Republic of Ireland defender Dara O’Shea said he is “proud” of how he and his team-mates came through a trying October international window.
During a four-game Nations League schedule, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side lost away to Kosovo and drew at home to Austria – who they are preparing to face in return fixtures – but it was two games against Israel which tested their resolve.
O’Shea stepped in as captain in the absence of injured skipper Nathan Collins and the 27-year-old acknowledged it “was a tough situation to be in” as they faced Israel in two games on neutral territory.
The first of those resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Irish in Hungary, a game that looked in doubt the previous day when training was delayed as players took a vote on whether to play – amid protests over the Israel-Gaza war – with goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu making himself unavailable for selection.
The sides drew 1-1 in the second meeting in Serbia and, while the saga proved a challenge for all within the Republic of Ireland squad, O’Shea – who missed the second game for personal reasons – paid tribute to his team-mates for the support he received as stand-in skipper.
“I think I was quite lucky, I am really proud to be part of the group, with some great people in it,” said the Ipswich Town captain.
“Even the players playing now as well, they are great leaders themselves. I never felt I was fully alone in having to do anything
“There were always people around me. I always keep level-headed, I don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.”
He added: “Of course it was a difficult time, it was a time that I had to learn stuff about myself, how I was going to react to things. But I think as a group we did excellently.
“It was a tough situation to be in, but we overcame it as best we could. And I am really proud of the group and the staff.”
In a letter outlining 42 questions, UEFA gives FIFA until November 2 to release documents on Infantino’s aborted plans.
Published On 20 Oct 202620 Oct 2026
UEFA has given FIFA a deadline of November 2 to release documents relating to its president Gianni Infantino’s aborted attempts at a secretive investment plan for the World Cup and other governance issues.
The latest move in a power struggle between the global and continental governing bodies was revealed on Monday, days after European football’s top officials were disappointed by what they perceived as a lack of clarity from Infantino over the issues at a FIFA Council meeting last week.
Among the 42 questions to which UEFA is demanding answers are: Infantino’s personal remuneration package, financial payments made to singer Marc Anthony, the handling of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s disciplinary case, business and political relationships involving US President Donald Trump and his family, and the operational independence of FIFA’s judicial, electoral and ethics committees.
UEFA asked US federal courts to authorise subpoenas compelling the production of documents and sworn testimony about the abandoned investment plan called FIFA Forward Enterprise.
FIFA lawyers have claimed UEFA is harassing Infantino.
Al Jazeera reached out to FIFA for a comment but did not receive a response.
Deep dissatisfaction
The formal letter, signed by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis on behalf of European FIFA Council members, stated Infantino’s apology for his actions and subsequent explanation failed to address their core concerns.
“These explanations have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions raised by Council members. Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been [provided],” the letter said.
“The withdrawal of FFE, the recognition of mistakes, and the announcement of ‘potential governance reforms’ do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the FIFA Council was not involved at the appropriate stage.”
According to media reports, the letter further said: “Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon.”
Tight timeline
UEFA submitted 42 detailed questions to FIFA, demanding responses by November 2 — 16 days before the nomination deadline for the presidential election on March 18, 2027.
With the next FIFA Council meeting scheduled for December 16 in Doha, Qatar — after nominations close — UEFA insisted that answers cannot wait.
“These questions require answers now. They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the FIFA Council — nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them,” the letter emphasised.
The earlier deadline would give federations time to assess FIFA’s answers — or its failure to answer — while they can still nominate or endorse a challenger.
Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona What: UEFA Champions League, match day 3 Where: Parc des Princes, Paris, France When: Tuesday, October 20, at 9pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 16:00 GMT.
One of the most eagerly awaited Champions League matches of the season will be played against the backdrop of turmoil on the streets of the French capital as holders Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona on Tuesday.
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The fate of the match has been subject to debate as the French government seeks to control the violent protests gripping the country.
However, once the match gets under way at the Parc des Princes, fans can expect a mouthwatering battle between the Champions League’s top two teams as the back-to-back holders welcome five-time winners.
Boasting a perfect record across all competitions, Spanish giants Barca are arguably one of Europe’s best teams this season.
PSG too have been nothing short of lethal – the Parisians lead the UCL points table and have scored a whopping 10 goals in two games.
There will be plenty of star power on display when the match kicks off as the dazzling duo of Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele will headline the star-studded home side.
Lamine Yamal, who is enjoying one of the best starts to a La Liga season for a forward, will be joined by Raphinha for Barcelona.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of PSG vs Barcelona:
How have PSG played this season?
After seven matches, PSG are second in Ligue 1 with 14 points, behind Lyon on goal difference. They have won four times, drawn twice and lost once in the French top division.
How have Barcelona played this season?
Barcelona are five points clear at the top of La Liga table with nine wins from nine. Their blistering attack has scored 39 league goals.
What happened in the first and second Champions League rounds?
Two-time holders PSG thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in their UCL opener at home before beating Manchester City 4-2 in a thrilling away fixture.
Barcelona thumped Feyenoord 5-1 at home and bounced back from a goal down to smash Galatasaray 4-1 away.
Those results keep PSG top of the table and Barcelona second, with both on six points.
