The future of Cliftonville appears settled as members have voted in favour of a takeover by the Toronto Investment Group [TIG] following a long-running saga.

It appeared a deal was close to being completed last year when then Cliftonville chairman Kieran Harding was given permission by members to enter negotiations, but would later put a pause on those talks which led to TIG taking a step back.

The door appeared to be shut in January when TIG took their offer off the table, but the issue resurfaced when members voted in a June EGM to authorise the club’s management committee to enter formal negotiations with TIG.

It came down to a vote at Monday’s latest with a 75% majority required to back the resolution tabled by current chairman Kevin Crossan and members backed the £3million takeover with 81% in favour, which will move the ownership of the club to TIG.

“At this evening’s Extraordinary General Meeting of Cliftonville FC, members of the club voted in favour of a special resolution authorising the board of directors to complete an investment agreement with the Toronto Investment Group,” read a club statement.

“We thank all of our members for their attendance at tonight’s meeting, for their attentive examination of the transaction structure presented by the club’s legal representatives and for participating in the historic poll that has shaped the future of Ireland’s oldest football club.

“We look forward to a long and prosperous association with Drew Green, John Muffolini, Ron Davidson and Conor Devine, and extend sincere gratitude for the professionalism and commitment they have demonstrated throughout this process.”

The Canadian consortium has vowed to provide transfer funds for Jim Magilton’s side that has won its opening two games of the league season, while moving the club to a full-time model with stadium redevelopment also proposed.

LIV Golf has cancelled its Team Championships in Michigan after weeks of speculation, saying it needs to focus on “building its next chapter”.

It had been widely expected that the event from 27 to 30 August would not happen, as players including Tyrrell Hatton entered the British Masters over the same dates and tickets were no longer being sold.

However, confirmation came on Monday with a statement from LIV Golf outlining changes to the schedule, meaning this week’s event in Indianapolis will be the last of the season and double up as a team competition.

The breakaway league has faced an uncertain future since Saudi Arabia withdrew its financial backing in April.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil, who recently said new investors had been secured, explained: “By concluding the season now, we can put our full resources behind what comes next and maintain the operational rigor this transition demands.

“We are reimagining LIV Golf as a fundamentally new league owned by the players and anchored in a sustainable business model, with an evolved fan experience built for the markets where the game is growing fastest across the globe and the support of world-class partners.

“Professional golf is more unified today than at any point since we launched, creating a genuine opportunity to grow the game together.

“Indianapolis will be a fitting finale for the league as fans have known it and the starting point for what we believe it can become.”

Fifa’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour has left the governing body less than three weeks after he strongly criticised its president Gianni Infantino’s aborted plan to sell stakes in competitions to private investors.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Fifa can confirm that the working relationship between Fifa and Kevin Lamour as Chief Operating Officer has ended on 17 August 2026.

“Fifa thanks Kevin for his two years of service and wishes him the best of luck for the future.”

It declined to comment on reports that Lamour had been dismissed.

BBC Sport has been told that Fifa’s staff were informed of Lamour’s departure in an email by its secretary general Mattias Grafstrom on Monday evening.

Last month, Lamour described the controversial Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) plans as “the project of one person”, and said “the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions”.

He added Fifa’s own administration was “deceived” about the now abandoned project.

“Our mission – the mission of the hundreds of passionate, dedicated, and exemplary Fifa employees – is to serve football”, he added.

“A president must bring people together, unite them, and inspire them. Today, we are experiencing the opposite.”

Lamour acknowledged he had a duty of loyalty to his employer but also to “certain values” and supporting his colleagues.

“If that means I lose my job, then so be it,” he added. “I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Lamour joined Fifa in November 2024, having previously served as deputy general secretary at Uefa, and was two layers of management below Infantino.

Earlier this month, Infantino received the backing of senior executives in a meeting in Morocco, but BBC Sport was told Lamour was not invited.

Lamour has been approached for comment.

In a letter sent to members of Fifa’s Council, and seen by BBC Sport, Grafstrom wrote: “I would like to provide you with an important update regarding a change within the Fifa Administration.

“Following recent discussions, Fifa and our Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Lamour have agreed to part ways. This decision was made after careful consideration and with great respect for Kevin, both personally and professionally… I felt it was important that I personally provide you this update and I would like to express my gratitude to Kevin for these contributions and for his work and commitment on behalf of Fifa on a daily basis. I wish Kevin all the best for the future.”