Africa will get an additional two World Cup finals places should the tournament be expanded to 40 teams from 2026, says FIFA president Gianni Infantino as he visited Nigeria yesterday. Infantino proposed the expansion from 32 teams before he was elected by world football’s governing body in February. Africa is currently allocated five places at World Cups. “My proposal has been 40 teams and if that happens then my proposal has been to have at least two extra places for African teams,” said Infantino. The move would not come into effect until 2026 with the format of 32 teams already confirmed for Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

UEFA has announced a fine of €16,000 for Liverpool relating to crowd disturbances and the setting off of fireworks during the Europa League final against Sevilla. UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body announced the sanction which related specifically to crowd disturbances, the setting off of fireworks, and an illicit banner. Sevilla, who won the match 3-1, were fined €17,000 for their part in the disturbances, which involved crowd disturbances and the throwing of objects. A small numbers of supporters clashed behind one of the goals shortly before kick-off, with many fans blaming poor segregation for the problems. There was also criticism of UEFA’s choice of the St Jakob-Park stadium, which with its capacity of just 35,000 was the smallest chosen to host a major European final.

Stoke City have announced the signing of Ramadan Sobhi from Al Ahly for a fee that could rise to €6 million. Sobhi, 19, has been granted a work permit to become Stoke’s first signing ahead of the 2016-17 season. The Egypt international, who has six caps to his name, plays as winger and had been linked with Arsenal and Roma. Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes said on the club’s official website: “We are absolutely delighted to have signed a player of Ramadan’s undoubted quality and potential. “He’s a special young talent who is excited about the prospect of making an impact in the Premier League and we’re looking forward to giving him that platform.”

Celtic have completed the signing of former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure. Toure, 35, has signed a one-year deal and reunites with former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers at Celtic Park. The centre-back, who played in Liverpool’s Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in May, was a free agent after the expiry of his contract at Anfield. Toure becomes Rodgers’ second signing following the arrival of Moussa Dembele from Fulham. He told Celtic TV: “I feel really excited because it’s going to be a new challenge for me. I’ve come to one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a privilege for me to be here. “I know a few friends who play football here and I know what the club has been achieving, winning a lot of trophies and playing Champions League a lot so that’s something I’m looking at. “I played with Brendan when he was at Liverpool and when we spoke about the chance for me to come here I was really happy because we know each other for a long time now. We’ve worked together and he’s a top manager. For me it’s a privilege to come and work with him again.” He added: “I have been playing for top clubs and I’m used to the challenge and I’m here to give everything I’ve got to win my place. You can only win your place on the pitch and that’s through hard work, dedication and determination and I’m ready for that.”

Cameroon midfielder Alex Song is hoping to “make a great impact” in Russia after joining top-flight club Rubin Kazan on a season-long loan from Spanish giants Barcelona. The 28-year-old spent the past two seasons on loan at Premier League side West Ham United and made 46 appearances for the Hammers. Song joined Barcelona in 2012 from Arsenal for around £15m with an 80m euros (£63m) release clause, but has struggled to break into the star-studded squad. “I’m very happy to come here and be a part of the project being built in Kazan,” Song told the club’s official TV channel.  “The club hopes to establish itself as the biggest team in Russian football in the next four years and I hope to make a great impact towards that. “I’ve played for big teams like Arsenal and Barcelona, these clubs always set high goals so I understand the targets here. “I like the atmosphere in the squad and hopefully we can achieve something positive together,” the midfielder added.

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The pre-season game in China between Manchester United and Manchester City has been called off because heavy rain has left the pitch unplayable. The surface at the Birds Nest stadium in Beijing was described as “bad” by United boss Jose Mourinho on Sunday. And before the game was called off, City boss Pep Guardiola said his main hope was for players to avoid injury. Both City and United said “tournament organisers and clubs” decided to cancel the match at the 2008 Olympic Stadium. Rain had fallen overnight and there were forecasts of more heavy rain on Monday. The clubs’ planned training sessions were switched away from the stadium on Sunday to the Olympic Sports Centre, about a mile away. The fixture cancellation capped a chaotic 24 hours for the Red Devils. Manager Mourinho’s planned news conference had to be scrapped as too many people tried to get into a room which was deemed too small and too hot. And a plane carrying some of the players had to make an unscheduled stop in Tianjin, around 160km from Beijing, as storms hit the Chinese capital. United will leave Beijing to return to Manchester later on Monday as planned, while City are due to fly to Shenzhen on Tuesday for Thursday’s game against Borussia Dortmund.

Cristiano Ronaldo is to have an airport named after him on his native island of Madeira after Portugal’s Euro 2016 success. The Real Madrid star already has a bronze statue, a museum and a hotel bearing his name in the island’s capital city of Funchal, but will soon see the main airport rechristened the Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo airport. Local governor Miguel Albuquerque confirmed the decision, according to Mundo Deportivo, with the 31-year-old superstar currently back on the island after holidaying in Ibiza. Ronaldo was recently reported as desperate to play in the Super Cup in early August but Madrid sources say their number 7 is extremely unlikely to feature. The forward was stretchered off in tears during Portugal’s Euro 2016 final win over France, but recovered enough to prowl the touch line for the final few minutes and then lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.

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Nigeria, the World Under-17 champions, failed to reach next year’s Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Zambia, falling to a shock 3-4 home defeat to Sudan who sealed a famous qualification. Nigeria hosted Sudan in Lagos leading 2-1 from the first leg, but Sudan – who had a man sent off – came from behind to level the tie 5-5 overall and progress on away goals. Senegal qualified on Friday after eliminating Ghana, and South Africa went through with a win over Lesotho. Nigeria, who have enjoyed much success in youth competitions both in Africa and globally, went into the return leg of their qualifier against Sudan as favourites to win. Not only did they hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, they also had 15 members of Nigeria’s triumphant Under-17 World Cup winning side from Chile 2015 in their squad – including the top scorer from that tournament, Victor Osimhen.

