Ghana. But when Ghana football appears to be controlled by one individual, with decisions allegedly influencing who wins and who loses, it raises serious concerns about the state of the game,” he added.

His comments come amid ongoing discussions about the state of Ghana football, with governance, transparency, officiating standards and infrastructure among the issues frequently raised by stakeholders.

Assafuah is the latest public figure to voice concerns over the direction of the game under the current GFA leadership.

In recent days, Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah also criticised Okraku, accusing him of presiding over the decline of Ghana football.

Okraku responded to those remarks by dismissing the lawmaker’s views, stating that he knew little about football administration.

The GFA president has yet to publicly comment on Assafuah’s latest allegations.

Speaking to Luv FM, Nana Baffour Awuah questioned the business interests surrounding football administration, claiming that the current GFA president presents a potential conflict of interest.

“This is the first time we have an FA President who has four clubs, and these clubs, they’re business for him. What do you think he would do?”

The dispute followed comments by Nana Baffour Awuah urging President John Mahama to pursue reforms in Ghana football.

Speaking on Citi FM, the MP accused the football administration of being controlled by what he described as a “cabal.”

Okraku subsequently responded on radio, questioning the MP’s expertise on football administration and asking how many pitches he had constructed for his constituents in Manhyia South in the Ashanti Region.

Nana Baffour Awuah responded, saying his constituency already has three AstroTurf pitches and argued that the discussion should focus on the broader challenges facing Ghanaian football.

He also raised concerns about player opportunities and selection into the national team, citing the case of former Ghana international Philemon Baffour.

“There are a lot of players who have lost the desire to play because they can’t play.

“There was a time Philemon Baffour was added to the Black Stars even though he wasn’t playing. Where is he now? If he’s playing now, he should be part of the team.”

The exchange adds another dimension to the growing debate over the direction of Ghana football, with questions surrounding player development, national-team selection, grassroots infrastructure and the administration of the domestic game.

The Black Stars were beaten at the Stade de Bouaké, with Brighton forward Malick Yalcouyé putting the hosts ahead before captain Franck Kessié doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after the break.

Despite the defeat, Queiroz believes Ghana created enough opportunities to get on the scoresheet and says greater efficiency in front of goal is needed.

“We played a more vertical style with more vertical movements to attack the defensive line of Côte d’Ivoire,” Queiroz said.

“We had a first approach in the game, and a second approach when Benjamin and Felix came on, and we could have scored. We had enough opportunities to score.

“We have to improve in that department, to improve our ability to score because this is another game that we did not score.”

Ghana have returned to Accra and will continue preparations for Tuesday’s Group C encounter with The Gambia as they look to claim their first points of the qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars are aiming to return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the previous edition.

That failure ended Ghana’s run of more than two decades of consecutive appearances at the continental tournament.

Queiroz will now look to oversee a response against The Gambia, with Ghana needing a positive result to get their qualifying campaign back on track.

The Black Stars began their Group C campaign with defeat at the Stade de Bouaké, where Brighton forward Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring before half-time, and captain Franck Kessié sealed victory from the penalty spot after the break.

Despite the result, Queiroz believes Ghana created enough chances to trouble the hosts but failed to find the clinical edge needed to get back into the contest.

“Augustine had a wonderful opportunity, Benjamin had another opportunity, Sibo also had a strike,” the Portuguese coach said after the match.

“I think the difference was exactly that we lacked a little bit of inspiration in our finishing moment. We played differently. As I said, Côte d’Ivoire had more possession.”

The defeat leaves Ghana without a point after the opening round of qualifiers and increases the importance of Tuesday’s home fixture against The Gambia.

The Black Stars have since returned to Accra, where preparations are under way for the Group C encounter as they look to kickstart their qualification bid.

Queiroz’s side are attempting to secure a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after missing out on the previous edition, ending a streak of more than 20 years of consecutive appearances at the continental tournament.

With Ivory Coast making an early statement in the group, Ghana will be under pressure to respond against The Gambia to avoid falling further behind in the race for qualification.

