*Tuesday 17 June 2025* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaatWAaBadmi3bUGfI3K *Headlines* *Mzembi's Arrest Warrant Confirmed: Magistrate Dismisses 'Cancer Excuse' As Unconvincing* *Harare Mayor Mafume Fears Temporary Ban On Rufaro Stadium As Facility Deteriorates* *Former City Of Harare Debtors Controller Jailed For $1,3 Million Fraud* *One Dead In Kenyan Protests Over Death Of Blogger In Custody* *Uganda President Yoweri Museveni Signs New Law Allowing Military Trials For Civilians* *Mali Starts Construction Of Russia-backed Gold Refinery* *Israel & Iran Trade Further Strikes As Hostilities Extend Into Fifth Day* *Ukraine's Zelenskiy Seeks G7 Support As Trump's Early Exit Dampens Summit* *Most Americans Now Get Their News From Social Media, Report Finds* *Sacked Referee Coote Charged By FA Over Klopp Video* *Ronaldo Loan Move To Al-Hilal 'Counter-intuitive'* *Stories in Detail:* *Mzembi's Arrest Warrant Confirmed: Magistrate Dismisses 'Cancer Excuse' As Unconvincing* A Harare magistrate has upheld arrest warrants for former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi, ruling that his explanation for evading court proceedings since 2018 was not convincing enough to justify his prolonged absence. Mzembi, who is facing corruption-related charges, told the court that he had applied for the release of his passport in 2018 to seek medical treatment in South Africa. He claimed he was diagnosed with cancer during that time and subsequently underwent surgery, later relocating to Zambia as his health reportedly declined again in 2024. According to Mzembi, he voluntarily returned to Zimbabwe once his health improved but was arrested at the airport before he could present himself to court. He argued that his return was not clandestine and offered several conditions as part of a proposed remedy — including surrendering his passport, his sister’s title deeds, submitting to house arrest under 24-hour surveillance, and standing trial. However, the State dismissed Mzembi’s justification, questioning the credibility of his timeline. Prosecutors pointed out that his last documented medical review was scheduled for February 2019 and accused him of providing no valid evidence to cover the years between then and now. Further weakening his case, the State noted that Mzembi was actively engaging on social media in 2023 while serving as campaign manager for exiled politician Saviour Kasukuwere — suggesting he was well enough to return to Zimbabwe and attend trial earlier. Magistrate Donald Ndirowei ruled that Mzembi had violated his bail conditions and that his explanation did not amount to a “valid excuse” for his failure to appear in court. “Warrants of arrest are hereby confirmed, and the accused is hereby committed to prison pending trial,” Ndirowei declared. The matter has been postponed to July 1, 2025. *263chat* *Harare Mayor Mafume Fears Temporary Ban On Rufaro Stadium As Facility Deteriorates* RUFARO STADIUM could be on the brink of condemnation as the iconic venue continues to show visible signs of deterioration just one year after reopening to host top-flight matches. The imposing Mbare facility is struggling to withstand the demands of hosting elite fixtures, with the pitch visibly damaged, posing a danger to players. Rufaro Stadium is home to Dynamos, CAPS United, Herentals, and Scottland FC. The ground is also used by Division One clubs, further straining its capacity. With midweek Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches scheduled, Rufaro would have hosted six encounters in 11 days, excluding Northern Region Division One games. Speaking at a recent council meeting at Town House, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume expressed concerns that the stadium could be barred from hosting top-tier matches. “Two weeks is too long. The renovations must be done because the stadium is about to be condemned again,” Mafume told councillors. Should Rufaro be condemned, Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams in Harare could be left in limbo unless the City Council acts swiftly to upgrade the facility. Earlier this year, the council announced a partnership with Scottland FC, owned by Mabvuku Member of Parliament Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya, to renovate the stadium. However, no notable improvements have been made since, dashing Mafume’s hopes of the venue hosting international matches. The installation of bucket seats, which Mafume had promised would be completed by mid-year, remains far behind schedule. Installation of electronic turnstiles is yet to be completed. Rufaro stadium is still using an archaic scoreboard, another task on the hands of Mafume-led Council. Rufaro Stadium reflects the broader decline of sports facilities under the Harare City Council (HCC), many of which are in deplorable condition. Mafume told councillors he was tired of apologising for the state of council-owned facilities. “The state of City Sports—let us look at them. Every time, I have to apologise when I arrive at any council facility. It is not nice. The place does not look good, but there are simple things we should fix,” said Mafume. *NewZW* *Former City Of Harare Debtors Controller Jailed For $1,3 Million Fraud* A FORMER City of Harare (CoH) debtors controller has been jailed for three years for defrauding the council of money amounting to ZWL$1,393,875.35. The accused person, Tafadzwa Dzapasi committed the offences between November 2022 and May 2023. The court heard that using his position, Dzapasi manipulated dormant accounts and transitory funds to misrepresent payments, ultimately diverting large sums for personal gain. The prosecutor proved Dzapasi’s modus