Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

A potentially transformative legal battle is unfolding as over 100,000 current and former professional footballers challenge FIFA over long-standing transfer regulations they claim have unlawfully restricted their careers and earnings. Described as a “seismic confrontation” by former Fulham midfielder-turned-lawyer Udo Onwere, the class action lawsuit was launched this week by Dutch foundation Justice for Players (JFP), in what could become the most significant legal challenge to football’s global governing body since the landmark Bosman ruling in 1995. JFP’s case, which also targets the football associations of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, argues that FIFA’s transfer rules have violated…

Ademola Lookman has intensified his push for a move away from Atalanta by refusing to attend training on Monday, raising tensions between the Nigerian international and his club. The 27-year-old forward is keen on joining Serie A rivals Inter Milan this summer and is now resorting to stronger measures to make the move happen. According to multiple sources, Lookman was absent from Atalanta’s training session at the Zingonia complex, with no official reason provided by the club. His absence comes just a day after he submitted a formal transfer request and published a lengthy Instagram post accusing the club of…

Son Heung-min, one of the Premier League’s most admired and accomplished forwards, is on the brink of completing a sensational transfer to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC in a deal potentially worth around £20 million. The South Korean icon announced over the weekend that he would leave Tottenham Hotspur after 10 unforgettable years at the club. Now 33, Son appears poised to bring the curtain down on a glittering European career, with his move to LAFC potentially eclipsing the MLS record fee of £22.5 million paid by Atlanta United for Emmanuel Latte Lath earlier this year. While final…

Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have once again shown their dominance on the African continent after pulling off a dramatic 75–68 comeback victory against Senegal in the semi-finals of AfroBasket 2025. The win, secured on Saturday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, marks Nigeria’s fifth consecutive appearance in the tournament final and extends an incredible unbeaten run that has lasted for a decade. Trailing by eight points at the start of the fourth quarter, D’Tigress rallied in spectacular fashion to overturn the deficit and close out the game with a commanding performance. The victory is their 28th consecutive win in the AfroBasket…

Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has been arrested and charged with running a high-stakes illegal poker ring out of his Los Angeles-area mansion, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday. The 43-year-old, best known for his playing days with the Washington Wizards and his nickname “Agent Zero,” now faces three federal charges: operating an illegal gambling business, conspiracy, and making false statements to federal investigators. Arenas pleaded not guilty during a court appearance and was released on a $50,000 bond. He is scheduled to stand trial on 23 September and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted…

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been cleared of spot-fixing allegations by an independent regulatory commission, ending a two-year Football Association (FA) investigation that threatened to derail his career. The 27-year-old Brazil international was facing four serious charges that could have led to a lifetime ban from football. The charges were related to alleged deliberate bookings in four Premier League matches: against Leicester City (12 November 2022), Aston Villa (12 March 2023), Leeds United (21 May 2023), and Bournemouth (12 August 2023). However, following a detailed hearing, the commission ruled that the charges were “not proven.” The FA initially…

A gunman who killed four people in a Manhattan skyscraper on Monday night was reportedly targeting the National Football League (NFL) over a brain injury he blamed on playing football, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has revealed. The attacker, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, opened fire in the lobby of 345 Park Avenue — the same building that houses the NFL headquarters. However, Tamura mistakenly went to the wrong office after taking the wrong elevator, Adams said. He later turned the gun on himself. “This was a senseless act of violence, and our city is grieving…

Nigeria made history in Rabat on Saturday night, claiming a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in dramatic fashion. The Super Falcons came from two goals down at half-time to defeat hosts Morocco in a pulsating final, earning not only continental glory but a $1m prize after CAF boosted the tournament’s prize pool. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who lifted the trophy and was later named Player of the Tournament, led a squad that had to overcome both fierce opponents and persistent institutional challenges. But beyond Nigeria’s heroics, WAFCON 2024 shed light on pressing issues still hindering the growth…

Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr have agreed a deal worth up to £43.7 million for Chelsea forward Joao Felix, marking another high-profile addition to the league and reuniting the Portuguese international with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo. Felix, 25, has been granted permission to travel to Riyadh to undergo a medical ahead of completing the move. The deal signals the end of the forward’s brief spell with Chelsea, who paid Atletico Madrid £45 million to sign him permanently last summer following a previous loan spell. Al-Nassr’s offer fended off strong competition from former club Benfica, who were keen to bring Felix back…

Bayern Munich have reached an agreement with Liverpool to sign Colombia international Luis Diaz in a deal worth £65.5 million (€75m), including add-ons, bringing to an end weeks of speculation surrounding the 28-year-old’s future. The German champions had an initial offer of £58.6m rejected earlier this month but have now succeeded in prising Diaz away from Anfield, where he has played since January 2022 after signing from FC Porto. The winger was notably absent from Liverpool’s squad for their 4-2 pre-season defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday, fueling rumours that a transfer was imminent. That speculation has…