The Black Stars made a losing start to their Group C campaign at the Stade de Bouaké, where Brighton forward Yalcouyé broke the deadlock before captain Franck Kessié converted a second-half penalty to seal victory for the hosts.

Reflecting on the defeat, Queiroz said the opening goal was the defining moment of the contest.

“The difference was the first goal of Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.

“The player had a brilliant strike from outside the box. We missed our one-on-one positioning to cover the space in that moment, but he had a fantastic strike, and we went into the break 1-0 down,” the 73-year-old added.

The Portuguese coach also pointed to Kessié’s penalty as the moment that ended Ghana’s hopes of mounting a comeback.

“I will talk about the second goal again because the second goal was what changed everything and made the difference,” he added.

The defeat leaves Ghana searching for their first points of the qualifying campaign as they attempt to return to the AFCON after missing out on the previous edition, ending a run of more than 20 years of consecutive appearances at the tournament.

The Black Stars have returned to Accra and will now switch their focus to Tuesday’s Group C encounter against The Gambia, where Queiroz’s side will look to revive their qualification hopes.

The Black Stars opened their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with defeat at the Stade de Bouaké, where Brighton forward Malick Yalcouyé put the Elephants ahead before captain Franck Kessié sealed victory from the penalty spot after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was adjudged to have fouled Yalcouyé.

Speaking after the match, Queiroz said the decision had a significant impact on the contest but stressed that Ivory Coast fully deserved credit for their display.

“First of all, I would like to say in front of the people of Côte d’Ivoire that my comment about the mistake of the referee has nothing to do with Côte d’Ivoire,” Queiroz said.

“It has nothing to do with the merit or the quality of the players of Côte d’Ivoire. They played, did their job, and we did our job too.

“But of course, to recover from 1-0 down is completely different from recovering from 2-0 down.”

The defeat marked a disappointing start for Ghana, who are bidding to return to the AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the previous edition, the first time in more than two decades they missed out on the tournament.

Queiroz described the encounter as another closely fought chapter in the long-running rivalry between the two West African nations.

“The game was tight as always,” he said.

“The 16-over-15 wins show that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire always have tight games.

“But the result is now gone; it is history.”

The Portuguese coach also revealed Ghana suffered an injury setback during the match but said his immediate priority is ensuring his squad is ready for their next assignment.

“We lost one player during the game, but now it’s just to recover our players and be focused for the next game and win the next game at home,” he added.

“That is what we are going to do now – prepare the players as much as we can to win the next game.”

Ghana have since returned home and will host The Gambia in their second Group C fixture on Tuesday, 29 September, with the Black Stars seeking their first points of the qualifying campaign.

City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching by the Premier League, although they are set to appeal.

Speaking at a news conference before Spain’s Uefa Nations League match against England at Wembley the 30-year-old, who joined Barcelona in August, backed City’s stance.

“They always express the confidence that they never did something wrong and we believe in that,” Rodri said.

“Until the moment they are proved wrong, we will believe the club. They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence.”

City were cleared of separate financial fair play charges by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020, having initially been given a two-year ban from European competitions by Uefa.

Rodri cited the case as a reason for the confidence of the club’s players.

“We had the example of 2020 that the process was the same and at the end nothing happened,” he explained.

“We have faced something similar, we had a similar judicial process. Different accusation but similar process.

“There as well in the first instance we were found guilty, but we believed in the club and the innocence that the club maintained and in the end we ended up acquitted.

“So, I believe in the justice system, and I believe in the innocence of the club.”

The club won eight trophies in the period covered by the Premier League case, including three league titles, three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup.

Rodri dismissed talk of City being stripped of some of the titles they won as part of any punishment against the club.

“What we did, they cannot take out of us,” he added.

“It’s something that is not paid by money. It’s paid with effort, with the damage, with, you know, being shoulder to shoulder every day.

“I can tell you that everything was deserved, and I’m glad that I could live one of the best eras of English football in here.”

PM wants to ‘study’ report

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged people to “study” the independent commission’s report in “some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions” on the charges facing Manchester City.

“I would have to look at the report of the independent commission, and people shouldn’t jump to those kinds of conclusions,” Burnham told ITV Granada.

