Punch Newspapers

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega has announced his intention to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in next year’s election as reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday.

The 55-year-old former Switzerland international is the first person to publicly confirm his candidacy against Infantino, who has said he remains committed to leading football’s world governing body.

Vega, who also played for Celtic and Watford, retired from football in 2004 and later moved into finance. He said he was seeking to reunite the global football community and introduce major reforms to FIFA.

“I am standing to reunite the global football family, deliver genuine and lasting reform, modernise FIFA for the 21st Century, restore stability and credibility, and rebuild the trust that our game urgently needs,” Vega said.

The former centre-back has previously considered running for the FIFA presidency. He explored a bid in 2015 following the suspension of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and announced in 2019 that he would challenge Infantino.

However, he failed to secure the backing of the required five of FIFA’s 211 member associations and was therefore not included on the ballot.

Announcing his latest bid, Vega said his experience had prepared him to serve football in a leadership capacity.

“I am standing because my life has prepared me to serve the game,” he said.

Vega criticised what he described as divisions within football administration and called for a new direction at FIFA.

“Football does not belong to presidents, confederations or administrators. Football is greater than any position, any individual or any institution,” he said.

He added that the sport belonged to players, coaches, referees, supporters, clubs, leagues, associations and communities around the world.

Vega also accused the current FIFA leadership of damaging the organisation’s credibility and eroding trust among stakeholders.

“The current leadership has demoralised the game. Weak governance has damaged FIFA’s credibility and eroded trust across the global football family,” he said.

He called for an end to internal disputes that could affect those directly involved in the sport.

“Ego-driven battles within football administration must never be allowed to damage those who matter most: the players, coaches, referees and supporters around the world. They are not responsible for these conflicts. They deserve better,” Vega said.

Infantino has faced calls to step down but said last month that he was “fully committed to leading FIFA.”

Vega, meanwhile, said FIFA could no longer afford cosmetic changes and needed fundamental reform.

“Football is in the emergency room, on life support. We cannot wait any longer. FIFA needs a new direction and fundamental reform,” he said.

The former Spurs player will now seek the necessary support from FIFA member associations as he attempts to secure a place on the ballot for next year’s presidential election.

Tottenham Hotspur may finally get the chance to sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen this summer, but only if they first part ways with either Dominic Solanke or Richarlison, according to TEAMtalk.

The Premier League club are understood to have been offered the opportunity to sign the Super Eagles forward as they continue their search for a proven centre-forward ahead of the new season.

However, Spurs are yet to decide whether to pursue a formal move for the 27-year-old.

Any deal is expected to be financially challenging. Beyond the transfer fee, Tottenham would need to offload either Solanke or Richarlison to create room in the squad, while Osimhen’s reported weekly salary of €288,000 after tax would make him the club’s highest-paid player.

Osimhen has maintained his reputation as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers since leaving Napoli for Galatasaray in 2024. After initially joining the Turkish champions on loan, the move was made permanent, and he has continued to deliver in front of goal.

The Nigeria international scored 15 goals and provided five assists despite making only 19 Turkish Super Lig starts last season, a return that has kept him on the radar of several leading European clubs.

Reports also suggest Osimhen remains eager to fulfil his ambition of playing in the Premier League during the peak years of his career, a factor that could work in Tottenham’s favour.

But with the London club needing to reduce both their squad and wage bill before making a move, any pursuit of the Super Eagles star is likely to depend on the exits of either Solanke or Richarlison.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld has urged his old club to sign Victor Osimhen, insisting the Nigeria striker’s proven goalscoring record makes him the answer to a problem that has persisted at the club since Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich in 2023, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

“Victor Osimhen is a very good striker, and Tottenham Hotspur need a very good striker. They have lacked a top player there since Harry Kane so I think that’s an area where they have to improve,” Alderweireld told Hajper.

