Author: The Nation

Spanish police arrested seven people Tuesday over the racial abuse of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, as the Brazilian star was spared a ban for his red card against Valencia.

The forward was targeted by Valencia fans on Sunday, sparking an international outcry, and the Spanish club had one stand of their stadium shut for five games by the Spanish football authorities late Tuesday.

Spain’s football league, La Liga, has been engulfed in a racism scandal after the 22-year-old forward was subjected to racist taunts during Madrid’s 1-0 defeat at Valencia and later sent off.

The player has been taunted by opposition fans since joining Real in 2018 but the latest incident has kicked up a storm over whether Spain is doing enough to stamp out racism in football.

Police on Tuesday arrested three youths in Valencia for “insults and gestures with racist overtones” towards the player that amounted to “an alleged hate crime” during Sunday’s match.

After their statements were taken, they were later “released on condition they appear when summoned” by the public prosecutor’s office or the courts, a police spokesman told AFP.

Sunday’s game was held up for several minutes with the referee saying that shouts of “monkey” had been directed at Vinicius.

People protest in front of the Spanish Consulate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, against racism and in support of Real Madrid’s Brazilian player Vinicius Junior, who was the target of persistent racist abuse during his team’s 1-0 defeat to Valencia

In a statement, Valencia confirmed the arrests, reiterating its “strongest condemnation of racism and violence” and saying the club was acting against those involved “by banning them for life” from their stadium.

In Madrid, police arrested another four men suspected of dangling an effigy wearing a Real Madrid shirt with Vinicius’ number on it from a bridge earlier this year.

The dark-skinned inflatable dummy was hung by the neck from a bridge near Real Madrid’s training ground several hours before a derby clash with Atletico Madrid on January 26.

Above it was a 16-metre banner reading ‘Madrid hates Real’, police said.

Investigators said three of the suspects were “active members of a group of radical fans” who had previously been identified as “high risk” by agents working to prevent football violence.

Salim Fago Lawal’s diving header and Jude Sunday’s last-gasp finish earned Nigeria victory over Italy in an end-to-end encounter at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023..

The result left the Flying Eagles and the Azzurri on six and three points respectively after two games apiece in Group D before Brazil face Dominican Republic in the other group’s match last night

Victory sealed Flying Eagles’ spot in the Round of 16 and would now face Brazil in their last group SD match on Sunday.

Yesterday in Mendoza, both Nigeria and Italy had chances in the first half, with Tommaso Baldanzi testing the hands of Kingsley Aniagboso.

The opening goal arrived just after the hour. Half-time substitute Umeh Emmanuel and Gabriele Guarino collided inside the Italian box, but the latter sprang straight up and dinked the ball back across goal. Salim Fago Lawal flung himself into the air and headed into a semi-guarded net.

Thereafter, Nigeria’s admirable defending reduced Italy to shots from outside the box. Daniele Montevago had the best of them, but curled his effort wide.

Then, in stoppage time, the Nigerians made absolutely sure of the victory.

Goalkeeper Aniagboso got the assist, his punt up field finding the rampaging Sunday, who struck it across goal and into the bottom corner.

Fouad Oki was yesterday elected as the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association and will now replace former Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) 1st vice president Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi to run Eko Football.

In a keenly contested election which took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan, Lagos, Oki defeated the former acting chairman, Tade Azeez as he polled 13 votes against his challenger who got only one vote.

Also in the yesterday poll, Gafar Olawale Liameed also emerged the Vice Chairman of the Lagos FA. The CEO of 36 Lions FC of Lagos defeated Dotun Coker by 10 votes to 4 votes.

At his post-election and acceptance speech, Oki expressed appreciation for the love and support given to him.

“I assure you all that we’ll take football in the state to greater heights but of course, I’ll need the support and cooperation of all,” he said.

Pep Guardiola is ‘impressed’ by Inter and has admitted the Nerazzurri can beat his Manchester City side in the Champions League Final.

Inter will meet the Premier League champions in the Champions League Final in Istanbul on June 10.

It’s the first European Final for the Nerazzurri since 2009-10 when they went on to lift the Cup With the Big Ears with José Mourinho in charge.

“I’ve started watching some minutes of Inter, some situations and I am impressed,” Guardiola told Gazzetta. “What they do and their body language is impressive. After watching them, I called some friends of mine in Italy to ask what they think. They all told me to be on alert because they are serious about it. I knew already, I had already understood by watching those few minutes and those situations.

“Of course, Inter can beat us, they’ve already won this trophy three times and we’ve never done it, but we want to play better so it won’t happen again,” continued the ex-Barcelona boss who has won the Champions League twice as a coach, losing the 2020-21 Final in charge of City.

Inter are only one of the three Serie A clubs to have reached a European Final this term. Mourinho’s Roma will face Sevilla in Europa League, while Fiorentina will meet West Ham in the Conference League Final.

“It’s not a coincidence that there are three [Italian] clubs in European Finals and others reached the semis,” argued Guardiola. “I played in Italy, I know the mentality. Do not forget that Serie A was the best league in the world 20 years ago all players and coaches wanted to be there. Also, Italy won the World Cup four times. They still have this mentality, this is why a Final against an Italian club is tricky.”

The Federal Government has inaugurated the new Board members of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) with a view to providing effective governance and policy direction for the Institution in line with the enabling Instrument that established it.

The Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, while inaugurating the Board in his office in Abuja yesterday, called on them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realisation of the mission and mandate of the Institute

The Minister observed that the Institution was topmost in Africa for sports administration before it suddenly lost its glory, but expressed optimism that with the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to sports development in the country as well as the appointment of seasoned sports administrators into the new Board, “i believe the Institution will occupy its pride of place in Africa again”

He added that with the recent approval of the National Sports Industry Policy, (NSIP), which provides for private sector participation in sports as a business and not mere recreation, the challenge of funding and other related issues concerning sporting activities in Nigeria, will soon be a thing of the past.