“I know this has been a long process between the club and the Premier League. I think it has been quite a contested process.

“So I don’t think it’s as simple as jumping to conclusions. I think we would all need to study the independent commission’s report in some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions.”

After a long wait for the outcome, City have been found guilty of a majority of the financial rule breaches they were accused of.

BBC Sport has also been told that the club will appeal.

It has emerged that a number of Premier League sides, prior to Friday’s news, had already started seeking advice over whether they would have a case for financial compensation as a result of City’s breaches.

It also emerged that:

• Other Premier League clubs have been formally told about the independent panel’s decision. A select group of club directors were informed by email and had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they could read the document, a source told the BBC
• While it is not known when the outcome will be officially communicated to the public by the Premier League, it is understood the punishment decided by the panel will be released before any appeal is completed
• Manchester City deny wrongdoing but being found guilty on the most serious charges means they could be looking at a points deduction serious enough to relegate them, large fines or even expulsion from the Premier League
• An appeal process could mean the uncertainty surrounding the case continues to cloud the top flight
• A sanctions hearing could still be months away. Once that is ruled on by the panel, the result may not be published until City’s appeal is completed – which could also take a long time to complete
• It is understood a number of City players do not have relegation release clauses in their contracts in the event of the club losing their Premier League status as a result of any sanctions

The news that City had been found guilty was broken by the Athletic, which reported that 114 of the 115 counts were upheld.

It came 1,327 days after City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 following a four-year investigation, and 22 months since a hearing by an independent commission concluded.

No official announcement has been made by the Premier League, which has declined to comment.

BBC Sport has been told the independent panel has ruled, and the majority of the charges have been upheld.

Manchester City released a statement saying: “Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

One source, who held a senior executive position at one Premier League club before moving to another, said they expected clubs to submit individual compensation claims against Manchester City.

However, another leading lawyer told the BBC that process could be centralised by the league.

In June, Everton were told they must pay Burnley £35m after they broke profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) over a three-year period.

Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated with being relegated.

Everton have appealed, with sources saying they will “robustly and thoroughly” contest the ruling, but it provides an interesting backdrop to the Manchester City case.

BBC Sport has also been told that, in the event of being found guilty, City will appeal against the findings.

What is the background?

In February 2023, City were charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules following a four-year investigation.

The club was referred to an independent commission over allegations it breached financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

The hearing began in September 2024 behind closed doors and concluded that December after around 12 weeks.

The Premier League claimed City breached rules requiring the club to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”.

City strongly denied all charges and have said their case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.

The club won eight trophies in the period covered by the case, including three Premier League titles, three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup.

The charges cover the mangerial tenures of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, and the first two years under Pep Guardiola, who left the club after 10 seasons at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

A separate case between City and the Premier League was also heard last year.

In 2024, an independent arbitration panel found against aspects of the league’s Associated Party Transaction regulations (APTs) after City launched an arbitration challenge.

A tribunal held in February 2025 found the Premier League’s rules governing sponsorship deals from the period between 2021 and 2024 are “void and unenforceable”.

City and the Premier League reached a settlement in September 2025, with the club accepting the APT rules are valid and binding and both parties agreeing to terminate legal proceedings.

The rules were formed by the Premier League to prevent clubs from profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners that are deemed above “fair market value”.

What were the 115 charges?

• 54x Failure to provide accurate financial information 2009-10 to 2017-18.

• 14x Failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18.

• 5x Failure to comply with Uefa’s rules including Financial Fair Play (FFP) 2013-14 to 2017-18.

• 7x Breaching Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) 2015-16 to 2017-18.

• 35x Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations December 2018 – Feb 2023.

There have been suggestions by the Times and football finance expert Kieran Maguire the number of charges is as high as 130. BBC Sport has been unable to verify this.

The withdrawal of Palmer came as a surprise as he has started all five of Chelsea’s matches in the Premier League so far this season, though Tuchel says he had been playing with “discomfort and pain”.

The 24-year-old was left out of the World Cup squad by Tuchel and has featured just three times since the German took charge of the Three Lions in January 2025.