“Osimhen has scored everywhere he has played. He is going to get you goals, even in the Premier League. Spurs cannot gamble too much this season. I think that’s why they are spending big money on big players because they know they need to give something back to the fans and they need to sign these players quickly before other clubs become interested.”

Alderweireld acknowledged that Tottenham are not the only club who could benefit from Osimhen’s goals, but argued his experience should outweigh concerns over his age among suitors such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

“Spurs aren’t the only club that could use a striker like him but they need his goals because it’s what they lacked last season as well. The only concern for clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United is maybe his age.

“He’s not the youngest player anymore and it seems like everyone wants to find a 23-year-old superstar who can bang in goals for the next seven or eight years, and I understand that, but you also need a good mix,” he said.

Drawing on his own experience at Ajax, the Belgian explained why blending proven quality with emerging talent produces the best results.

“That’s why it can be important to sign proven players who know how things go so they can bring on the younger, potential superstars alongside them, because they can set the best example.

“I think about my time at Ajax. The mix was on another level. We had Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind and Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs de Ligt coming through. That’s what you need,” Alderweireld added.

Alderweireld’s endorsement comes amid a major squad overhaul at Tottenham under head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has already brought in Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke to strengthen the midfield and defence.

Spurs currently field Dominic Solanke and Richarlison as their main attacking options, but a move for Osimhen would require Tottenham to test Napoli’s resolve with a formal approach and commit to a significant financial package as the transfer window progresses.

Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to enter the race for Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, despite recent unsuccessful attempts by other top European clubs to lure the Nigerian away from Turkey, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

After already establishing themselves as one of the biggest spenders in Europe this summer, the north London side have now identified the Nigerian international as the missing piece in their attacking puzzle.

The north London club have already spent heavily in this window, investing over £230m in new talent. Additions such as Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke have arrived, but the hierarchy are eager to add further firepower before the deadline.

According to CaughtOffside, Spurs are prepared to offer £65m, though that figure could prove ambitious given that Osimhen is in his prime, is Galatasaray’s star player, was signed for €75m/£65m and is contracted until 2029.

The Turkish club have valued Osimhen at €150m, while the player has also said he will only leave the club if they want him to move.

CoughtOffside also reported that Spurs have now received “sporting approval” to “begin formal negotiations” for Osimhen’s signing.

It was also claimed that there is a belief that reaching an agreement on personal terms “would not create a major obstacle”.

The 27-year-old has helped fire his respective sides to three league titles in the past four years. He won Serie A with Napoli in the 2022/23 campaign before winning back-to-back Super Lig titles with Galatasaray in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons.

Osimhen has scored 107 goals in 145 appearances across all competitions over the past four seasons. His record in the more demanding Champions League stands at 16 goals in 27 outings.

The Nigerian has constantly been on the radar of Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, but no deal has materialised.

He has also been linked with moves to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Brazil striker Richarlison scored a 90th-minute winner and club record signing Sandro Tonali got his first goal as 10-man Tottenham beat London rivals Chelsea 2-1 in a feisty pre-season friendly in Sydney on Saturday.

Both sides fielded strong line-ups and Spurs struck first on 19 minutes through Tonali’s deflected strike before Estevao levelled the scores barely two minutes later.

Tottenham defender Kevin Danso was given a straight red card just three minutes after coming off the bench at the break for bringing down Joao Pedro, with Chelsea dominating proceedings in the second half.

But in front of 80,363 fans at Stadium Australia, they failed to capitalise and Spurs stunned them with a late winner.

The loss means new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso will head to Hong Kong for a clash with Juventus on Wednesday on the back of his first defeat, following a 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers last week.

The Spaniard has overseen a string of high-profile signings since being appointed, headlined by Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, as he bids to rejuvenate the club after their disappointing 10th in the Premier League last season.

Spurs, who fared even worse, coming 17th to narrowly miss relegation, have also been on a spending spree with Matheus Fernandes arriving from West Ham and Tonali from Newcastle.

They fly home after a 2-0 win over Auckland FC and 1-1 draw with Sydney FC.

