Sports
Sodiq Excited to Join New European Club, Set New Targets
Nigeria’s talented defender, Sodiq Anthony Rasheed, has made an exciting transition in his football career by signing a two-year contract with Kolocity Kazincbarcika, a premier league club in the Hungarian football league.
Known for his versatility on the field, Rasheed has consistently showcased his skills and maintained exceptional performance while playing for his previous team, FK Rabotnichki.
Recognizing his potential, Kolocity Kazincbarcika was eager to bring him on board to bolster their defensive line as the new season kicks off.
His arrival is anticipated to significantly enhance the team’s defensive capabilities, marking a promising chapter in his journey in European football.
In Macedonia, Rasheed earned a reputation as one of the most exceptional African players, earning the title of “genius” from the local media after consistently demonstrating his prowess as the most productive player in the Macedonian top football league.
His skill on the pitch captivated fans and analysts alike, highlighting his ability to influence games and secure victories for his team.
Now, as he embarks on an exciting new chapter in Hungary, Rasheed expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I feel incredibly happy and proud to join this club. This presents a tremendous opportunity for my career. I want to work hard, contribute to the team’s success, and showcase my talent for better offers to bigger clubs.”
Rasheed wasted no time in proving his talents, shining like a constellation of stars in his debut match. He played brilliantly during their 2-0 victory last weekend, captivating the hearts of coaches, officials, and fans alike.
He emphasised his commitment to hard work, aiming to not only contribute to the team’s success but also to showcase his talent, potentially attracting interest from larger clubs in the future.
Similarly, his uncle and manager, Anthony Ushurhe, echoes this sentiment. He believes that Rasheed’s transfer to Hungary is a significant and strategic move for his career.
Anthony is optimistic that Rasheed will continue to deliver standout performances and ultimately help his new club achieve great success.
The defender has expressed heartfelt gratitude towards his uncle, who also serves as his manager, for his unwavering support throughout his career. He emphasized his determination to make him proud and show his appreciation for everything he has done.
A Check Point Research report reveals the early infrastructure behind a global fraud campaign targeting the world’s most-watched sporting event
As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, threat actors are already on the field, building digital infrastructure designed to exploit fan excitement, disrupt ticketing, and siphon revenue from one of the world’s largest sporting events.
New research from Check Point Research, the threat intelligence arm of Check Point® Software Technologies, reveals a coordinated campaign to establish thousands of fake domains, botnets, and phishing tools, all masquerading as legitimate FIFA and host city assets.
This isn’t speculation. The campaign has already begun.
The Early Play: Fraud Infrastructure in Motion
Since August 1, 2025, Check Point has identified more than 4,300 newly registered domains spoofing FIFA, “World Cup,” or tournament host cities like Dallas, Miami, Toronto, and Mexico City. These registrations are not organic, they come in synchronised waves, often using identical DNS infrastructure, and are tightly clustered across a handful of bulk-friendly registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Dynadot, and Gname.
Worryingly, many of these domains are designed for long-term use, including references to FIFA 2030 and 2034. This “domain aging” strategy allows fraudsters to build passive credibility over time, a tactic often seen in targeted brand abuse.
Real-Time Risk: Presale Phishing Incoming
FIFA’s first ticketing phase is already underway. Fans who entered the early presale draw (Sept. 9–19) will be notified of their results on September 29, with ticket purchases opening for selected users on October 1.
This window presents an ideal opportunity for fraud.
Threat actors are expected to flood inboxes and search engines with phishing emails, spoofed ticket confirmations, and fake queue portals, all timed to coincide with real FIFA communications. The likelihood of success increases when urgency is high, and expectations are real.
“What we’re seeing isn’t isolated cybercrime. Its infrastructure being built, at scale, to exploit global interest before the World Cup even kicks off,” said Amit Weigman,
Evangelist at Check Point Software Technologies. “Threat actors are not waiting for 2026. They are matching their timeline to FIFA’s.”
What Check Point Research Found
- 4,300+ FIFA-related domains registered in less than 60 days, with peak activity between August 8–12 and again in early September.
- Registrar concentration across GoDaddy, Namecheap, Gname, and Dynadot enables bulk automation and rapid deployment.
- Linguistic targeting splits by audience: English for streaming, Spanish and Portuguese for ticketing and merchandise, French for European markets.
- Top-level domains include .com, .shop, .store, .online, and .football — often chosen for low cost and low friction.
- DNS overlaps suggest centralised control by small numbers of semi-professional operators using scripted fraud kits.
- Telegram channels and dark-web forums are already promoting fake tickets, counterfeit gear, and payment fraud toolkits.
Ticketing Disruption & Botnet Abuse
Beyond simple scams, Check Point uncovered evidence of systemic attacks designed to destabilise FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure.
Botnets are being trained to flood pre-sale queues, scoop up high-demand inventory, and manipulate dynamic pricing models. On underground markets, customised toolkits and proxy farms are being sold with FIFA-specific instructions, an echo of tactics used to disrupt major ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster.
