FIFA Chief Infantino holds emergency talks with directors after criticism over World Cup plan for private investment

Women referee Ahona Makalima continues to strengthen her reputation at the current Africa Women's Cup in Morocco. She officiated the opening match between Algeria and Senegal.

When the 2026 Africa Cup began in Morocco, attention was not only focused on top African players. South African referees Ahona Makalima and assistant referee Maneo Tau were tasked with officiating the opening match between Algeria and Senegal, highlighting the country's growing reputation in preparing elite female officials.

This high-profile appointment is another milestone for Makalima, who has been breaking barriers in South African football for over a decade, indicating that she is no longer a lone pioneer.

Together with Tau, they represent the success of a development program that prepares a new generation of referees capable of receiving appointments at CAF and FIFA competitions. This program reached another important point earlier this year when Khlonifile Msezane was awarded a FIFA referee badge after completing the Safa women's development program.

Assistant referee Nandifa Msenze also had a breakthrough season, being named South African Assistant Referee of the Year for the 2025-26 season following many years of consistently strong performances with the national team.

While Makalima and Tau continue to raise South Africa's profile on the continental stage, the emergence of referees like Msezane and Msenze indicates that the country is no longer generating isolated success stories. Instead, it is creating a sustainable pipeline of female referees and assistant referees ready to succeed at the highest level.

The latest confirmation of this is the current Wafcon tournament, where Makalima and assistant referee Maneo Tau were again assigned to officiate at one of Africa's largest football venues. For Makalima, this is another chapter in a career that has helped change perceptions of women referees in South African football.

Known for her calm authority, physical fitness, and ability to handle tense situations, she has become one of the most respected referees on the continent, while Tau has established herself as one of Africa's leading assistant referees through numerous international appointments.

Their consistent participation in major CAF tournaments reflects both their individual quality and South Africa's steady progress in developing elite female officials. Although referees like Makalima, Tau, Msezane, and Msenze are public faces of this success, Safa believes their achievements are built upon a much wider support network.

Technical instructors, match assessors, and administrators continue to play a vital role in preparing referees for the demands of elite football, providing everything from fitness and performance analysis programs to rule interpretation, mentorship, and psychological support. These investments appear to be paying dividends.

Where Makalima was once a lone pioneer, South Africa now possesses a growing pool of female referees capable of receiving appointments at CAF and FIFA competitions. The result is a sustainable path that produces not just one outstanding referee, but an increasingly competitive group able to represent the country on the biggest stages.

As women's football grows across Africa, the performances of South African women referees serve as another reminder that the country's influence extends far beyond the players on the field. While Makalima and Tau continue to represent the country in Morocco, and Msezane and Msenze develop landmark seasons at home, the next generation of South African referees already has a clear action plan—proof that the whistle has become as powerful a symbol of progress as the jersey.

At the end of September, Samarkand will become a center of world chess as the new president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) will be elected during the General Assembly. Representatives from about 200 national federations will take part in the voting.

The elections are scheduled for September 26–27 and will take place during the FIDE Congress, which coincides with the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, running from September 15 to 27.

Competition among candidates

The main interest is focused on the confrontation between three contenders for the top post. Among the participants in the race is Timur Turlov, head of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, who proposes the legendary Indian grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand as a candidate for vice-president.

His main rival is German entrepreneur Jan Henrik Buttner, whose team is supported by British chess official Malcolm Payne. The third candidate is Vadim Rosenthalstein, founder of the German team WR Chess, who has put forward Singaporean businessman Gordon Tan as a partner.

The voting will be conducted in a closed session, with each national chess federation that is a member of FIDE receiving one vote. The candidate who gains a majority of votes will win.

Circumstances of the elections

The need for these elections arose after the current FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich temporarily suspended his powers in July due to sanctions imposed against him by the European Union. Currently, Vishwanathan Anand is performing the duties of the federation head.

Previously, former FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov expressed a desire to lead the organization again, but he did not make it into the final list of registered candidates.

Four deputies, three of whom represent the United Left party, have put forward an unofficial proposal to the Spanish government. They strongly urge Spain to officially notify FIFA, the Spanish Football Federation, and the Portuguese government about the need to revise the model for the joint organization of the tournament. This model also includes the participation of Portugal and three matches in South America.

In its initiative, Sumar asserts that an event of this magnitude requires significant mobilization of state resources and commitments from states. Consequently, the host countries must demonstrate 'effective and constant respect for human rights, international law, and democratic principles.'

The group of parliamentarians insists on conducting an independent study of human rights risks in the organizing countries. The results of this study must be presented to Congress within six months, accompanied by proposals for measures in case serious violations are confirmed.

Furthermore, they demand that FIFA change its regulations to allow for the withdrawal of a host country's status in the event of serious violations of fundamental human rights and democratic principles. They also call on the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to activate mechanisms provided by FIFA to monitor compliance with its own statutes.

The motion also requires clarification of events that occurred in Ceuta, including the identification of the dead and missing, establishing responsibility, and implementing rescue and protection systems for minors. The deputies formally ask the Spanish government to assess the 'impact of the events that took place on the border of Ceuta on human rights obligations related to the tournament.'

This assessment must be accompanied by additional proposals for measures if a 'serious' violation of international obligations and human rights is proven by any of the host nations.

This legislative initiative in Spain aligns with the position of the Portuguese environmental party Livre. Livre sent a letter to the Prime Minister and the President of the Portuguese Football Federation, advocating for the exclusion of Morocco from the joint organization of the competition. Livre justifies its position by stating that events on the Spanish border and the ongoing disregard for international law in Western Sahara make political, safe, and cooperative conditions impossible for maintaining the tripartite partnership.

Livre believes that Portugal and Spain are capable of hosting the tournament independently, without jeopardizing their international image or foreign policy regarding human rights. The 2030 World Cup will be organized by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco from June 8 to July 21, and will include three friendly matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay, marking the centenary of the first tournament held in Montevideo in 1930.