“My understanding is that he is playing with discomfort and pain, and he cannot compete at the highest level with discomfort and pain. So he withdrew and informed us, and Chelsea informed us.” Tuchel said.

“For sure. It is a missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities. I don’t blame him for it. It is just a fact.

“He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I witness and see within in my team, and for that you have to be in camp.

“And if you’re not in camp, there is a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you can only do it when you are actually on the pitch with me. So yes, it is a missed opportunity.”

It is understood Palmer is currently abroad completing an injury-specific training plan.

Chelsea’s non international players have been given days off and have been permitted to travel if they so wish.

Palmer has been accompanied by a Chelsea rehabilitation coach on his overseas trip.

Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are the other players who pulled out with injury.

Tuchel said he was not worried that players may put their clubs above playing for their country.

“We are not managing load. When I was in club football, I used the term ‘international break’ and, when you hear it from the other side, it is a totally different picture,” he said.

“It is a competitive environment, but it is also an environment that the players love to be a part of.

“That is what togetherness and brotherhood look like, and that is what we have created since last September in qualifying. We will never compromise on that.

“We will never let it creep in that we have a feeling players do not want to come. We focus on the guys who absolutely want to play for England.”

‘I’d be surprised if fans hold Argentina against us’

The match against world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday is England’s first game since the end of the World Cup.

The Three Lions ended the tournament with a 6-4 win in the Bronze medal match against France, but were criticised for the way they lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final.

England led 1-0 going into the final 15 minutes but dropped deep and conceded possession, with Argentina scoring two goals in the final minutes to reach the final.

Tuchel does not think there will be a negative reaction from the fans because of the result.

“I would be very surprised if the atmosphere would hold a third place or an accident in the 85th minute of a semi-final against us and against our team, that would surprise me a lot.” Tuchel said.

“The time and how and how fast it sold out shows me how excited everyone is to come and watch.

“That’s the reality of it, Spain make it hard for you to play a high intensity game. They are happy to control the ball and the rhythm.

“There can be spells when we will suffer and have to suffer, but there can be spells where we dominate and can bring the attributes that make us strong, so let’s see how it plays out.”

Pettit won the award twice, in its first year in 1955-56 and again in 1958-59, when he topped the scoring charts in both seasons.

The Basketball Hall of Fame confirmed Pettit’s death, describing him as “a true giant of the game” and “a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionised the forward position during his career.”

He was also named an NBA All-Star in all 11 of his seasons and was the first player to reach 20,000 points.

“He raised the bar for excellence as the league’s first MVP, first 20,000-point scorer and first four-time All-Star Game MVP,” said the NBA.

Having starred for Louisiana State University (LSU), Pettit was signed by Milwaukee Hawks in the draft in 1954.

The team then moved to St Louis, and Pettit stayed with them for the rest of his career which included winning the NBA title in 1958 with victory over the Boston Celtics.

He reached two more finals with the Hawks in 1960 and 1961, and retired in 1965 with a career average of 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game.

Pettit was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1971 and had his number 50 jersey retired at LSU in 1954. He was the first of their athletes to ever receive the honor.

LSU paid tribute to Pettit on their website, saying: “Pettit defined what the modern power forward should be in the NBA and set standards that have been hard to duplicate in professional basketball.”

No cause of death was given.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Pettit helped the Hawks’ secure an NBA title by scoring 50 points in a final in 1958

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: He was the first LSU athlete to have a jersey number retired

In a joint statement with Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Italy’s Serie A, the English top flight says it is speaking out “because we understand how Fifa’s relentless expansionism affects everyone”.

The four leagues say the shake-up is needed to make world football’s governing body “transparent, objective, proportionate and inclusive” and claim that “our sport cannot grow globally if its foundations are undermined”.

It comes days after Infantino proposed an external review of how Fifa operates amid the ongoing crisis over his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, which sparked a global outcry.

Referencing “one of the biggest abuses of power in Fifa’s history”, the four leagues say that “while football’s stakeholders ultimately forced the withdrawal of the Fifa Forward Enterprise scheme, the conditions that led to FFE remain”.