operandi, which targeted dormant council accounts with credit balances that he would fraudulently transfer funds to accounts with outstanding debts. His actions deceived the CoH into believing that debtors were settling their dues, while in reality, no money had been received. One of the transactions occurred on December 20, 2022, when Dzapasi intercepted a suspense account holding temporary receipted payments from clients with incomplete references. He then misappropriated cash equivalent to ZWL$1,393,875.35, disguising the transaction as a legitimate banking deposit. Among the most significant losses recorded, CoH was prejudiced of ZWL$ 7,414,378.27 in February 2023 and an additional ZWL$ 12,166,651.76 in March. The fraud came to light following an internal audit, which exposed the offender’s suspicious transactions. *One Dead In Kenyan Protests Over Death Of Blogger In Custody* One person was killed in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday during protests sparked by the death of a blogger in police custody that has inflamed long-standing accusations of extrajudicial killings by security forces. A Reuters journalist saw the man's body on the ground with a bleeding head wound, his hand clutching a packet of face masks. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. A video aired on Kenyan broadcaster Citizen Television's X account showed two policemen repeatedly striking the man on his head before one of them fired at him with a long-barreled gun as he tried to walk away. The man fell to the ground as people in the crowd shouted: "You have killed him". Another video aired on the Nation newspaper's website featured a witness saying the dead man was selling face masks and was not a protester. Reuters could not independently verify the two videos. Kenya's police spokesperson, Muchiri Nyaga, said he was waiting to confirm details of the incident and that no fatalities had been reported on Tuesday. The death of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang on June 8 has been a lightning rod for public anger, a year after more than 60 people were killed during protests initially sparked by proposed tax increases. Police first said he had committed suicide, but Kenya's police chief later apologised after an independent autopsy found that Ojwang's wounds pointed to assault as the cause of death. As demonstrators took to the streets of Nairobi on Tuesday, police fired tear gas. Clashes also broke out when unidentified motorcyclists beat up protesters, dispersing them, the Reuters journalist said. Local broadcaster NTV showed video of the bikers shouting "No protests." Amnesty International's Kenya chapter, in a post on X, referred to the presence of dozens of motorbikes with two hooded passengers whipping protesters and members of the public. Reuters could not immediately identify the bikers. *'STOP KILLING US'* President William Ruto said last week that Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police" which he called "heartbreaking and unacceptable." Ojwang was arrested as part of an investigation triggered by a formal complaint by deputy police chief Eliud Lagat, according to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority watchdog. Citizen TV said demonstrations also erupted in Kenya's second largest city Mombasa on Tuesday, and showed protesters shouting slogans and holding placards saying "Stop killing us". Last week, hundreds of people demonstrated in Nairobi over the blogger's death, with vehicles set ablaze. Lagat said on Monday he had stepped aside temporarily, pending the completion of an investigation into Ojwang's death. Two senior officers and a closed-circuit television (CCTV) technician, who had been called to dismantle the CCTV at the police station, have been arrested in connection with the investigation. *Reuters* *Uganda President Yoweri Museveni Signs New Law Allowing Military Trials For Civilians* Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law an amendment that will allow, once again, civilians to be tried in a military court under certain circumstances. A previous law permitting such trials was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in January. Before that ruling, civilians could be taken to a military tribunal if they had been found with military equipment like guns or army uniforms. Activists had complained that the law was used to persecute government critics. Parliamentarians passed the amendment last month amid a heavy police presence and a boycott by opposition lawmakers, who argued that it violated the ruling by the country's highest court. In January, the judges said that the military courts were neither impartial nor competent to exercise judicial functions, the International Society for Human Rights reported at the time. The amendment appears to try and address some of the issues. It says that those presiding over the tribunals should have relevant legal qualifications and training. It also says that while performing their legal functions they should be independent and impartial. But civilians can still be transferred if found with military hardware. "The law will deal decisively with armed violent criminals, deter the formation of militant political groups that seek to subvert democratic processes, and ensure national security is bound on a firm foundational base. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!," army spokesperson Col Chris Magezi wrote on X after the bill was passed by MPs. But opposition leader Bobi Wine said the law would be used against him and others. "All of us in the opposition are being targeted by the act," he told the AFP news agency. The Uganda Law Society, a professional body that represents the country's lawyers, has said it will "challenge the constitutionality" of the amendment. For years, activists had argued that the military courts were being used by the government to silence dissidents, with people alleging that evidence had been planted. "If you are a political opponent then they will find a way of getting you under the military court and then you know your fate is sealed... once there, justice will never visit your door," human rights lawyer Gawaya Tegulle told the BBC's Focus on Africa podcast in February. He added that people can spend years in detention on remand as the courts await decisions from senior military figures, which may never come, and those who are tried and found guilty face harsher penalties than in civilian courts. A recent high-profile case followed November's arrest of long-time leading opposition figure Kizza Besigye. He was picked up in neighbouring Kenya, taken across the border and then charged in a military court with possession of pistols and attempting to purchase weapons abroad, which he denied. Those charges were dropped, and replaced with others, when his case was transferred to a civilian court following the Supreme Court ruling. Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, described the verdict as the "wrong decision", adding that "the country is not governed by the judges. It is governed by the people." He had previously defended the use of military courts saying that they dealt with the "rampant activities of criminals and terrorists that were using guns to kill people indiscriminately". He said that civilian courts were too busy to "handle these gun-wielding criminals quickly". *BBC* *Mali Starts Construction Of Russia-backed Gold Refinery* Mali began construction of a new Russia-backed gold refinery on Monday, which the West African country's military leader said would take it closer to asserting control over its natural resources. The 200-ton capacity facility, in which Mali has a controlling stake, will be built in partnership with Russia's Yadran Group and a Swiss investment company. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Mali's interim president Colonel Assimi Goita said last year that all mining companies will be required to process their gold domestically under a revised mining code, without providing a deadline. That reflects a broader regional shift extending across the Sahel, where Guinea, Niger and Burkina Faso have also revised mining codes to mandate local processing, adding value to their exports and boosting the economic benefits of their resources. "Since 1980, Mali’s gold has been exported for refining and sale to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Switzerland," Goita said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new plant in Senou, outside the capital Bamako. "This deprives our country of substantial revenues that could be used for the development of its economy." The government has not provided a deadline for the plant's completion. Once fully operational, it will process all gold produced in Mali into dore bars before it is exported, with a capacity nearly four times Mali's annual gold production. Echoing comments from Goita, Yadran President Irek Salikhov said at the ceremony the refinery will become "a regional center for processing gold extracted not only in Mali, but also in neighboring countries — like Burkina Faso". West Africa is a major gold producer, but lacks a functional and globally certified gold refinery despite attempts to create one including by Ghana, the continent's top gold producer. The refinery is part of Goita's sweeping mining reforms introduced since the military leader seized power in 2021 and severed relations with Western partners. Mali's revised mining code, like those of neighbours Guinea, Niger and Burkina Faso, has rattled investors. A Malian court this month put Canadian miner Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex under temporary state control, escalating an ongoing dispute over Mali's tax claims. Goita said the refinery would enable Mali to better track its gold production and exports. Like many African countries, it loses billions of dollars to gold smuggling due to the absence of certified gold refineries and traceability programmes. *Reuters* *Israel & Iran Trade Further Strikes As Hostilities Extend Into Fifth Day* Israel has carried out strikes across Iran while Tehran has returned fire with missiles as the foes have traded attacks for a fifth straight day and the region anxiously braces for a potentially wider and ruinous conflict. The violence on Tuesday came after United States President Donald Trump struck an ominous note, calling for the immediate evacuation of Tehran. He followed that up hours later with comments to reporters on Air Force One after his early departure from the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, saying he is looking for a “real end” and not just a ceasefire in the conflict. Concerns that the US could spark a wider regional war should it enter direct conflict with Iran continue to build. The Israeli military reported on Tuesday that it carried out “several extensive strikes” on what it said were missile sites and other military targets in western Iran, striking dozens of missile and drone facilities. Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed large plumes of smoke rising from several areas in Iran’s Isfahan province. A number of explosions have also been heard in central and western Tehran. Iranian media reported that loud explosions were heard in the northwestern city of Tabriz, home to an air force base that Israel has repeatedly targeted since it launched a surprise assault on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities on Friday. Three people were killed and four injured in strikes on the central city of Kashan, Iran’s state-run Nour News reported. A residential building was struck in Tehran, and three people were rescued from the rubble, the reports added. The official Iranian news agency IRNA says eight missiles were launched at Israel in the latest salvo. Israel’s military confirmed Iran had fired more missiles, saying “most” of the missiles have been intercepted, without providing more details. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem among other areas. Images showed plumes of dark smoke rising from the site of a strike in Herzliya as emergency services were deployed at the scene. Israel’s national emergency service said 10 people were injured while running to shelters after air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv. Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, Jordan, because Al Jazeera is banned from Israel, said the Israeli military censor has forbidden the publication of images and information about Herzliya, classifying it as “sensitive”. “That usually means that it’s either a military, intelligence or strategic asset or site that the Israeli military censor does not want to disclose,” Odeh said. She added that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in a recent statement that it targeted the “intelligence buildings in Herzliya – the Mossad and the Israeli (Aman) military intelligence – so that claim remains unanswered from the Israeli side”. Israel claims another slain general Amid the strikes, the Israeli military claimed that it had assassinated another senior Iranian military official. General Ali Shadmani was killed in a strike by the Israeli air force in central Tehran through the use of precise intelligence, the Israeli military said, describing him as Iran’s wartime chief of staff, “senior-most military official” ​​and the closest military adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Shadmani was reportedly appointed to his new post after Israel assassinated the former commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Gholam Ali Rashid, on Friday. Iran did not immediately comment on the claim, which came days after Israel assassinated a number of Iran’s top generals as well as nuclear scientists. *'Evacuate Tehran’* The attacks unfolded in the face of growing calls internationally for the bitter foes to de-escalate. However, Trump, who left the Group of Seven summit in Canada on Monday, one day early, due to the situation in the Middle East, appears to be increasingly backing Israel, issuing ominous messages. In a post on social media overnight, he warned that “everyone should evacuate Tehran immediately,” lamenting the “waste of human life” in the conflict and reiterating that Iran could not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. He denied his exit from the G7 was to arrange a ceasefire. “Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a ‘cease fire’ between Israel and Iran,” he wrote. “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that.” Macron had said, in light of Trump’s early departure from the summit, that talks were under way and stated that an offer for a ceasefire had been made, but he did not specify by whom. In a statement agreed at the summit before Trump’s departure, G7 leaders described Iran as “the principal source of regional instability and terror”, adding that Israel “has a right to defend itself”. Meanwhile, Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned in an address to the European Parliament on Tuesday that Israel’s “attacks” on Iran posed a “threat to people everywhere”. Qatar also said it “strongly condemns” Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them “an uncalculated measure that will have very dire repercussions”. The attacks were carried out at a time when Iran was “progressing in a positive diplomatic course” with Washington, negotiations that many regional countries were engaged in, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Majed al-Ansari said. Qatar remains involved in mediation with the US and “believes there is an American desire for an agreement”. Israel said its attacks are necessary to prevent its longtime adversary from getting any closer to building a nuclear weapon. Iran has retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. *Aljazeera* *Ukraine's Zelenskiy Seeks G7 Support As Trump's Early Exit Dampens Summit* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Canada on Tuesday to urge the Group of Seven to provide more backing for the war against Russia even after U.S. President Donald Trump left the summit early due to developments in the Middle East. The G7 group of wealthy nations has struggled to find unity over conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as Trump has expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has imposed tariffs on many of the allies present. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Zelenskiy started his day by meeting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said Ottawa would provide C$2 billion ($1.47 billion) in new military assistance for Kyiv as well as impose new financial sanctions. A Russian attack overnight on Kyiv that killed 12 people "underscores the importance of standing in total solidarity with Ukraine," he said. Carney said when G7 leaders met for dinner on Monday, they stressed the importance of using "maximum pressure against Russia" to force it to start serious peace talks. "We are ready for the peace negotiations, unconditional ceasefire - I think it's very important. But for this, we need pressure," Zelenskiy replied. When the summit ends later on Tuesday, Carney plans to issue a statement calling for more pressure on Russia through sanctions and saying the G7 backs U.S.