The Bigger Threat Landscape
- Fans face exposure to phishing, financial fraud, and malware through fake ticket sites and livestreaming scams.
- FIFA and sponsors face brand abuse, lost traffic, and counterfeit commerce.
- Host cities and venues may see travelers targeted with geo-specific scams tied to accommodation, transport, or hospitality.
- The internet ecosystem, including ad networks, registrars, and messaging platforms, risks becoming a distribution layer for fraud.
In a noteworthy update shared on his verified Facebook page, renowned sports journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday, September 22, 2025, that Vincent Garcia, the esteemed Editor-in-Chief of France Football, offered insightful commentary on the much-anticipated Ballon d’Or.
Garcia’s remarks shed light on the prestigious award, highlighting its significance in the world of football and emphasizing the criteria that will shape this year’s nominees and winner. Click link to continue reading.
“At this moment, I am the only person in the world who knows the name of the next Ballon d’Or winner.” 🌕👀
In a statement that has sent shockwaves through the football community, Vincent Garcia the editor-in-chief of France Football, the magazine responsible for organizing the prestigious Ballon d’Or has revealed that he alone currently holds the knowledge of who will be crowned the best player in the world this year.
With the official ceremony drawing closer, speculation has reached an all-time high. Fans, pundits, and players alike are all eagerly debating who deserves the honor most.
But according to Garcia, all that speculation is now academic.
“As of now, I am the only one who knows the winner. No leaks, no guesses only I have seen the final result,” he said confidently in an interview. “It’s one of the most tightly kept secrets in football, and it’s something we take very seriously at France Football. The moment is bigger than any rumor.”
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place soon, and the footballing world will finally get confirmation of the name that Garcia already knows the player who will etch their name into history once again as the best in the world.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait to see who the winner will be.
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The Ballon d’Or is often regarded as one of the highest individual honors a footballer can achieve, akin to the most prestigious accolades in the sport.
Within the rich tapestry of football history, there exists a remarkable group of players who are not only legends in their own right but who have also made indelible marks on the game. Click link to continue reading.
In their statement, Liverpool expressed admiration for “a manager who has shown exceptional dedication and achieved great success.
He was also a person of real integrity and warmth, who will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club. Click link to continue reading
Former Liverpool manager Matt Beard has died at the age of 47, the Women’s Super League club has announced.
Beard led Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014.
He returned for a second spell at the club in 2021 but was sacked in February this year.
In a statement, Liverpool paid tribute to “an extremely committed and successful manager”.
They added: “He was also a person of real integrity and warmth, who will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club. Rest in peace, Matt.”
After his reappointment in 2021, Beard led the Reds to promotion back to the WSL and helped them to a seventh-placed finish on their return to the top flight.
Beard also managed Liverpool during their first ever Champions League campaign.
The WSL posted a tribute on X: “Everyone at WSL Football extends its deepest sympathies to the family, friends and loved ones of Matt Beard following news of his passing.
“Matt played an instrumental role in the growth of women’s football and will be missed by everyone associated with the game.”
Beard’s brother Mark paid tribute to the “most amazing, caring man who was loved by anyone who had the pleasure to meet him”.
“We will love you forever Matt Matt,” he added in a social media post.
Beard was appointed Burnley manager in June but resigned after just two months in charge.
He had previous spells at National Women’s Soccer League side Boston Breakers and West Ham, as well as an interim period in charge of Bristol City.
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Liverpool maintained its position at the top of the English Premier League table following a narrow 2-1 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby held on Saturday.
Hugo Ekitike made a notable return to the starting lineup at Anfield, contributing with a goal. Click to watch brilliant goals and continue reading.
Liverpool established an early advantage as Ryan Gravenberg scored in the 10th minute. Ekitike then extended the lead for the home team with an additional goal in the 29th minute, concluding the first half with a two-goal margin.
However, Everton responded positively at the beginning of the second half, with Idrissa Gueye netting a goal in the 58th minute.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is facing fresh controversy after a Ghanaian player accused him of faking an injury to minimize his playing time with the Nigerian national team.
Asamoah Gyan, a former Ghanaian striker, made this accusation after Osimhen missed Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday. Click link to continue reading.
Osimhen had previously returned to Galatasaray following a leg injury sustained during the Super Eagles’ 1-0 victory over Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier last weekend.
Consequently, the 26-year-old did not participate in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Bafana Bafana on Tuesday evening at the Free State Stadium.
Galatasaray later issued a statement asserting that Osimhen had suffered an ankle ligament injury.
However, Gyan is skeptical about the legitimacy of the injury.
He said, “I know these tricks. Someone might have said to Osimhen, ‘Look, we invested a lot of money in you. The Champions League is coming up. We’re not keen on you going to Africa, but go there, play a little, then get injured and act like it’s serious. The next day, you’ll be back in Türkiye.’” Gyan was quoted by habersarikirmizias saying.
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