The statement added: “The Fifa president has now acknowledged the need for reform, but it is not enough for surface-level, process changes to be explored in the aftermath of FFE – fundamental governance reform is essential to restore clear constitutional boundaries within Fifa, including confidence that individual disciplinary matters remain demonstrably insulated from political interference.”

That is known to be a reference to the cancelled suspension of United States forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup after US President Donald Trump called Infantino asking for the striker’s ban to be reviewed.

“Fifa’s governance problem goes far beyond the role of one individual,” the leagues added.

“The wider question is whether Fifa’s president should simultaneously wield such regulatory, commercial and political power without effective checks and balances, including the agreement of affected stakeholders… governance that concentrates unchecked regulatory, commercial and political power in a single office, while relegating affected stakeholders to mere advisory status, is not fit for purpose.”

The four leagues call on Fifa to;

• establish a permanent body representing key stakeholders, including leagues, clubs, and players from across men’s and women’s football which has “a meaningful role in [its] decision-making process”.
• ensure “evidence-based decision-making”, with any major proposal subject to an independent assessment evaluating the impact on all stakeholders.
• create a separation between Fifa’s regulatory role and its commercial function via “robust institutional safeguards to preserve trust, legitimacy and accountability” with ethics, financial oversight and electoral bodies “that are genuinely independent of the Fifa administration and presidency”.

Two years ago, Europe’s top leagues – along with players’ union Fifpro – filed a legal complaint against Fifa with the European Commission over what they claimed was an “abuse of dominance” by world football’s governing body over the expansion of the international fixture calendar and an alleged lack of consultation.

Fifa denied that, and accused some leagues of “hypocrisy” and acting “without consideration to everyone else in the world”.

They claim that their legal action “is a consequence of a flawed governance framework in which Fifa can use its regulatory authority to advance its own commercial objectives without accounting for the impact on the economic and social sustainability of national competitions that affect all stakeholders. This must change now for the sake of football”.

Despite three confederations calling for him to step down, Infantino has said he will stand for re-election in March, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.

The four leagues want candidates to support their proposals and say: “Now is the moment to decide not only who will lead Fifa, but also how Fifa should be led. Leagues have a crucial role to play in this process, and we want to ensure that the voice of every league is heard.”

The letter is signed by Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, Marc Lenz, CEO of the Bundesliga, Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, and Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A.

Last month Masters told BBC Sport that Infantino had “pressed the self-destruct button” by delivering “a self-inflicted wound” over FFE.

United bought Andrey Santos from Chelsea on 13 July, Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa on 14 July and Carlos Baleba from Brighton on 25 August.

The fees the club stated they spent on the trio at the time the transfers were announced added up to £153m, and it is not clear where the additional sum has been spent.

The club have been approached for comment.

Confirmation of the additional borrowing of £90m was included in a more detailed filing to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, following Wednesday’s release of their 2025-26 accounts to 30 June, and showed their overall debt was still more than £1bn despite major cost-cutting measures implemented by Sir Jim Ratcliffe since he became minority owner in 2024.

United confirmed it made three further drawdowns from its revolving credit limit, on 29 and 31 July and 28 August, totalling £120m. It then paid back £30m on 21 September.

It takes United’s overall debt to £1.15bn, made up of the historic debt, which now stands at £578m, the £200m outstanding on its revolving credit facility, and £375m in outstanding transfer fees.

That is a £72m reduction on the £447m they stated was owed in transfer fees in the 2024-25 accounts. However, it remains a large sum, with £104.8m due in between one and two years and £51.9m in between two and five years – with the remainder due in the next 12 months.

The club say payments for their most recent transfers “are due within the next five years”.

In its latest European club talent and competition landscape report, European football’s governing body laid bare just how dominant the transfer activity of English clubs has become.

Uefa’s report said that the estimated €4.6bn (£4bn) spend by Premier League clubs is “larger than that of the next eight largest European countries combined”.

Andrea Traverso, Uefa’s executive director of finance, said that this trend “raises concerns”.

“Transfer values continue to rise sharply, particularly in the English market, increasing future pressure on club financial results,” Traverso wrote.

“These developments also point to an increasing concentration of talent and a growing polarisation of the market, with the emergence of a clear two-speed system.

