Trump thanks FIFA for suspending USA's Balogun's World Cup red card

Washington, United States: President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked football's world governing body FIFA for suspending the red card issued to USA's Folarin Balogun, paving the way for the striker to play in a last-16 World Cup showdown against Belgium.

Balogun was set to miss the match on Monday after being shown a straight red card in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic as the co-hosts won 2-0. slot-chickenroad.org

FIFA said Sunday the ban will be suspended for a year.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Balogun has been key to the USA's progress in the tournament and his absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team.

FIFA said in a statement: "In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year."

After the red card, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.

Silverstone: Championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes became the youngest winner of a Formula One sprint on Saturday when he passed Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton to triumph at the British Grand Prix.

The 19-year-old Italian achieved his first sprint win with a well-managed drive after starting second, following the 41-year-old seven-time champion for seven of the 17 laps before powering into the lead.

Hamilton, who enjoyed a dominant Friday when he topped all the practice and qualifying sessions, had no answer to the outright power of his young rival.

Antonelli finished 2.745 seconds clear of Hamilton at the front to extend his lead in the title race ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes.

World champion Lando Norris of McLaren came third, 9.783sec behind the winner.

On a bright warm day, Russell finished fourth ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari, followed by four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.

Liam Lawson was eighth for Racing Bulls ahead of a frustrated Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull and Arvid Lindblad in the second Racing Bull.

Hamilton said there was little he could do.

"It was a tough race for me to keep that Mercedes behind and there was such a big head wind on the back straight," said the Briton. "He just came flying past. Well done to Kimi!"

"It was a good race. I didn't have the pace to keep up with these guys, but I am still pleasantly surprised," he said.

Hamilton made a strong start from pole, but he needed to squeeze Antonelli at Abbey, the first corner, to stay in front as Verstappen, who started sluggishly, dropped to sixth while Norris passed both McLarens on the opening lap.

The race quickly developed into a furious scrap for places behind Hamilton and Antonelli, who had pulled clear of the rest by the end of lap two. The leading pair were separated by less than a second with the young Italian refusing to allow his old hero any respite.

Norris was third by lap four, but under attack from Verstappen with Russell and Leclerc close behind as the so-called yo-yo racing, a characteristic of the new 'hybrid era' power management, continued.

Out in front on his favourite track, Hamilton was weaving on the straights to avoid giving any slipstream to the Mercedes man, but it was clear by lap eight that the 'silver arrow' had the speed to beat Hamilton, if Antonelli could find a way.

After one blocked attack, the Italian blasted past to seize the lead on Hangar Straight with a surge of superior power, Hamilton having used much of his battery in defence on the previous lap.

Power conservation and deployment was the invisible component in the frantic fighting for positions as was proved again when Leclerc passed Verstappen at Stowe for fifth behind Norris, in third, and Russell.

At the front, Antonelli was unable to escape Hamilton who was 1.7 behind and 5.4 ahead of Norris by lap 13. Ferrari, learning from Leclerc's move, advised Hamilton to switch strategy and seek a similar move.

After a breathless opening 12 laps, the race began to stretch out as tyre wear and pure car performance emerged as main factors in what had been a strategic race of power-management tactics.

It was dramatic stuff, but Antonelli had it under control to pull away and lead Hamilton home.

Doha: Qatari clubs have begun preparations for the 2026-27 season with domestic training camps ahead of overseas preseason camps, which will be held in several European countries during July and August.

Following the announcement by the Qatar Stars League of the fixture list for the new season, which kicks off on Aug. 20, clubs now know the dates and venues of their matches, allowing coaching staff to finalize their preseason plans before the start of what is expected to be a long and demanding campaign.

Players and coaching staff reported back to their clubs at the beginning of July and began undergoing comprehensive medical examinations at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a mandatory procedure designed to assess players' physical and medical readiness.

The examinations include cardiac and respiratory screenings, muscle and joint assessments, as well as fitness, body fat and muscle mass evaluations.

The tests are intended to determine players' condition following the summer break and help coaching staffs tailor individualized training programs based on the results.

Some international players who represented Qatar at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will miss the opening phase of preseason after beginning their summer vacations later than their teammates. They are expected to join their clubs' training camps at a later stage.

The overseas camps in Europe represent the most important phase of clubs' preparations ahead of the new season, with teams hoping to begin the campaign in improved form and compete for honors.

Coaches regard the camps as the cornerstone of preseason preparations, with teams undertaking intensive twice-daily training sessions, tactical work and a series of friendly matches that allow technical staffs to evaluate players' performances.

The camps also provide an opportunity for new signings, both domestic and foreign, to integrate with their teammates, while giving younger players a chance to prove themselves ahead of official competition.

The second phase of preseason preparations will begin during the second week of July, with most clubs traveling to Europe. The period is considered crucial for rebuilding fitness levels after the extended offseason and preparing players physically and tactically for the start of the league campaign.

Defending Qatar Stars League champion Al Sadd will hold its training camp in Austria from July 13 to Aug. 8. Al Sailiya will also train in Austria from July 18 to Aug. 7.

Al Arabi will conduct its camp in Estepona, Spain, from July 19 to Aug. 7, while Al Gharafa, the reigning HH the Amir Cup champion, will train in Bratislava, Slovakia, from July 16 to Aug. 3.

Al Shamal has chosen the Netherlands for its training camp, scheduled from July 18 to Aug. 6, during which the club plans to play five friendly matches. Al Wakrah will hold its camp in Rennes, France, from mid-July until the first week of August.

Qatar SC will travel to Murcia, Spain, for a training camp from July 16 to July 31 that will include several warm-up matches. Al Shahania will also train in the Netherlands from July 16 to Aug. 8.

Newly promoted Lusail SC, which secured promotion to the First Division, has selected the Netherlands for its overseas training camp from July 13 to Aug. 1 as it seeks to reach peak condition ahead of the new season.

The remaining clubs are expected to announce details of their overseas camps, training programs and friendly match schedules in the coming days as they continue to finalize their summer transfer business.