Most of Chelsea’s close-season signings have yet to link up with the squad, including Rogers.

But right-back Marco Palestra, who joined from Atalanta, got his first minutes while Cole Palmer and Estevao started after a slew of youngsters were used against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Tottenham midfielder Fernandes, who missed the Sydney game with “fatigue in his calf muscle”, was again absent, as was James Maddison with a “small problem”.

But Tonali made his maiden start along with fellow new recruit Andy Robertson.

After a cagey start, tempers flared when Conor Gallagher hacked down Chelsea’s Dario Essugo in the 10th minute with players pushing and shoving each other.

Gallagher was shown a yellow card and Essugo continued.

Spurs broke the deadlock after a nice break down the right from Manor Solomon, who fed Tonali on the edge of the box with his shot taking a deflection.

But it was a short-lived lead as Estevao headed home at the far post after Romeo Lavia broke free from midfield and they went to the break at 1-1 with Spurs having the better half.

Danso’s brain-fade allowed Chelsea to dominate the second-half with Estevao rattling the crossbar among a slew of chances.

But, in a worry for Alonso, they failed to make the most of the extra man and Spurs stole their thunder when Richarlison side-footed home at the death.

AFP

Sandro Tonali has explained why he chose to join Tottenham, revealing that his relationship with manager Roberto de Zerbi and their shared connection to Brescia played a major role in his decision.

The Italian midfielder completed a club-record £100m move to Spurs after leaving Newcastle, despite interest from clubs with stronger recent records.

Tonali said a meeting with De Zerbi quickly convinced him that Tottenham was the right destination.

The midfielder revealed that he only needed 10 minutes after their initial conversation to make up his mind about the transfer.

A key part of their discussion was Brescia, the club both men have a strong connection with. De Zerbi grew up supporting Brescia and later played for the club, while Tonali began his football career there.

As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, Tonali was quoted as saying, “We spoke about Brescia, about the difficult situation facing our club,” Tonali said, referring to the struggles of his boyhood team after their relegation to Italy’s third tier.

The Tottenham manager had previously tried to sign Tonali during his time at Sassuolo, creating a relationship that the midfielder described as a “mini-connection” over the years.

De Zerbi contacted a mutual friend last season to find out whether Tonali would be interested in moving to Tottenham and was told the player was open to the possibility.

After Spurs secured Premier League survival, De Zerbi contacted Tonali about a potential move, and the midfielder responded shortly afterwards.

The pair later held further talks at Tonali’s home near Brescia, where the player said he gained a clear understanding of his new manager’s plans and ambitions.

“Brescia is so small. I had two weeks there and met him two or three times,” Tonali said.

Tottenham’s record-breaking signing now hopes to help the club improve after a difficult previous season and believes De Zerbi’s vision was a key reason behind his decision to move to north London.

Tottenham Hotspur have strongly condemned racist abuse directed at defender Kevin Danso following their 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton on Saturday.

Danso made an error in stoppage time that allowed Brighton’s Georginio Rutter to score an equaliser, a result that kept Spurs in the Premier League relegation zone. After the match, the 27-year-old became the target of what the club described as “vile, dehumanising racism” on social media.

In a statement on Sunday, Tottenham said the abuse has been reported to the police and relevant authorities, and pledged to pursue strong action against those responsible.

“We will push for the strongest possible action against each person we identify,” the club said. “Kevin has our complete and unconditional support as a player and as a person. No one at this club will ever stand alone in the face of this.”

The club also stressed that performance on the pitch can never justify discrimination. “Nothing about form or league position can ever excuse or explain racist abuse,” the statement added. “We have heard and seen vile, dehumanising racism. Behaviour that is without doubt a criminal offence. It will not be tolerated.”

The incident occurred during the Premier League’s “No Room For Racism” campaign weekend, an initiative aimed at promoting diversity and tackling discrimination in football.

Danso responded on Instagram, saying the abuse “doesn’t define me” and would not distract him from his focus.