“English clubs were involved in more than 60% of the deals and paid an average of around €24m (£20.7m) per inbound player, compared with only around €4m (£3.4m) to €5m (£4.3m) in the other major European leagues, underlining a widening gap in purchasing power.”

Traverso said that any “correction in transfer values” or “slowdown in buyer demand” could have serious implications for any club carrying debt.

He added that it has created “a more fragile model” which has left clubs “increasingly dependent on continued market inflation and liquidity”.

The report set out that the transfer spend of the 20 Premier League clubs this year is “equivalent to 56% of their annual revenue” – much higher than the 33% average of the pre-Covid decade.

Uefa also highlighted the increasing trend for English clubs to do big-value transfers between each other, which showed a 44% increase to €1.55bn (£1.33bn).

The English domestic market was “as large in fee value as the next five market flows combined”.

A market flow describes league-to-league deals. After the English domestic market, the next most lucrative was the German Bundesliga to the Premier League, at €690m (£594m).

The number of European transfer fees paid above €50m has significantly increased, from 14 in the summer of 2024 to 23 in 2025. In 2026 there was another jump to 35 such deals, of which Premier League clubs were responsible for 29.

With pressure to pass financial regulations, clubs have increasingly looked to sell academy players as they provide pure profit on the books.

European clubs generated an estimated profit of €6.8bn (£5.85bn) on these sales over the summer, an increase of €655m (£564bn) on 2025.

Uefa also found little evidence of clubs using multi-club ownership structures to move players for inflated or reduced fees.

Total transfer fees of such deals were €152m (£130.8m) with an estimated market value of €159m (£136.8m).

More than half of this spend came from transfers between Chelsea and Strasbourg.

The Portuguese coach criticised the decision after watching a replay of the incident that led to the hosts doubling their advantage in Thursday’s Group C clash at the Stade de Bouaké.

Malick Yalcouyé had given Ivory Coast a deserved lead shortly before half-time before the decisive moment arrived early in the second half.

Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was ruled to have fouled Yalcouyé inside the penalty area, and Franck Kessié converted from the spot to put the Elephants firmly in control.

Queiroz, however, insisted the award should never have stood.

“That penalty, it’s a joke. The penalty, it is a joke. I just saw it on the television,” he said after the match.

“Because I need to be quiet and polite. It was 1-0 down. I don’t think that Ivory Coast needed the referee to come inside the game and create an unbalanced situation.”

The 73-year-old argued that the decision came at a pivotal stage, with Ghana attempting to find an equaliser after conceding late in the first half.

“You guys who can see the television, it is a joke. It is a joke, that penalty,” Queiroz added.

“When we were 1-0 down and we fought for our chances, we fought for our opportunities, comes somebody that should not play and make unbalanced the game.”

The result leaves Ghana bottom of Group C without a point after their opening match, while Ivory Coast begin their qualifying campaign with three points.

The Black Stars now return to Accra to face Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on 29 September.

Ghana are seeking a return to the AFCON finals after missing out on qualification for the 2025 tournament in Morocco – their first absence from the competition in more than 20 years.

The four-time African champions began their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to the Elephants at Stade de Bouaké on Thursday, as goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié secured victory for the 2023 African champions.

Despite the setback, Queiroz insisted he has no doubt Ghana will respond when Ivory Coast visit the Accra Sports Stadium later in the qualifying campaign next year.

“When Ivory Coast comes to Ghana, with all due respect, it will be our turn to win,” Queiroz said after the game.

“So the score, as you said now, is 16–15, right? So in a couple of months it will be 16–16. I have no doubt about that, that we are going to win that game,” he added.

The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group C ahead of their second qualifying match against Gambia on Tuesday, 29 September at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Black Stars are attempting to secure a return to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco.

The Black Stars opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with defeat in Bouaké, where Malick Yalcouyé put the hosts ahead just before half-time at the Stade de Bouaké.

The Elephants doubled their advantage after the break when referee Alioune Sy awarded a penalty after Abdul Fatawu Issahaku was judged to have fouled Yalcouyé in the box.

Franck Kessié converted from the spot to secure victory for the reigning African champions and leave Ghana without a point after their opening Group C match.