-led peace efforts, a G7 source said. Although Canada is one of Ukraine's most vocal defenders, its ability to help Kyiv is far outweighed by the United States, the largest arms supplier. Zelenskiy had said he hoped to talk to Trump about acquiring more weapons. Trump said on Monday he needed to be back in Washington as soon as possible due to the situation in the Middle East, where escalating attacks between Iran and Israel have raised risks of a broader regional conflict. He later said his early departure from the summit had "nothing to do with" working on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, however, denying comments by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had said the U.S. president leaving could be a sign of a potential deal. A European Union diplomat said all remaining G7 members wanted to stay to meet Zelenskiy and continue conversations. Trump agreed to a group statement calling for a resolution of the Israel-Iran conflict. "We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza," the statement said. The statement said Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror and that Israel has the right to defend itself. Last week, Zelenskiy said he planned to discuss continued support for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, and future financing for Kyiv's reconstruction efforts. "Our conviction is that if we want to move towards peace, we must indeed demonstrate our resolve together and our ability to go much further with sanctions," French President Emmanuel Macron said late on Monday. A European official said after the talks with Trump on Monday that there was broad agreement among G7 countries, including the United States, to do more to pressure Russia into a ceasefire, but acknowledged the idea of lowering the Russia oil price cap had been shelved given a spike in prices. Trump said on Monday that the then Group of Eight had been wrong to expel Russia after Putin ordered the occupation of Crimea in 2014. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Trump was right and said the G7 was no longer significant for Russia and looked "rather useless." G7 leaders prepared several draft documents seen by Reuters, including on migration, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. None of them have been approved by the United States, according to sources briefed on the documents. Without Trump, it is unclear if there will be any declarations, a European diplomat said. Carney also invited non-G7 members Mexico, India, Australia, South Africa, South Korea and Brazil, as he tries to shore up alliances elsewhere and diversify Canada's exports away from the United States. *Reuters* *Most Americans Now Get Their News From Social Media, Report Finds* More than one-fifth of news consumers surveyed engaged with podcaster Joe Rogan, Reuters Institute says. Social media and video platforms have eclipsed traditional media as news sources in the United States for the first time, a report has found. Fifth-four percent of surveyed Americans used platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok for news during the previous week, up from 27 percent in 2013, the report by the Reuters Institute showed on Tuesday. Only 50 percent relied on TV, while 48 percent looked at news websites or apps, according to the 2025 Digital News Report. Young people drove the shift, with 54 percent of Americans aged 18-24 and half of those aged 25-34 choosing social media and video platforms as their “main” source of news. The move towards social media was strongest in the US and Brazil, where 34 percent and 35 percent of respondents, respectively, described it as their “main” source of news, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Denmark and Japan. Individual online influencers, most of them right-leaning, are also reaching large numbers of news consumers, the report found. More than one-fifth of US respondents said they had seen podcaster Joe Rogan discuss the news during the week following US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, while 12-14 percent encountered Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens or Ben Shapiro, according to the report. Tucker The report also found that the so-called “Trump bump” experienced by news platforms in 2016 has not carried over into his second presidency, with only social media and video platforms seeing their audiences rise. Across nearly 50 countries surveyed, four in 10 respondents said they trusted most news “most of the time,” a figure that has been stable for the past three years, according to the report. Trust was highest in Nigeria, where 68 percent expressed confidence, followed by Finland, Kenya, Denmark, South Africa and Thailand. Respondents in Greece and Hungary had the least trust, with just 22 percent believing the news, followed by those in Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. Nic Newman, the report’s author, said the declining influence of traditional media has been a boon for politicians, who are “increasingly able to bypass traditional journalism in favour of friendly partisan media, ‘personalities’, and ‘influencers’ who often get special access but rarely ask difficult questions”. “These trends are increasingly pronounced in the United States under Donald Trump, as well as parts of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, but are moving more slowly elsewhere, especially where news brands maintain a strong connection with audiences,” Newman said in an overview of the report. “In