L’arbitre Michael Oliver aux commandes de Espagne-Belgique

À l’occasion des quarts de finale de la Coupe du monde, l’Espagne affrontera la Belgique ce 10 juillet à 21h (heure française). Pour diriger cette affiche, la FIFA a désigné l’arbitre anglais Michael Oliver.

Un arbitre habitué des grands rendez-vous

Sur le papier, l’Espagne abordera cette rencontre avec le statut de favorite. Impressionnante depuis le début du tournoi, la Roja fait partie des principaux prétendants au sacre mondial. Mais en face, les Diables Rouges comptent bien créer la surprise et poursuivre leur parcours.

Pour encadrer ce choc, la FIFA a choisi de faire confiance à Michael Oliver. À 41 ans, l’arbitre anglais est l’un des officiels les plus expérimentés du football européen. Habitué des grands rendez-vous, il a notamment dirigé 427 matchs de Premier League, mais aussi de nombreuses rencontres de FA Cup ou encore de Ligue des champions. biznow.biz

Déjà trois matchs dans ce Mondial

Michael Oliver connaît également très bien la Coupe du monde. Après avoir arbitré trois rencontres lors de l’édition 2022, il en est déjà à trois matchs dans ce Mondial 2026 : Pays-Bas – Suède, Norvège – France et Canada – Maroc.

Lors de cette dernière rencontre, l’Anglais s’était particulièrement illustré en distribuant huit cartons jaunes, dont la majorité avant la pause, preuve de sa volonté de rapidement garder le contrôle.

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Depuis le début de sa carrière professionnelle, Michael Oliver a délivré 2 663 cartons jaunes et 63 cartons rouges, des statistiques qui témoignent de son autorité sur le terrain.

Une équipe arbitrale internationale

Pour cette rencontre, Michael Oliver sera assisté de ses compatriotes Stuart Burt et James Mainwaring en tant qu’arbitres assistants. Le Brésilien Ramon Abatti officiera en tant que quatrième arbitre, tandis que son compatriote Rafael Alves occupera le rôle d’arbitre assistant de réserve.

Tous les ingrédients sont donc réunis pour une affiche qui promet d’être intense, avec une place dans le dernier carré de la Coupe du monde en jeu.

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The problem with conspiracy theories is that they are conspiracy theories precisely because there is no hard evidence that they are true.

Egypt fume at VAR decisions

Are Fifa engineering this World Cup so that Argentina and Lionel Messi can stay in it? Egypt, along with many other observers, appeared to think so after being on the wrong end of a controversial video assistant referee (VAR) decision in their 3-2 loss to Argentina on Tuesday.

Taking a phase of play all the way back up the pitch for a disputable foul just after a wonderful ‘goal’ that would have put the Pharaohs 2-0 up certainly smacked of extreme pettiness from the match officials.

But even with this debatable decision, these are the facts. Egypt still went 2-0 up and Egypt still capitulated in the last 10 minutes or so of the game to lose.

For evidence of this just watch the game. Lionel Messi is left all alone to cross the ball for Cristian Romero, barely marked, to head in and make it 2-1. There is more statuesque defending from the Pharaohs as they fail to clear a dangerous situation and Messi pops up in the box to equalise.

And there isn’t enough cover on the counter attack as Egypt push for a winner, and Enzo Fernandez instead heads in the decisive goal for Argentina.

Defensive lapses

An ability to see a game out is a trait that has escaped too many African sides at the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals.

Senegal led Belgium 2-0 in the last 32, heading into the last four minutes of normal time. But an inability to hold on to what they had saw Belgium drag the game back to 2-2, ultimately winning it in extra time.

DR Congo led England 1-0 going into the final 15 minutes of their last 32 match-up. Then Harry Kane finally pierced their defence and England came back to win 2-1.

It is defensive discipline, more than anything else, that has cost these sides at the World Cup. And that even applies to Egypt, with their grievances after the game smacking more-than-slightly of deflection.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 8, 2026 – Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League giants Shabana will be training at the Narok and Afraha stadia in Nakuru in the new season.

Club patron, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, says the club chose the two venues, rather than the nearby Raila Odinga Stadium (ROSH) in Homa Bay, due to sibling rivalry between the two areas.

“I want to say that we have got an alternative field to be practicing and this one’s in Afraha as well as Narok Stadium. You know our neighbors, Homa Bay…there’s that beef of sibling rivalry. Sometimes sibling rivalry also can hurt,” Arati said.

Tore Bobe used ROSH as their home ground for a majority of the FKF Premier League 2023/24 season, in which they returned to the top flight after a long hiatus.

This was because their traditional Gusii Stadium was under renovation, necessitating the move, which bore dividends as they attracted large swathes of fans from the neighbouring Kisii County as well as Homa Bay.

However, their decision to by-pass ROSH is an interesting one that will elicit questions over the financial and logistical implication of travelling all the way to Narok and Nakuru for their home matches.

The Gusii Stadium has been demolished for a facelift, costing Ksh 1 billion, as directed by President William Ruto, late last year.

Arati has promised that the new-look stadium will be ready for use in May next year, adding that it will be a game-changer in sports infrastructure in Kenya.

“The team which is building Talanta (Sports Stadium), again it has moved to Kisii, they are going to give us the stadium. In May, we’ll have our stadium…it will be better than Nyayo, though the capacity will be a bit smaller. However, it will be one of the best stadiums in the country,” the governor said.

Shabana is one of the biggest clubs in the country — going by their fanbase — possibly behind Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

Unlike their aforementioned peers, they are yet to lift silverware in the top flight.

Having a world-class home ground will go a long way in increasing the motivation to fight for top honours to adorn the medal cabinet at a new-look Gusii Stadium.

RIYAD- C’était dans les tuyaux, c’est désormais officiel depuis ce 8 juillet 2026. Le milieu de terrain international guinéen Seydouba Cissé s’est officiellement engagé avec Al-Kholood FC en Saudi Pro League.

Un contrat de 3 saisons liant le guinéen au club saoudien a été signé jusqu’au 30 juin 2029. A 25 ans, Seydouba Cissé arrive en provenance du CD Leganés en D2 Espagnole, club où il évoluait depuis plusieurs saisons. Il va donc découvrir pour la première fois le championnat saoudien et espérer garder la même dynamique et les mêmes performances.

Guineefoot

Mamelodi Sundowns’ eight Bafana Bafana internationals are set to rejoin the club during their pre-season camp in Austria after being granted extended leave following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Sundowns back in training

The Brazilians resumed training last week without the national team contingent, who were part of Hugo Broos’ squad that reached the last 32 of the tournament in North America before suffering a knockout defeat to Canada.

Sundowns afforded the players an additional two weeks’ break to recover from their World Cup commitments and spend time with their families before reporting back for club duty.

Phakaaathi has established that Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndamane, Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Iqraam Rayners and Themba Zwane will link up with the rest of the squad in Europe.

Miguel Cardoso’s side will depart for Austria this weekend for a pre-season training camp, where they are scheduled to face Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg on 18 July before taking on Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal on 24 July.

Brazilians to face Benzema?

Salzburg have already confirmed the fixture against the reigning African champions, while Al Hilal, who boast former Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema among their ranks, have also announced the friendly.

The eight Bafana stars are expected to be back with the squad well before both matches as Sundowns step up their preparations for the 2026-27 Betway Premiership campaign.