It was learnt that UEFA general secretary, Theodore Theodoris, sent the letter to the UK Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy.

Theodoris warned that there should be no government interference in the running of football and made it clear that the ultimate sanction for which would be excluding the federation from UEFA and teams from competition.

Theodoridis further emphasised the need for independence, following proposals for a new regulator, which were included by  Keir Starmer’s new Labour Government in the King’s Speech.

The regulator would be in charge of a licensing system, which will ensure clubs are run sustainably, take over a strengthened owners and directors test, and give fans a greater say in key decisions.

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The versatile attacker, who was recently named on the 30-man shortlist for the prestigious award, has enjoyed a stellar season for both club and country. He is the only African to make the cut this year, ahead of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who was nominated last year, and Egyptian icon Mohamed Salah.

Lookman, who previously plied his trade in England, found his feet after joining Atalanta in 2022, as the former Everton man finished his first season with the Serie A side with 15 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances. He surpassed that in his second year, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in 45 appearances.

His form also extended to the international stage, where he played a starring role for Nigeria at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 26-year-old revealed on the Counter Attack Podcast how he learnt of his Ballon d’Or nomination while on international duty with the Super Eagles, saying, It’s a special feeling.

Lookman shared how his Super Eagles teammate Calvin Bassey reacted to the news.

The Nigeria forward’s nomination comes after a historic performance in the UEFA Europa League final, where he became the first man to score a hat-trick as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to lift the trophy.

He was also impressed during the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals and providing assistance as Nigeria reached the final in the Ivory Coast.

Lookman’s Ballon d’Or nod makes him the eighth Nigerian ever to be nominated for the award, and the forward is also being tipped as a leading contender for the African Footballer of the Year award.

Fresh from the nomination, Lookman shone during Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda, scoring twice in the Super Eagles’ 3-0 win over Benin in Uyo and having a goal controversially ruled out in the goalless draw against Rwanda. Despite transfer interest from PSG over the summer, Lookman appears set to focus on Atalanta with the transfer window now closed.

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Recently released figures showed that the prison population in England and Wales was at its highest-ever level.

But with concern about released prisoners reoffending, the government insisted that no violent offenders or domestic abusers would be eligible for early release.

Business minister Jonathan Reynolds told reporters that it was a difficult decision to release the 1,700 prisoners.

Downing Street has said the policy was required to avoid unchecked criminality, where recently convicted criminals have been spared jail sentences because there were no places available.

Reynolds placed the blame on the last Conservative government, which was voted out in July, saying the decision should have been made prior to the election” but that it had given up on governing.

Chief Inspector of Probation Martin Jones told newsmen that the pressure on prisons was extreme.

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England’s hopes of joining Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 World Cup winners in English football immortality ended in the same way as the nation’s first appearance in a men’s continental final against Italy three years ago.

The Three Lions were losing 1-0 heading into the closing stages before substitute Cole Palmer scored a 73rd-minute equaliser to cancel out Nico Williams’s opener just 69 seconds into the second half.

Immediately after the Chelsea man had drawn level, there was the feeling that the men in white could end their 58-year wait for a trophy

However, Gareth Southgate’s men could not hold on and conceded four minutes from time, when Mikel Oyarzabal slotted a close-range finish past Jordan Pickford to clinch an unprecedented fourth European Championship title for La Roja.

After falling behind for the second time, the Three Lions went on a late onslaught, but Spain held on strong to see out the win.

Adding salt to injury, Oshoala, who was in favour of the Spanish side winning the championship due to her affinity with FC Barcelona, took to her X handle to troll England, “It’s not coming home.”

Her comment on the English football anthem, ‘It’s Coming Home’, was in response to Southgate’s second European Championship final defeat.

‘It’s Coming Home’, the officially made Three Lions anthem, was first penned for the Euro ‘96 competition by comedians Frank Skinner, David Baddiel, and a band called the Lightning Seeds. England was hosting its first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup when the song first came out.

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