Mike Hytner

Football Australia and the Asian Football Confederation welcomed FIFA’s decision to abandon its proposal to sell about a 20% stake in the newly created FIFA Forward Enterprise to private investors, a plan intended to raise up to $4.2bn from World Cup and other FIFA events. FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the withdrawal after widespread opposition, including UEFA’s threat of a boycott and strong objections from Concacaf. Football Australia chair Anter Isaac and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa stressed that global football initiatives require integrity, transparency, due process, meaningful consultation and respect for established governance structures.

The AFL has removed former St Kilda and Western Bulldogs player Nicky Winmar from the Australian Football Hall of Fame after he was found guilty of three assault charges involving violence against women. The decision follows the removal of a statue of Winmar at Perth’s Optus Stadium and is based on rules adopted in 2023 allowing the commission to strip honours for serious offences or conduct that damages the AFL’s reputation. AFL commission chair Craig Drummond acknowledged Winmar’s major contribution to Australian football and his historic anti-racism protest, but said the convictions made his continued inclusion inappropriate. The article also contrasts the decision with the treatment of other footballers, including Wayne Carey and Barry Cable.

England defeated Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup last‑16 match marked by a red card, late pressure and standout performances from Jude Bellingham. Norway advanced after a victory over Brazil, setting up a quarter‑final against England. Controversy surrounded FIFA’s reversal of Folarin Balogun’s suspension following lobbying by Donald Trump, allowing him to play for the USA against Belgium. Coaches praised their teams’ resilience, while injuries and celebrations provided further talking points on a busy day of World Cup action.

Former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher has died at home aged 65, 13 years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. His family, football clubs, political leaders and the AFL praised his determination, leadership and selflessness. Daniher played for Essendon, coached Melbourne and held a senior football role at West Coast, but became best known for co-founding FightMND and leading the Big Freeze campaign, which has raised more than $100m for research. Victoria plans to hold a state memorial service in his honour.

British-Australian ultramarathon swimmer Andy Donaldson completed the 55km Dam to Dam Challenge from Lake Argyle to Kununurra along Western Australia’s Ord River in 11 hours and 51 minutes, setting a new record. The swim took place in extreme heat and freshwater conditions, with crocodiles and other wildlife nearby, but Donaldson’s team reported no serious threats. He surpassed Simone Blaser’s 2024 time of 16 hours and 13 minutes and described the river’s scenery and support from his team as central to the achievement.

Mohamed Touré scored his fourth goal in a week to help Norwich City defeat Derby County 2–1, extending his remarkable run to nine goals in 10 games since joining the club from Randers FC. The 22-year-old Australian striker recovered impressively after missing a penalty, prompting coach Philippe Clement to compare his mentality and potential to a young Erling Haaland. Touré’s form provides a major boost to Australia coach Tony Popovic ahead of a difficult World Cup group involving the United States, Paraguay and Turkey.

Cooper Woods won Australia’s first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in the men’s moguls, defeating decorated champion Mikael Kingsbury and Ikuma Horishima in the final. Ranked 20th in the world after a difficult season, Woods produced three highly consistent runs and edged Kingsbury on turns scores. The 25-year-old credited his family, coaches, teammates and ability to embrace pressure, while Matt Graham and Alisa Camplin praised the performance as a triumph for the wider Australian team.

The Bondi beach shooting, which killed 16 people during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, prompted mourning ceremonies, tributes and widespread blood donations across Australia. The parents of 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest identified victim, described her death at a memorial, while Boris and Sofia Gurman were praised for trying to disarm a gunman and Ahmed al-Ahmed was celebrated for tackling another attacker. Alleged shooter Naveed Akram regained consciousness in hospital, while his father, Sajid Akram, was killed by police; authorities are investigating their November travel to the Philippines and possible extremist links. Australian federal and New South Wales leaders outlined tougher gun controls, including digitized gun records and an end to perpetual licences, while critics including John Howard argued that the government had not done enough to address antisemitism.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said the Bondi beach terror attack had a particularly personal impact because he lives nearby and regularly takes his children there. England captain Ben Stokes also described the attack as devastating. Before the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, both teams will wear black armbands, observe a minute’s silence and play beneath half-mast flags. Cricket Australia and state authorities said the match and Big Bash League games would proceed with tributes and additional security, while police reported no intelligence indicating an increased threat.

Pat Cummins will miss Australia’s first Ashes Test against England in Perth on 21 November while recovering from a stress injury in his back. Steve Smith will resume the captaincy, having previously stood in six times, and Cummins is expected to travel with the squad. Australia coach Andrew McDonald hopes Cummins can return for the second Test in Brisbane on 4 December after resuming bowling and completing at least four weeks of preparation. Scott Boland is the likely replacement in a pace attack with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Lidia Thorpe referred Northern Territory Attorney General Marie-Claire Boothby to the territory’s anti-corruption watchdog over her family connection to Jake Danby, who received a community corrections order after a fatal hit-and-run; Boothby denied involvement and said she had acted with integrity. Other major developments included an additional serious charge against a New South Wales police officer accused of assaulting Hannah Thomas, Sussan Ley withdrawing her call for Kevin Rudd to be dismissed as US ambassador, and an Air T bid for Rex Airlines. Severe winds disrupted Victoria, forcing the Geelong Cup to be postponed, while Sydney faced record heat. Telstra warned that some older Samsung phones may fail to connect to emergency services. Research found persistent and escalating vaping among young Australians, and the federal government outlined emissions-disclosure requirements in proposed environmental reforms. Former Australian chief scientist Jim Peacock died aged 87.