Barcelona’s Spanish #10 Lamine Yamal has made an impressive start to the season [File: Jorge Guerrero/AFP]
Will PSG vs Barcelona go ahead amid the protests in France?
Despite the violent protests and nationwide arrests, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the match will not be postponed or cancelled.
Lecornu said on Monday that he had asked regional authorities to impose “partial” and “localised” curfews in some cities to protect businesses after weekend demonstrations spilled over into some of the worst street violence in recent years.
“These curfews must be local and partial. It is out of the question to put all of Paris under curfew.”
At the same news conference, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters there were no plans to cancel the match.
Police have arrested at least 2,400 people across France after violent groups clashed with officers and looted shops during nationwide demonstrations that attracted hundreds of thousands of people to denounce rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
PSG vs Barcelona: Predictions
Opta’s supercomputer has given PSG a 39.7 per cent probability of winning, while Barcelona have a 37.7 per cent chance.
There are 22.6 per cent odds for a draw.
PSG vs Barcelona: Head-to-head
(Only in the Champions League)
Matches: 15
PSG wins: 6
Barcelona wins: 5
Draws: 4
PSG vs Barcelona: Form guide
(Last five matches across all competitions; latest game first)
PSG: W-W-W-W-W
Barcelona: W-W-W-W-W
Who are the top players to watch?
Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele (PSG): Torres, who joined PSG after four seasons at Barcelona, is their leading scorer with seven goals in all competitions, including an opening day Champions League hat-trick. Dembele has had an all-round impact with six assists and four goals.
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal(Barcelona): With 14 goals, Raphinha is the most prolific striker in European club football this season. Such is his dominance that even a brief injury absence did not take away his top spot. Yamal, on the other hand, has been unstoppable in his own way – the 18-year-old winger’s nine goals and 10 assists make him a once-in-a-generation talent.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha share 23 goals between them this season [File: Jorge Guerrero/AFP]
Team news and predicted lineups
PSG
PSG suffered a major blow shortly before Tuesday’s trip when left-back Nuno Mendes suffered a thigh injury during their 3-1 Ligue 1 victory at Strasbourg on Saturday.
Mendes will be unavailable for the “next few weeks”, according to the team who are also without Senny Mayulu with a similar issue.
Ferran Torres, who also helped Spain win the FIFA World Cup 2026, celebrates scoring a hat-trick against Slovan Bratislava [File: Franco Arland/Getty Images]
Barcelona
Barcelona have been strengthened by the return of striker Raphinha and midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Raphinha picked up a knock on recent international duty with Brazil and missed Barca’s wins over Getafe in the league and Galatasaray in the Champions League. Dutch international De Jong has not featured this season due to a knee issue sustained during the World Cup.
Both were on the bench in Barca’s last game, a 5-2 win over Real Betis, with Raphinha coming on as a second-half substitute.
However, defenders Eric Garcia and Jules Kounde are sidelined. Garcia will spend between “three to four weeks” out with a thigh injury, while right-back Kounde suffered an ankle sprain and will miss the game against PSG.
Predicted starting XI:
Joan Garcia; Xavi Espart, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Joao Cancelo; Fermin Lopez, Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Anthony Gordon
Uefa has posed a great number of questions about FFE.
“When was the idea of FFE first explored, by whom and with what objective?” Uefa asked. “Who within Fifa authorised the development of the project, and which members of the Fifa administration were involved?
“What concrete measures will Fifa put in place to ensure that the shortcomings identified in the FFE process cannot occur again in the future?”
Uefa requested information on whether Infantino would have held or expected to hold any position, role or function in FFE, either during or following his tenure as Fifa president.
The relationship with Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital was covered in detail, asking why an agreement granting exclusivity to the company was signed without prior consultation of the Fifa Council.
“Why was Thrive Capital selected as lead investor, without any competitive tendering process and under conditions of strict confidentiality, despite its links to the family of the recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize?” Uefa asked.
Kushner is the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, while the US president was awarded the Peace Prize.
Uefa also requested answer about the award of the Peace Prize, specifically who decided to establish it, for what purpose, and who decided that Trump should receive it.
When the FFE plan was revealed in the days following the World Cup final, Infantino told the 211 member associations (MAs) they would receive $40m (£30m) if they backed it. He then set a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept his plans if they wanted to access an initial $20m (£15m).
However, once the scheme was abandoned, Uefa and Concacaf called on Fifa to pay at least $10m (£7.5m) from its cash reserves to each of the MAs and, last week, Infantino agreed, proposing to increase the amount of money handed out for football development across the world by $3.4bn (£2.6bn).
The releasing of cash from its reserves will result in double the level of planned distribution funding for MAs from 2027 to 2030, with $25m (£19m) available per member association.
“Why was substantially increased funding for MAs presented in connection with FFE and external investment, rather than being financed directly from Fifa’s own resources?” Uefa has asked.
“Given Fifa’s strong financial position, why was it considered necessary to seek investment from private investors? What financial or strategic advantages would such an arrangement have offered compared with funding football development directly from Fifa’s own resources, particularly in light of Fifa’s subsequent proposal to do precisely that on a substantially increased scale?”
