The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FIFA

  • Army Colonel Leads International Observers to Nigeria for NFF Elections

    The heat is in the air ahead of Thursday’s elections into the executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    As gathered on Monday, officials from world football –ruling body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be arriving Nigeria in a couple of days as international observers for the elections which will be held in Katsina State.

    A background check indicates that a-no-nonsense- Army Colonel, Sita Sangare with experiences in  military justice is part of the CAF delegations.

    Sangare who doubles as the  President of the Burkina Faso Football Federation has been described as an iron man in his home country because of his high esteemed reputation and integrity. 

    FIFA released names of two strict protocol officials that work directly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino that will lead its delegation to Nigeria for the poll.

    The observers are; Messrs Luca Piazza who is a senior official in the FIFA’s President’s office and Solomon Mudege – Senior Manager for Development Programmes (Africa).

    A check on the two delegates revealed that they are men of unquestionable characters.

    Already the city of Katsina town is already bubbling for the much –anticipated polls with the arrival on Monday of an advance team from the NFF Secretariat.

    The NFF Electoral Committee put in place by the NFF Congress at the 2017 Annual General Assembly in Jos, which is headed by Mr Muhammed Sani Katu, will conduct the polls.

    The committee has already cleared incumbent Amaju Pinnick, former Nigeria international and one –time NFF Secretary General Taiwo Ogunjobi, former NFF President Aminu Maigari and Chinedu Okoye to contest for the Presidency.

    Incumbent Seyi Akinwunmi will vie with Sunday Dele-Ajayi for the 1st Vice President’s position, while Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah will oppose incumbent Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the slot of Chairman of Chairmen.

    A total of 15 other persons will battle for the remaining eight available positions on the Executive Committee.

    All 44 Members of the Nigeria Football Federation Congress will cast their votes on Thursday. A number of the voters will arrive in Katsina on Tuesday. 

  • FIFA to regulate transfer fees, player loans

    A FIFA task force has proposed the use of an algorithm to calculate transfer fees as well as a luxury tax and a limit on the number of players who can be loaned in a report on possible reforms to the soccer transfer system.

    The report, which has been seen by Reuters, found multiple failings in the current system, saying among its many criticisms that it led to “various abuses at the expense of young players and the integrity of competitions”.

    It said that an inflated transfer market was driving “unsavoury practices which may lead to the exploitation of players”.

    In a section on the role of agents, the report added: “The transfer system appears to have turned into a speculative market.

    “This is not fair to the football clubs or grassroots which are the foundation of the professional sport.”

    FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said after being elected in 2016 that transfer system reform was one of his priorities and he has since voiced his concern at spiralling transfer fees.

    The report said that “mechanisms to achieve transparency and objectivity” in the calculation of transfer fees should be considered.

    It raised several ideas for putting the brakes on fees, including the use of an algorithm, or set of mathematical rules, to calculate the value of players.

    The task force, set up by Infantino in November, said the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory had already developed an algorithm to “estimate transfer values and probabilities in a scientific way.”

    Another idea it put forward was to impose a luxury tax on excessive transfer spending and use the money raised to create a solidarity fund.

    The report also recommended limiting the number of player loans a club could make in a season to between six and eight in and the same number out, with a maximum of three to or from the same club.

    It also said the loan system needed to have a clearly-defined purpose.

    The report said the current setup “sometimes prevents young players from fully developing their talent”, adding that one unnamed club had loaned out 146 players between 2011 and 2017.

    A limit on squad sizes was also proposed, the report saying that “the stockpiling and subsequent loaning of players, particularly young players, can be detrimental to their development due to the unsettling nature of being ‘on loan’.”

    Regarding agents, it proposed a cap on fees and an end to the practise where the same agent can act for both clubs and the player in a single transaction.

    It proposed the creation of a clearing house to process transfers, pay agents and redistribute training compensation, saying this would help prevent “fraudulent conduct and money laundering.”

  • FIFA to regulate transfer fees, player loans

    A FIFA task force has proposed the use of an algorithm to calculate transfer fees as well as a luxury tax and a limit on the number of players who can be loaned in a report on possible reforms to the soccer transfer system.

    The report, which has been seen by Reuters, found multiple failings in the current system, saying among its many criticisms that it led to “various abuses at the expense of young players and the integrity of competitions”.

    It said that an inflated transfer market was driving “unsavoury practices which may lead to the exploitation of players”.