“I know who I am, what I stand for, and why I play,” he wrote, adding that discriminatory abuse “has absolutely no place in football or wider society.”

The Premier League also issued a statement condemning the abuse, saying discriminatory behaviour is not welcome in the game and warning that offenders face bans and potential legal prosecution.

Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out also backed Danso, praising his response and noting a continued rise in reported cases of online abuse involving players.

The incident adds to a series of similar cases this season, prompting renewed calls from football authorities and clubs for stronger action against racism both online and in stadiums.

Tottenham Hotspur coach Roberto De Zerbi has apologised to supporters following criticism over past comments he made about Mason Greenwood.

De Zerbi, recently appointed as Spurs’ head coach, faced backlash from sections of the club’s fanbase after remarks he made while managing Olympique de Marseille resurfaced. The comments related to Greenwood, who previously faced serious criminal charges in 2022, which were later dropped.

As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, in a statement addressing the controversy, De Zerbi said he “never wanted to downplay” the issue of violence, particularly against women.

He stressed that he has always stood in support of those who are vulnerable and at risk.

“I’ve consistently fought to be on the side of those who need protecting. I’m sorry if I offended anyone’s feelings with this subject matter,” he said.

The Italian also pointed to his personal values, adding that he is sensitive to such issues and hopes supporters will come to better understand his intentions over time.

Despite the apology, some fans remain uneasy about his appointment, with criticism emerging shortly after Spurs confirmed him as their new manager.

De Zerbi replaces Igor Tudor, who was dismissed with the club struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tottenham currently sit just above the relegation zone, and De Zerbi now faces the dual challenge of improving results on the pitch while rebuilding trust with supporters off it.

PUNCH Online reports that opposition grew among Tottenham Hotspur supporters over the club’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as head coach, following his controversial remarks supporting striker Mason Greenwood.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing criticism from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) over claims that the club selectively edited the minutes of a fans’ meeting held on February 3, just days before manager Thomas Frank was dismissed.

As reported by BBC Sport on Tuesday, THST says the published notes omitted key concerns raised by supporters, including fears over the team’s relegation risk and how the optimism following the Europa League victory had faded.

The Trust also claimed the minutes removed a line stating that the board “welcomed the input of THST.”

“Publishing a full record of the points raised helps ensure accountability and allows members, and the wider fan base, to understand how the Trust is fulfilling its role on their behalf,” THST said.

Tottenham declined to comment, but sources told BBC Sport that the minutes were intended as a broad summary rather than a detailed transcript. Topics such as youth players getting first-team opportunities, club finances, and sticking to Spurs’ DNA and style of play were included, though THST said not in full.

The club currently sits 16th in the Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone, and recently appointed Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season.

Arsenal will play Tottenham in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong, the first North London derby to be held outside the United Kingdom, the clubs said Monday, while Liverpool will meet AC Milan.

The London rivals will play at the southern Chinese city’s new 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium on July 31.

“Playing against Tottenham Hotspur in the magnificent new Kai Tak Stadium will be a great experience for both teams and supporters, and will be a very important part of our pre-season preparations ahead of the new season,” said Arsenal’s managing director Richard Garlick.

Liverpool will play Serie A giants Milan on July 26 at the same stadium.

It will be a replay of the classic 2005 Champions League final, which the Reds won on penalties after being 3-0 down at half-time.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are likely to head to Hong Kong as Premier League champions — they are currently 12 points clear with nine games left.

Liverpool will also travel to Japan for the first time during pre-season, the club said, without giving dates.

Hong Kong officially opened a major $3.85 billion sports park this month, with the futuristic Kai Tak Stadium at its centre.

The stadium saw its first major event at the weekend when it hosted the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens with more than 110,000 spectators attending over three days.

It is all part of efforts to restore the city’s image, which took a battering after political protests and a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Visitor numbers to Hong Kong also plummeted during almost three years of strict Covid curbs and have only recently begun to recover.