countries where press freedom is under threat, alternative ecosystems also offer opportunities, at their best, to bring fresh perspectives and challenge repressive governments,” Newman said. “But at the same time, these changes may be contributing to rising political polarisation and a coarsening debate online.” *Aljazeera* *Sacked Referee Coote Charged By FA Over Klopp Video* Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged by the Football Association for comments made about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in a video that was leaked on social media. The 42-year-old was suspended in November 2024 after the clip showed him making derogatory comments about the German and Liverpool. Coote was sacked a month later by the Premier League referees' body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) following a "thorough investigation" into his conduct. The FA has now charged Coote in relation to rule E3.1, which alleges he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words. It says reference to Klopp's nationality in the video constituted an "aggravated" breach. However, Coote has been cleared of any gambling misconduct following claims that the referee had discussed issuing a yellow card to a player prior to a match. Coote, from Nottinghamshire, had denied the gambling misconduct claims, saying the allegation was "false and defamatory". In February, Coote was banned by Uefa from officiating in European competition until 30 June 2026. A video of Coote sniffing a white powder when he was on duty at Euro 2024, which is organised by Uefa, emerged in November. Coote revealed in January that he was gay, and had hid his sexuality during his professional career through fear of abuse. He admitted to the Sun newspaper, external that he had developed a drug habit, but had overcome that through therapy. Coote is not currently in football but because he was involved in the game at the time the comments became public the FA has jurisdiction over the matter. Yet if - hypothetically - Coote were to make comments on social media now, because he is no longer working in football, the FA would have no power to sanction him. All discrimination cases are overseen by an independent regulatory commission, which will go onto decide the punishment, with Coote needing to admit or deny the charge. If he pleads guilty, the commission will deliver a sanction and if Coote denies the charge the commission will consider the case and either uphold or dismiss it, before passing its judgement depending on the outcome. Should Coote end up being fined, according to the FA's disciplinary regulations any failure to make payment within the deadline may result in an automatic increase of 25% of the amount due. A failure to pay a further 35 days after the deadline could see an automatic suspension from all football and football activity imposed until the fine is paid. *BBC* *Ronaldo Loan Move To Al-Hilal 'Counter-intuitive' * The chief executive of Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal says that a loan move for Cristiano Ronaldo before the Club World Cup would have been "completely counter-intuitive" because he played for their "biggest opponent" Al-Nassr. Al-Hilal were linked with a possible deal for the 40-year-old Portugal forward after Fifa introduced an additional transfer window earlier this month because of the revamped tournament. Both rival Riyadh clubs are controlled by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Ronaldo is out of contract at Al-Nassr at the end of June. But when asked if they came close to a move for the forward, Esteve Calzada told BBC Sport: "We normally don't comment on players' situations, particularly because our name is always put out there, when a player or an agent wants to negotiate a better deal with his club, or is trying to move out. "It's been a very weird transfer window, it's a very short period of time. "You don't want to take a decision thinking about this tournament that then you have to carry on with for the next two or three years. "As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognise he is, it's certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you. "Even more when it's only for three to four weeks. "We've been trying to see if we can reinforce the team. But some players were with a mindset of 'holidays already', some players were sometimes just asking for too much money, and we're aware that our team is extremely competitive. "We'll go into the traditional transfer window after the tournament still with the biggest ambitions to see if we can reinforce the team even more." Fernandes, Nunez, Osimhen - Al-Hilal can 'pitch to any player' Calzada was speaking in Miami, where Al-Hilal play Ronaldo's former club Real Madrid in their opening Club World Cup fixture on Wednesday (20:00 BST). Al-Hilal recently appointed Simone Inzaghi as their head coach but did not make any major signings before the tournament in the United States. Earlier this month, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes claimed he rejected a huge offer from Al-Hilal because he still wants to play "at the highest possible level". "I cannot confirm nor deny that we've been interested in him," added Calzada. "He's a big player, it fits the profile of player that we think would be good for Al-Hilal, just like many others. We're not refraining from contacting players because we feel they would say no to us. "The names we are linked with demonstrate the ambition of the club. We believe that we are in a position to pitch [to] any players nowadays." In recent months, Al-Hilal have also reportedly considered moves for Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. *BBC*