UEFA has confirmed a six-figure payment to a woman who was reportedly in a relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during his time at UEFA. According to The Telegraph, she received a pay rise and earned around £147,000. UEFA also paid fees for her MBA after she left the organisation. UEFA said the payments followed rules in place at the time. The rules were later tightened. Reports said Infantino was challenged over the alleged relationship by then-UEFA president Michel Platini. Infantino has strongly denied the allegations. A FIFA spokesperson called the claims “categorically untrue” and said no employee had complained about his conduct. (PC: AP)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has responded to Rishabh Pant’s request for help in buying land in the state. Pant had said he wanted to move his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand. He also said he had struggled to find suitable land for three years. Dhami called Pant the “pride of Uttarakhand” and praised his love for his home state. “Your love for your motherland and your sentiment of returning here to contribute are highly commendable,” Dhami said. He added that officials had been instructed to look into the matter. They will contact Pant and provide possible help under the rules.

Former South Africa cricketer Daryl Cullinan has warned Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma that they cannot afford to lose form ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Their participation in the tournament remains uncertain. Both players have retired from Test cricket and T20Is. Cullinan said they need regular match practice to stay ready. He praised Gautam Gambhir’s approach of keeping players active. “You have to be in the middle because it also keeps that game familiarity alive,” Cullinan said. He also suggested Kohli should play domestic cricket and T20s if required. Kohli and Rohit last played in India’s ODI series against England. (PC: Getty Images)

Argentina captain Lionel Messi reportedly faced serious security threats during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a police dossier cited by News18. One post reportedly said, “I’m going to walk into the Atlanta stadium and blow up Messi with four bombs stuck in my body.” Security teams searched the Atlanta venue after another caller claimed bombs had been placed in garbage bins. Authorities also tracked threats against players, officials and their families. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo also faced security concerns during the tournament. French referee François Letexier reportedly received more than 6,000 threatening WhatsApp messages. (PC: AP)

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for help in buying land in the state. Pant said he wants to move his base from Delhi to his native Uttarakhand and build his first home there. In a social media post, he said he has been trying to find suitable land for nearly three years. Pant stressed that he does not want the land as a gift. He wants to buy it from the government at official rates. The cricketer also said he hopes to contribute to Uttarakhand and help his “Pahadi people.” Pant is currently in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced free public entry for both Tests of the upcoming two-match series against India, aiming to boost stadium attendance and promote the longest format. The series begins on August 15 and marks India’s first Test assignment since their 2025 whitewash against South Africa. With both teams chasing crucial World Test Championship (2025-27) points, the fixtures carry added significance. Amid concerns over declining crowds and viewership for Test cricket, SLC said the initiative will allow fans, families and young cricket enthusiasts to watch world-class cricket without purchasing tickets. The board hopes the move will encourage greater public participation and strengthen support for red-ball cricket across Sri Lanka. (PC: X)

Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medallist Sakshi Chaudhary has thanked former India captain Virat Kohli for supporting her boxing career through the Virat Kohli Foundation. After winning the women's 51kg (Flyweight) title in Glasgow, the Haryana boxer said Kohli had been her sponsor during a crucial phase of her journey. Chaudhary, who serves in the Indian Army, made a successful comeback after missing the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Asian Games. Speaking after her victory, she recalled taking up boxing after being inspired by Vijender Singh but said Kohli's financial support and motivation played an important role in helping her achieve Commonwealth Games gold.

FIFA's leadership crisis deepened as football bodies split over President Gianni Infantino's future following the collapse of his proposed $4.2 billion commercial rights sell-off. Norway called for Infantino's resignation, saying he had lost the football community's trust, while UEFA maintained its boycott threat. CONCACAF and the AFC also criticised FIFA's handling of the proposal, though several Asian members backed Infantino. Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay and the Confederation of African Football reaffirmed support for the FIFA chief, urging institutional continuity ahead of the 2027 Congress. FIFA apologised for mistakes in the proposal's rollout, insisting governance rules were followed despite widespread criticism over communication and decision-making. (PC: The Telegraph)

Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa won his first Grand Chess Tour St. Louis Rapid & Blitz title after a commanding performance in the United States. The 20-year-old secured the championship with a round to spare by drawing against Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov in the penultimate round before finishing on 23.5 points, 1.5 points clear of the field. Praggnanandhaa led the standings throughout the tournament, losing only two of his 27 games. The victory strengthens his position in the Grand Chess Tour standings ahead of the prestigious Sinquefield Cup and marks another major milestone in his impressive 2026 season. (PC: X)

UEFA has reaffirmed that its threat to boycott FIFA competitions, including future World Cups, remains in place despite FIFA withdrawing its controversial proposal to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors. European football's governing body said FIFA has not yet met the conditions required to restore trust, including firm guarantees that similar plans will never return. UEFA also continues to express a lack of confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino's leadership. The standoff has deepened divisions within world football and could affect upcoming FIFA tournaments if negotiations fail to resolve the governance dispute. (PC: Getty Images)