Infantino stays: the man who wanted to sell the World Cups is seeking a new term

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed he is standing again in the March elections. This is the same man who a few months earlier tried to sell stakes in FIFA's competitions to private investors through a new company called FIFA Forward Enterprise. FIFA would have kept a majority, private investors would have bought a minority package, all of it supposedly to fund the development of football. UEFA demanded his resignation, CONCACAF and the Asian confederation also said no, and the plan collapsed. Infantino withdrew the proposal, but not himself. If he wins, the 56-year-old Swiss will stay in office until 2031. So: he tried to sell off the biggest sporting competition on the planet, everyone opposed him, and now he is asking for another six years. Who exactly is going to vote against him?

Arsenal turned the Chelsea derby around and matched a record almost a decade old

At the Emirates, Arsenal beat Chelsea 2:1 and stayed on a hundred percent record at the start of the Premier League. Morgan Rogers put the visitors ahead in the second minute - the first goal Arsenal have conceded in the opening two minutes of a league match since August 2023. Kai Havertz equalised in the 25th minute, and after the break Martin Odegaard closed the game out after an excellent ball from Christos Tzolis. That gives Arsenal victory in their last five home league meetings with Chelsea - something achieved only once before in the history of the English top flight. Chelsea had their chances, Pedro Neto hit the post, but Arsenal's captain was the one who decided it. A derby where the winner was found in the details, not in dominance.

Messi's first match since the end of his international career: 61 touches and one point rescued

After twenty years and his farewell to Argentina, Lionel Messi returned to the pitch with Inter Miami and played out a 2:2 draw against Atlanta United. He assisted Casemiro's opener in the 32nd minute, then hit the bar from a free kick. Luis Suarez put them ahead before half-time, but Miami conceded two penalties in the second half - one saved, the other converted by Brel Embolo for the final score. Messi's numbers: 61 touches, 87 percent pass accuracy, six shots, six balls won. With 18 goals he is joint top scorer in MLS, and he has 10 assists in 20 matches. At 39. The question is not whether he still can, but why anyone doubted it.

Pelister brought down Rabotnicki in Novaci and handed them their first defeat of the season

In the derby of the Macedonian Second League, played in Novaci, Pelister won 2:0 against Rabotnicki. It was settled in the first half, with goals from both summer signings - Simeon Hristov and Martin Mircevski from the penalty spot. For Rabotnicki this was their first defeat of the season, for the Bitola side a jump towards the top of the table. In the round's other derby, Brera Strumica beat Makedonija Gjorce Petrov 1:0 with an early goal from David Ristovski. Two clubs with big names in Macedonian football are fighting to get back up, and the match is played in Novaci. That is a fuller picture of the state of our football than any official's statement.

Stole Dimitrievski conceded five to Barcelona, and after the match Valencia were also "met" by their own fans

Macedonia's international goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski had a night to forget - Barcelona won 5:0 at the Mestalla and led practically from the start. Hansi Flick said afterwards it was almost a perfect match for his team. For Valencia it was something else: after the final whistle, around 2,000 to 3,000 fans gathered outside the stadium to protest against the coach, the players and the board. Goalkeeper is the position where every goal conceded sticks to one name, even when the defence in front of him is falling apart. Dimitrievski knows that better than anyone - we watch him in the national shirt every qualifying night. The question for Valencia is not who concedes, but who builds teams that concede five.