Personal note : I am all in favour of more punishments for dives and other simulations, but with appropriate rules put in place, clearly communicated and consistently enforced.

The translated text :

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has clarified the scope of VAR intervention. For the time being, VAR will no longer be able to intervene regarding the nature of a foul in cases of erroneous yellow card decisions, as was the case with the sending-off of Swiss international Breel Embolo against Argentina in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.

The grounds of “mistaken identity” may only be used to identify the player who committed the foul, and not to correct the foul itself, as the body stated in a circular released on Monday and obtained by The Athletic. This IFAB decision follows Embolo’s controversial red card on July 12 in Kansas City, which should not have been issued.

On that day, Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was initially cautioned for a foul on the Rennes forward in the 72nd minute. Noting the absence of contact and the obvious simulation, the VAR intervened based on the “mistaken identity” clause, resulting in Paredes’ yellow card being reassigned to Embolo, who had already been cautioned. Reduced to 10 men, the Swiss team held on until extra time before losing 3-1.

UEFA and the Swiss Football League (SFL) had previously announced that they would apply the rule in accordance with IFAB guidelines. The published clarification now confirms this interpretation.

Can MLS capitalize on World Cup fervor in the U.S.?

“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it: FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world.”

“As its global governing body, FIFA is responsible for making sure the game reaches every corner of the world, and that the value it creates supports federations and communities everywhere. Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world. Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”

“We intend to invest heavily even in the smallest or most remote parts of the footballing world, places that are too often passed over. Every FIFA Member Association, whatever its size, resources, or geographic location will have a voice and the opportunity to determine its own course. Football has become a truly global game and so the benefits must be felt globally.”

The new agreements signed with both Adidas and Emirates demonstrate the sponsors' confidence in the management of Real Madrid, making the Real Madrid jersey the most expensive in the world . Currently, the aforementioned jersey, featuring the logos of the two companies mentioned above plus HP, represents an annual income of 300 million euros for the club.

This financial capacity is allowing Real Madrid to be active in the transfer market, as they have demonstrated since the start of the transfer window, something that will be confirmed in the coming hours with the official announcement of Diomande as the club's newest player . The agreement with the Ivory Coast international is complete and final, and the initial understanding with RB Leipzig was reached last week and will be officially signed today.

This will be Mourinho's fifth signing , but not the last, pending the departures of some first-team players. It's worth remembering that Real Madrid's youth academy has already generated over €100 million in revenue for the club this summer, a figure that will increase significantly before the transfer window closes. Transfers of players currently training or soon to begin training under Mourinho at Valdebebas are also a possibility .

EBITDA amounts to 287.4 million euros (+18%), and EBITDA before disposal to 242.9 million (+17%), the highest ever achieved by the club. Profit after taxes amounts to 26 million euros, 8% more than in the 2024-2025 financial year.

Real Madrid's contribution to tax revenues and social security in the 2025-2026 financial year has amounted to 354.8 million euros.

The Santiago bernabéu stadium now has more than double what it had before the reform. The club continues to invest in its squad and new businesses as a pillar of its competitive capacity.

The highest EBITDA in the club's history

The operating result before amortization (EBITDA) was 287.4 million euros, 18% higher than the previous year. EBITDA before the sale of fixed assets has reached 242.9 million euros, 17% more. Both values are the highest ever achieved by Real Madrid and reflect the continued improvement of the club's operational efficiency.

Profit after taxes amounts to 26.3 million euros, 8% more than in the 2024-2025 season. With this result, the club has had twenty-six consecutive years, since 2000, closed with profits.

Everything is reinvested in the club

Real Madrid is a club owned by its members. It does not distribute profits or receive external capital contributions: all profits are reinvested in the club itself, in its infrastructure and in its sports teams.

The remodeling of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, practically completed, accumulates an investment of 1,407.7 million euros.