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.