    In a section on the role of agents, the report added: “The transfer system appears to have turned into a speculative market.

    “This is not fair to the football clubs or grassroots which are the foundation of the professional sport.”

    FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said after being elected in 2016 that transfer system reform was one of his priorities and he has since voiced his concern at spiralling transfer fees.

    The report said that “mechanisms to achieve transparency and objectivity” in the calculation of transfer fees should be considered.

    It raised several ideas for putting the brakes on fees, including the use of an algorithm, or set of mathematical rules, to calculate the value of players.

    The task force, set up by Infantino in November, said the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory had already developed an algorithm to “estimate transfer values and probabilities in a scientific way.”

    Another idea it put forward was to impose a luxury tax on excessive transfer spending and use the money raised to create a solidarity fund.

    The report also recommended limiting the number of player loans a club could make in a season to between six and eight in and the same number out, with a maximum of three to or from the same club.

    It also said the loan system needed to have a clearly-defined purpose.

    The report said the current setup “sometimes prevents young players from fully developing their talent”, adding that one unnamed club had loaned out 146 players between 2011 and 2017.

    A limit on squad sizes was also proposed, the report saying that “the stockpiling and subsequent loaning of players, particularly young players, can be detrimental to their development due to the unsettling nature of being ‘on loan’.”

    Regarding agents, it proposed a cap on fees and an end to the practise where the same agent can act for both clubs and the player in a single transaction.

    It proposed the creation of a clearing house to process transfers, pay agents and redistribute training compensation, saying this would help prevent “fraudulent conduct and money laundering.” (Reuters/NAN)

  • Coach Yusuf bags one-year ban, to pay $5,000 fine

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Committee on Ethics and Fair Play has banned Super Eagles’ Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf from all football–related activities for one year with immediate effect.

    The four-man committee’s decision was announced in a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications and made available to the News men on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Members of the committee were Malam Nuhu Ribadu (Chairman), Mainasara Illo, Rev. Justin Okoroji and Mr Joshua Onoja (Secretary).

    He also said that the coach had been directed to pay 5,000 US dollars as a fine to NFF within three months.

    According to him, this decision was sequel to a complaint forwarded by the NFF as well as the Coach’s defence against a documentary in which he was seen accepting 1,000 US dollars from an undercover reporter disguising as a player’s agent.

    Olajire said that the Ribadu-led Committee made the following submissions:

    “Established from the admission of Coach Yusuf and also found as a fact from the documentary and video evidence before it, that he accepted the cash gift of 1,000 US dollars offered by Tigers Player’s Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco.

    Read Also: Salisu Yusuf out of Seychelles tie

    “The Committee found as a fact that it was not an error of judgment on the part of Coach Yusuf but a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of 1,000 US dollars from the decoy player agent/undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, even though the evidence before the Committee did not establish that his conduct influenced the choice of the two players.

    “That the two Players could have made the team to 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco on the basis of their talent and performance.

    “That Coach Yusuf did not accept the offer of 15 per cent of the anticipated transfer fees of the said players, as there was no follow–up action on the promise.

    “That the act of the Coach, which was widely published on the British Broadcasting Corporation, has a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian Football, as he ought to have conducted himself more professionally in line with the Code of Conduct signed alongside his Contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as his conduct in public and in secret should be exemplary, since coaches are role models.

    “That the FIFA Code of Ethics, NFF Code of Ethics and FIFA Disciplinary Code, did not contemplate negligence or error of judgment as a defence to violation of any of the provisions as contained therein, as punitive measures must be adopted to serve as deterrent to other intending offenders, even though, that he is a first time offender.”

    Olajire also said that the Committee’s decision was as follows: “In accordance with Art. 22, FIFA Disciplinary Code, he is hereby banned for the period of one year, from partaking or involvement or participation in any football related activity, effective from the date of this decision.

    “He is also fined in the sum of 5,000 US dollars to be paid within three (3) months beginning from the date of this decision.”

    He noted that the ethics committee also ruled that an appeal against the decision can be made to the NFF Appeals Committee.

    The NFF’s spokesman quoted the committee as saying that it passed its verdict on the defendant based on Article 20, 21 (1) and 21 (3) of the NFF Code of Ethics.

    He explained that it also made reference to Article 10 and 11 of the FIFA Code of Ethics in arriving at its verdict.

  • FIFA: Nigerians Make 2018 World Cup Unforgettable

    About 50-day after the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been concluded, FIFA has reckoned that the Russia hosted mundial was a successful phenomena football fiesta.