While Queiroz praised Côte d’Ivoire’s display after the game, he reserved his strongest criticism for the officiating and the absence of VAR.

“Nothing to do with Ivory Coast; they played very well, all the players played very well. Congratulations,” the 73-year-old said.

“But I cannot give congratulations to the referee.”

The Portuguese coach questioned why the technology is not available in one of Africa’s biggest football competitions, arguing that it could help officials avoid decisive mistakes.

“Why don’t we have VAR in Africa? What is the reason we don’t have VAR in one African Cup of Nations?” he asked.

“We don’t have VAR to help the referee make the game fair.”

Queiroz, who was born in Mozambique, said his frustration stemmed from years of witnessing similar incidents in African football.

“I was born in Mozambique, I grew up here. I’m tired of these situations, of these referees that don’t do a good job,” he said.

The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group C, while Côte d’Ivoire move to the top of the standings with three points.

The Black Stars will look to recover when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on 29 September.

Ghana are bidding to return to the AFCON finals after failing to qualify for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, which ended a run of appearances spanning more than two decades.

Goals from Malick Yalcouye and Franck Kessie secured victory for the hosts at the Stade de Bouaké, sending the Elephants to the top of Group C with three points.

Despite Côte d’Ivoire enjoying more possession throughout the contest, Queiroz believed his side posed the greater attacking threat and created enough chances to avoid defeat.

“In terms of possession, Côte d’Ivoire were better than us, but in terms of attacking penetration and creating opportunities, we were better,” the Portuguese coach said after the match.

Ghana, however, failed to make their chances count, with Queiroz lamenting his side’s inability to convert in key moments.

“Unfortunately, we did not score. We had four clear opportunities to score in front of goal, but it didn’t happen,” he added.

Augustine Boakye, Benjamin Tetteh and Kwasi Sibo all came close for the Black Stars, who were looking to make a positive start to their qualifying campaign.

Queiroz revealed that his side adopted a more direct approach as the game progressed in an effort to unsettle the Ivorian defence.

“We played a more vertical style with more vertical movements to attack the defensive line of Côte d’Ivoire,” he explained.

The 73-year-old also praised the impact of substitutes Benjamin Tetteh and Felix Afena-Gyan, saying their introduction provided Ghana with additional attacking options and helped create further openings.

“We had enough opportunities to score. We have to improve in that department, to improve our ability to score because this is another game that we did not score,” Queiroz said.

The result leaves Ghana without a point after their opening Group C fixture, while Côte d’Ivoire lead the standings.

The Black Stars will look to bounce back when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, as they seek their first points of the qualifying campaign.

The sanctions have not been decided, with all possibilities remaining on the table, and City are expected to appeal.

City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges, according to sources briefed on the matter who spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly.

A City spokesperson told The Athletic: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

City’s statement in February 2023 said the club was “surprised” by the charges and it “welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position”.

How did we get here?

City were charged following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, and referred to an independent commission to adjudicate over the charges. The investigation began after German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents from City in November 2018.

City were accused by the Premier League of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations and the league’s own profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). The club have always denied the allegations.

City have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour, whose Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008. Six of those honours have come since the charges were brought.

In February 2020, UEFA, European football’s governing body, hit City with a two-year ban from its competitions and a €30million (£26.8m; $32.2m) fine following the Der Spiegel leaks but these were overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) five months later. CAS reversed the two-year ban because the alleged FFP breaches were either not established or time-barred — meaning under UEFA regulations, some of the alleged offences happened too long ago to be punished.

City, though, were found guilty of not cooperating with UEFA by failing to provide substantial amounts of evidence, a breach CAS said was “severe” and needed to be “seriously reproached”, leading to an £8.8m fine.

The Premier League and its chief executive, Richard Masters, have been repeatedly pressed on the City case since the charges were brought more than three years ago.

Last month, Masters acknowledged that the process had “taken longer than expected” but insisted the “only available route” was to “let the process take its course”.

