Spanish soccer giants Barcelona find themselves under investigation for alleged “active bribery” as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into suspected corruption within the refereeing committee spanning two decades. This investigation was revealed through a court document obtained by Reuters.

Additionally, law enforcement authorities conducted searches at the offices of the Spanish refereeing committee (CTA) within the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in Madrid. These actions are part of the ongoing investigation into the “potential systemic corruption” within the CTA.

Morocco has been awarded the prestigious opportunity to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals. This decision comes as a replacement for Guinea, which was stripped of its hosting rights last year. Additionally, the 2027 hosting rights have been granted to a co-bid comprising Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Morocco emerged victorious by default, as Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria all withdrew their bids before the vote took place during the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee meeting in Cairo.

Nigeria and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, scored a goal against Udinese in the wake of a controversial social media incident involving the player. Napoli had previously posted a mocking video on their TikTok account, which has since been removed, featuring Osimhen missing a penalty. The video included a high-pitched voiceover saying, “gimme penalty please.” This incident prompted a strong reaction from Osimhen’s agent, who threatened legal action against the club.

In response to the recent decision by the European soccer governing body, UEFA, to reinstate Russia’s Under-17 teams in European competitions, Ukraine has taken a firm stance. The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) released a statement, emphasizing their refusal to participate in tournaments involving Russian teams. This decision has stirred controversy and garnered support from various football associations worldwide.

French Ligue 1 club, Olympique de Marseille, has officially announced the appointment of Italian football figure Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach. This significant decision comes in the wake of the departure of Marcelino, the previous coach, and it was made public on a Wednesday.

Gennaro Gattuso, a 45-year-old football tactician with a rich history, will assume the coaching responsibilities at the club. Marcelino, a Spaniard, left the club under strained circumstances involving disagreements with the passionate Marseille supporters.

Ethiopian athlete Tigst Assefa made history by smashing the women’s marathon world record during the Berlin race held on Sunday. Assefa, who had clinched victory in the same event the previous year, triumphed with an extraordinary finishing time of two hours, eleven minutes, and fifty-three seconds.

Desire Ugochi Oparanozie, the former captain of the Super Falcons of Nigeria, has officially announced her retirement from international and club football at the age of 29. This significant announcement was made on her verified social media platform, X, on Wednesday.

Nigeria defender Ashleigh Plumptre has officially joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer, marking her departure from Leicester City. This exciting transfer has created a buzz in the world of women’s football.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is facing a provisional suspension due to an anti-doping violation. Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal (NADO) recently revealed that Pogba’s post-match test following Juve’s 3-0 victory against Udinese on August 20th showed elevated levels of testosterone.

Arsenal’s surprising exit in the Women’s Champions League qualifiers saw them defeated in a penalty shootout by the French side Paris FC. This unexpected turn of events came as a shock, especially considering Arsenal’s impressive performance last season when they reached the semi-finals.

Neymar, the 31-year-old forward, has clinched the title of Brazil’s all-time top male scorer, surpassing the legendary Pele, during a resounding 5-1 victory over Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying match. This historic moment unfolded as Neymar, previously tied with Pele at 77 goals, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, including a missed penalty, before ultimately securing his position with two crucial goals in the second half, marking his 125th appearance for the national team.

Nigeria and Napoli forward Victor Osimhen features prominently among the nominees for the prestigious men’s Ballon d’Or trophy, as revealed by the esteemed France Football magazine on Wednesday. This recognition underscores his remarkable contributions to Napoli’s winning of the Italian Scudetto after 33 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated a historic moment in his illustrious career by netting his 850th career goal as Al Nassr triumphed 5-1 against Al-Hazm in the Saudi Pro League clash on a memorable Saturday.