“Your role as a Board is explicit, to move National Institute for Sports in the direction of modality much beyond the reputation of NIS before now,” Dare said

He informed that though efforts are ongoing to establish the first university of sports in the country, the Institute till then, remains the nation’s sports institution that needs credibility of examination process to ensure its certificate is fully recognised.

Dare stated further that the Ministry has signed a Ten-Year Football Masterplan which is aimed at addressing the fundamental anomalies that have plagued the development of football in the country, for the benefit of a broader strata of the society.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, called on the Board Members to partner with relevant institutions and stakeholders in order to realise the mission and vision of the Institute

He assured that the Ministry will continue to support the Board to ensure it succeeds in the discharge of its mandate

Responding, the Board Chairman, Barr. Danladi Ibrahim thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Development as well as top management staff of the administration for the privilege given to them to serve, assuring that they will bring in their wealth of experience to bear in ensuring the realization of the Institute’s mandate.

The newly inaugurated board members are as follows-

i. Barr. Danladi Ibrahim – Chairman

ii. Major General Okpeh Wilson Ali – Member

iii. AIG Hafiz Inuwa – Member

iv. Lawrence Babatunde Aremu – Member

v. Dr. Fatima Kabir Umar – Member

vi. Boniface C. Odum – Member

vii. Salisu Manman Aliyu – Member

viii. Ag. DCG Gregory A. Itohoh

ix. Prof O. A. Moronkola – Member

x. The Registrar – Member/Secretary

xi. Kunle Solaja – Member

xii. Commodore Omatseye Nesiama- Member

xiii. Mr. Awogbade Ayorinde Gbadebo

Under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Solidarity programme, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) will organise a virtual Seminar for presidents and leaders of sports federations.

This will be based on Good Governance for the Presidents of National Sports Federations (NFs) in Abuja between June 9 and June 10.

The Secretary-General of the NOC, Babatunde Popoola emphasised that the objectives of the seminar are to enhance effective management and good governance of Sport Federations.

”It is also to create more integrated sport-specific systems, improve performance and utilisation of resources, as well as leverage or exploit available opportunities to reduce conflicts and reinforce greater harmony in the sports sector and also enable Sports Federations to function properly.”

A statement released by the NOC’s Public Relations officer, Tony Nezianya said the seminar would be rich in content and delivery as the programme, would be anchored by an International Expert, Dr Donald Rukare from Uganda. He has been appointed by the IOC to conduct the seminar.

According to the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Ahmed Gumel , the benefits of the seminar will be measured by how the Sports Federations use the knowledge gained from the seminar to effectively run their federations by adhering to the basic principles of good governance.

The key areas to be covered in the seminar are an introduction to Sports Architecture, Leadership and Sports, Key Governance Challenges, Sports Governance, Role of Presidents and Secretary Generals, Management of NOC/Sports federations, Identifying Types of Sports Disputes and Resolution forums for Sports Disputes.

Despite losing in the second round of men’s singles at the Durban 2023 WTTC, Quadri Aruna said that the memory of playing the tournament in Africa would remain with him for a very long time.

The highest ranked African player blamed his defeat to Spain’s Alvaro Robles on ill-luck while expressing optimism of his quick return to winning ways.

“I think from 0-0 I played much better, and it looked like it was going to end at 4-0 but my opponent started to play better and better until I lost the match in the final set,” he told NationSport.“ I think it was not meant to be because I did everything in this match.

“I am proud of myself though I lost the match; and sometimes it is not about winning only.

“ I played well and I believe it was not my day today (Tuesday) since I gave everything in this game and did not win it.

“For South African fans, thank you very much and I felt like I was in my town Lagos (Nigeria) and I hope I will come back soon,” he said.

Robles on the other hand, described his win over the Nigerian as a big win in his career especially at the WTTC.

“I was not receiving good service because it’s the first time I played in table one and my opponent was playing his game well,” the Spaniard said.“ Finally, after the first set I started quite well, changing a little bit of my position and trying to find a solution for his service. And it was becoming my game.

“ Aruna is a world champion and we are friends, we share the same brand and sponsor and he is really a champion and I feel really happy to beat him,” he added.

The former Super Eagles coach chief Adegboye Onigbinde, has praised the late wife of Nigeria’s most celebrated soccer player in the history of football in the country, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, Alhaja Mulikat Balogun as the family mark her 25th death anniversary today in Lagos.

Onigbinde, said in Ibadan that it was the late Alhaja Mulikat that motivated her late husband, to become one of Nigeria’s greatest soccer players ever.

Onigbinde, who is the first local coach to handle the country’s senior national team to the FIFA World Cup finals at Korea/Japan 2002 added that the late wife was instrumental to some of the feats recorded ‘Thunder’ Balogun recorded in his life time.

Onigbinde, said it’s on record that Madam Mulikat ensured he returned to Nigeria to continue his football career after he initially rejected the plea of then Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo before helping the West Rovers Fc win the then Challenge Cup, the biggest football competition in the country at the time.

The former FIFA and CAF Instructor disclosed that ‘Thunder’ Balogun’s return was at the height of

his career in the English Soccer League, playing for Queens Park Rangers Football Club in 1958.

According to him, it was ‘Thunder’ Balogun’s artistry that made the victory of West Rovers possible for the first time in their history, adding it was also Alhaja Mulikat that advised her husband to form a number of youth clubs in Lagos which helped the development of football in Nigeria.