David Moyes has been appointed Sunderland manager on a four-year deal. The former Everton and Manchester United boss, 53, takes charge at the Stadium of Light after Sam Allardyce left to become England manager. “I have taken over a big British club, with a great support, and I’m looking forward to working in the Premier League again,” said Moyes. The Scot has been out of work since being sacked by Spanish club Real Sociedad in November. Allardyce was confirmed as Roy Hodgson’s successor with the national team on Friday.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez thinks club-mate Lionel Messi will reconsider his decision to quit international football. Messi, 29, retired from Argentina duty after missing a penalty in the Copa America final shootout defeat by Chile. He has never won a major international trophy, losing four finals (one World Cup and three Copas). Suarez, who plays for Argentina’s rivals Uruguay, said: “As a friend and an admirer of football I’d like to see him stay with Argentina’s national team. “His love for country is not up for discussion, but you also have to understand him after losing the final. I think he’ll reconsider.”

England have finally confirmed Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a two-year deal. The 61-year-old Sunderland boss replaces Roy Hodgson, who left after their Euro 2016 last-16 exit to Iceland. The Football Association have issued a statement on Sam Allardyce being named England boss. “Allardyce arrives with a proven track record of getting the best results out of the teams he has managed and a strong reputation as a forward-thinker with progressive ideas. “Alongside his primary target of qualification for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia, Allardyce has a mandate to shape a strong, purposeful team identity and maximise the performance potential of a young, talented England squad at a major tournament. “Allardyce is also charged with helping [technical director Dan] Ashworth integrate and strengthen the FA’s elite performance and coaching programme across the England senior and development teams at St. George’s Park.”

Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone are among the managers Argentina want to talk to about the national team coach vacancy following last month’s shock resignation of Gerardo Martino. Armando Perez, head of an Argentine FA (AFA) Regularisation Committee, also plans to talk to Lionel Messi with a view to asking the team’s former captain to reverse his decision to quit international soccer. Perez plans to fly to Europe next month because he wants to hear personally from Atletico Madrid’s Simeone and former Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli, now at Sevilla, their views on the national team. Both have said their ambition is to coach Argentina and would be popular choices.

Marseille defender Brice Dja Djedje says he has joined Watford. The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international has signed a four-year deal and will move for about £3m. “I had other proposals, yes, even a German club, but I preferred to sign for Watford because this is a good club,” he told the French newspaper. “I will find some former players of Ligue 1 and because it allows me to set foot in the Premier League.”

Spain have named Julen Lopetegui as their new manager. Vicente del Bosque stepped down after eight years in charge following their disappointing Euro 2016 campaign, which ended at the last-16 stage. Lopetegui, 49, was sacked as Porto boss in January and has previously coached Spain at youth level.

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed they have re-signed forward Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old left Dortmund for Bayern Munich in 2013. He helped Bayern win three Bundesliga titles and also scored the winner for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. He has agreed a four-year deal, subject to a medical.

Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning coach Fernando Santos has signed a new four-year contract. The 61-year-old guided Portugal to their first European title with an extra-time victory over hosts France in Paris earlier this month. He has coached Portugal since 2014, having previously spent four years in charge of the Greece national team. Portugal begin their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on 6 September against Switzerland in Basel.

Italy’s Marco Cecchinato has been banned for 18 months and fined 40,000 euros for match-fixing, says the Italian tennis federation. The 23-year-old world number 143 was found guilty of altering the outcome of his match against Kamil Majchrzak at an ATP Challenger in Morocco in October. Riccardo Accardi and Antonio Campo have also been banned and fined for their roles in attempts to fix matches. Accardi was given a 12-month ban while Campo was suspended for four months. Cecchinato, who is able to appeal, was found guilty of “several other instances of sports corruption” and suspended until January 2018.

Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel has confirmed Manchester City target Leroy Sane wants to leave the German side in the current transfer window – and strongly suggested an English club are set to sign him. A fee of around £42 million is thought to be on the table, with City keen to add Sane’s blistering pace to their forward line ahead of the new season. “Leroy Sane has expressed a desire to leave the club this summer,” Heidel told the German media. Sane, 20, has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium for some time. M.E.N. Sport revealed in January that City scouts had been dispatched to watch the winger on numerous occasions – and with new manager Pep Guardiola a known admirer of his talent, their interest has been stepped up this summer now the Catalan has officially taken over. Bayern Munich’s interest in the youngster cooled over the weekend, leaving City in pole position to land a player who was part of Jogi Low’s German squad for this summer’s European Championships.

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the US PGA, meaning he will miss all four majors in a calendar year for the first time since his Masters debut in 1995. American Woods, 40, has not played tournament golf in almost a year and had two operations last autumn in an attempt to cure a back problem. His agent has confirmed he will not play for the rest of this season as he is not ready for “competitive golf”. The 14-time major winner has dropped to a world ranking of 628.

New Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says striker Diego Costa will stay at the club next season and is of “fundamental importance” to his plans. Spain international Costa has been linked with a return to former club Atletico Madrid. The 27-year-old has scored 36 goals in 77 games since joining Chelsea in 2014. “Diego stays with us. He is working very hard. He is very happy to work with his team-mates and with me,” said former Italy boss Conte. “He is a fantastic player, a player with a fundamental importance, and there is no problem. “He is an important player, one of the best in the world, and I am sure when he goes into our ideas he will score a lot of goals for us.”