Anthony Albanese remained noncommittal about whether he would meet Donald Trump, while in Papua New Guinea to sign a defence treaty described as an upgrade to the two countries’ security relationship. A national climate risk assessment warned of rising heat deaths, coastal flooding and severe economic and social consequences; Andrew Forrest urged immediate action, while the Coalition called for reassurance and criticized Labor’s approach. Environmental watering resumed in parts of the Murray-Darling Basin after a regulatory dispute. The live updates also covered an ANZ settlement involving a record $240 million ASIC penalty for misconduct, concerns over NDIS pricing, police investigations into alleged assisted suicides in Queensland, sexual-offence charges against a NSW teacher, and worsening polling for conservative parties in NSW and federally.

Western United’s men’s and women’s teams will miss the 2025–26 A-League season after the Australian Professional Leagues placed the financially troubled club into conditional hibernation. The decision follows the liquidation of owner and operator WMG Football Club Limited, a winding-up order, and ongoing appeals over the club’s licence. Players and staff will be released to seek alternative employment, while the academy is expected to continue operating. The APL hopes the pause will allow Western United to rebuild its financial and operational foundations and potentially return in 2026–27.

Seventeen-year-old Gout Gout will make his senior Australian debut in the 200m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, leading a record 88-athlete squad. The team includes several Olympic medallists and strong medal contenders, while all five Australian relay teams have qualified for the first time. Injuries have ruled out race-walk medal hopeful Jemima Montag and sprinter Lachie Kennedy. Athletics Australia says the squad reflects the sport's growing performance and national profile.

Photographer Ray Giubilo captured an unusually comic and technically precise image of Jasmine Paolini during her first-round match against Destanee Aiava at the 2025 US Open. The photograph resulted from Paolini losing balance at the end of a forehand and moving her racket in an uncommon way, creating a fleeting frame Giubilo could not reproduce despite trying again. Paolini praised the image in person, while the feature also traces Giubilo’s 37-year career and the patience, fitness and concentration required to photograph professional tennis for much of the year.

Three-time Olympic slalom canoe champion Jess Fox is recovering after surgery to remove a tumour from her left kidney. Although the procedure was successful, she experienced post-surgery complications and will miss the remaining European World Cup events while recovering at home. Fox said she is feeling positive and hopes to return to the water, while Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman offered the organisation’s full support.

Australia has suffered a major setback ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with rising sprinter Lachie Kennedy withdrawing because of a progressing back stress fracture and race-walking medal contender Jemima Montag pulling out to undergo surgery on a recurring hamstring injury. Kennedy had recently become only the second Australian to run an officially legal sub-10-second 100m, while Montag was considered a potential gold-medal contender after winning Olympic and world-championship medals. Australia's final team will be announced the following week.

AFL forward Izak Rankine has been suspended for four games after using a highly offensive homophobic slur during Adelaide’s match against Collingwood. The AFL considered compelling medical submissions and Rankine’s cooperation and apology, reducing the sanction from a possible five matches. He will miss the final home-and-away round and the first three finals, but could return for the grand final if Adelaide reaches it through a qualifying route. AFL officials and Adelaide acknowledged that the conduct was unacceptable, while the ban leaves the top-two Crows with a significant setback to their premiership campaign.

The Guardian’s live blog reports that an independent review into two Monash IVF embryo mix-ups attributed the incidents to human error and technology limitations, but the report will remain confidential to protect affected patients. Other major developments include Josh Willie’s election as Tasmanian Labor leader, debate over Australia’s response to Israel and Gaza, the opening of Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation appeal, planned strike action by Perth Airport ground workers, worsening rain and flood risks across New South Wales and Queensland, Victoria’s commitment to all 22 childcare-safety recommendations, and new government measures concerning the NDIS, artificial intelligence and a widespread algal bloom.

Australia’s deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said the country conducted an unprecedented level of surveillance of a Chinese naval task group that circumnavigated Australia, while declining to disclose operational details. The live blog also reported that Nine journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet while covering immigration protests in Los Angeles, prompting calls from Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and others for the Australian government to demand an explanation from Donald Trump’s administration. Emergency crews rescued motorists and bushwalkers trapped by heavy snow in Victoria and New South Wales, while rescuers continued tracking an entangled humpback whale off the NSW coast. Network 10 announced that The Project would end on 27 June, and Sarah Snook and Marg Horwell won Tony Awards for The Picture of Dorian Gray.