In January 2024, Masters confirmed to a UK parliament select committee hearing that a date for City’s hearing had been set but refused to reveal it.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, meanwhile, said in June 2024 that the Premier League should adopt a more “balanced approach” towards its financial regulations. “I think the Premier League got to where it is today by being the most competitive league. So, I hope there is a bit more sensibility in regulating,” Al Mubarak added.

During the period of the alleged breaches, City won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup four times and the Community Shield.

Last season, they won a domestic cup double in Pep Guardiola’s final campaign as head coach but fell short to Arsenal in the Premier League.

City were also at loggerheads with the Premier League over its rules relating to associated party transactions (APT) for several years, though they reached a settlement with the league in September 2025.

In November 2024, Guardiola signed a contract extension, running until June 2027, and said he would remain at the club even if they were relegated as a result of any sanctions handed down because of the charges. Guardiola, though, announced in May that he would leave City after 10 years in charge, and has since been replaced by Enzo Maresca.

Under Maresca, City have started the 2026-27 season with five wins from five games, and are first in the table. City spent £450m during the summer transfer window, including the addition of midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a British record-equalling fee of £125m.

What sanctions could City face?

The potential punishments are outlined in rule W.51 of the Premier League’s handbook, with a range of potential options for the panel to consider if City are found to have broken the rules.

Sanctions range from a reprimand and fines to points deductions — and even expulsion from the Premier League.

Any points deduction could be applied when the decision is made or retrospectively, raising the prospect of City being stripped of titles.

“I would expect that if there is a points deduction, it would be applied going forward,” James Hill, a legal director specialising in sports regulatory matters at Onside Law, told The Athletic in 2023.

“Generally, panels don’t like deciding titles in a court process. Doing it that way does not give a real tangible punishment to the club.”
According to rule W.51.7, the panel could choose to combine any number of the punishments outlined in the rulebook or impose other sanctions they deem appropriate.

However, any punishment would need to be proportionate to the breaches in question or it could be overturned by appeal.

Malick Yalcouyé and captain Franck Kessié scored in Bouaké as the Elephants made a winning start to their qualifying campaign.

Ghana were without a number of established players because of injuries and personal reasons, prompting questions about whether their absentees had influenced the result.

Renard, however, dismissed the suggestion and pointed out that Ivory Coast were also missing several players.

“Why the players are not around, key Ghanaian players, this is not my issue. This is your problem, I would say,” Renard said after the match.

“We were missing five or six players as well. So we won this game, and that’s all.”

The French coach also resisted calls for Ghana’s defeat to be accompanied by explanations, insisting the result was what mattered to his team.

“It was the first game for the qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027. The result is good for us,” he said.

“Now, if you want to discuss your players, we are not there about the penalty. For me, so many excuses.”

The defeat leaves Ghana needing a response in their second Group C fixture when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, 29 September.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, will look to maintain their winning start when they face Somalia in their next qualifier.

In his first interview since the war of words with the FA president began, Nana Baffour Awuah told LUV FM that Kurt needs to salvage the situation or government intervenes. 

“Football is the passion of the nation, so when things are not going well, we have to say it,” he said. 

He added that “when the source of a river is dried, you have no river. You’re not doing well at U17, U20, and U23, and your domestic league is not doing well. 

“The quantity is very poor; everybody knows. Under Okraku, Ghana’s football has collapsed, and he has to, or we as a nation do something about it.”

Kurt Okraku, who has served as Ghana Football Association President since 2019, clashed with Nana Baffour Awuah after the Member of Parliament 
urged President Mahama to reform Ghanaian football, accusing the GFA of being hijacked by a “cabal”. 

GFA President Kurt Okraku fired back on radio, questioning the MP’s expertise and asking how many pitches he’s built for his constituents in Manhyia South, Ashanti Region. 

Nana Awuah replied that his area already has three AstroTurfs and stressed the need for a broader perspective on the sport’s struggles.

Meanwhile, the Black Stars kicked off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a 2-0 loss against Ivory Coast, with Malick Yalcouye and Franck Kessie scoring for the Elephants.

The result leaves Ghana without a point after their opening Group C fixture, while Côte d’Ivoire lead the standings.

The Black Stars will look to bounce back when they host Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29, as they seek their first points of the qualifying campaign.