    FIFA President, Gianni Infantino on Thursday wrote a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stating that the success of the 21st FIFA World Cup could not be distanced from Nigeria’s participation in the June-July mundial.

    Infantino acknowledged that the efforts of Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, as well as his assistants, the backroom staff, officials and fans participated graciously to make it an unforgettable ceremony.

    The letter reads; “I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to your National Team for participating in this 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup.

    “The 2018 FIFA World Cup was an unforgettable celebration of football and a major factor in this was the participation of the Super Eagles, their sixth FIFA World Cup appearance.

    “I personally was very happy and proud to be able to attend in your presence two of your National Team matches, against Croatia and Iceland.

    “Please pass on my compliments to all those who have contributed to this campaign, the players, the head coach Gernot Rohr but also the technical and medical team and, of course, the fans.

    “Such achievement is no doubt based on hard work, professionalism and attention to detail, as well as passion and love of the game. All this augurs well for a very promising future and will undoubtedly pave the way for future success.”

  • FIFA Referees for Premier Cool 5-Aside finals

    FIFA referees have been selected to officiate the finals of the Premier Cool 5-Aside Football tournament on Saturday in Lagos.

    Sixteen teams are jostling for a star prize of N3, 000,000 at the sports ground of Children’s International School, Lekki as the tournament gets underway.

    Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) have been the match officials after supervising the draws and medical screening of players as the game gets underway.

    Speaking after the draws, Brand and Activation manager, Busayo John, stated that the Premier Cool Turf Wars is an initiative borne out of “love for the game” and its social impact.

    “Football is a widely loved sport especially in Nigeria, it has the power in uniting millions of people and changing lives. This is no different from what we want to achieve with the Turf Wars 5-a-side football competition.

    “We want to reward the passion of our consumers, who still make time out of their work schedules to play and enjoy the game of football. This event is not just about the football, as we have created a cool atmosphere for relaxation, networking, good food, as well as music, to make it a worthwhile experience for everyone,” she said.

    The winning team will on September 1, get a cash prize of N3million, while the second and third runners-up will walk away with N1.5million and N750, 000 respectively at the Premier Cool Turf Wars is endorsed by the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA); the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF); and also proudly supported by SociaLiga, a sports entertainment company that aims to bring people together by creating an ambience where people can network and enjoy fun activities.

    Premier has been in Nigeria for over 30 years and recently relaunched the brand with new offerings and variants to provide consumers with the total personal care.

  • FIFA ban: Clark calls for Sports Minister’s sack

    Edwin Clark has called for sack of the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, for allegedly discrediting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for recognising Amaju-Pinnick-led Board of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

    The elder statesman Clark, who made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said reports of “disloyalty and parochial utterances’’ credited to Dalung in various media reports were embarrassing.

    According to Clark, for the minister to discredit the very patriotic and timely intervention of Osinbajo as Acting President, to recognise the Amaju Pinnick-led Board of the NFF is unacceptable.

    The elder statesman further said there was no sense in the minister of sports discrediting a laudable action that saved Nigeria from ban by the world football governing body FIFA.

    “This was an action taken by the Acting President at a very critical stage of our football history to avert FIFA’s ban on Nigeria.

    “Osibanjo restored to the global platform of honour, an action commended by all and sundry, locally and internationally.

    “If this action was not taken by the Acting President at the time he did, it will have been a disgrace and a setback for Nigerian football.

    “But here is Mr Dalung, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, who unfortunately, thinks and behaves differently.’’

    Clark said the action of the vice president called for commendation and not condemnation.

    “Instead of rejoicing and towing the line of the government under which he is serving, he has unfortunately showed total disrespect and disloyalty for the Acting President and the government in his open show of ignorance and incompetence.’’

    Clark quoted Dalung as saying, “as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who took oath of office to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will prefer to stand with the Rule of Law, instead of the opinion of men.

    “We are a constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers is the foundation of democratic experience.

    “Therefore, the Rule of Law is the only mechanism that guarantees liberty and freedom of citizens.

    “This administration is elected on the change mantra, meaning that impunity has no accommodation anywhere.

    “So, Nigerians must learn to believe and practice the doctrine of the Rule of Law. I believe we shall overcome this if we remain within the confines and dictates of the laws of our country.’’

    Clark noted that the decision taken by Osibanjo was well informed, adding that, he is a Prof. of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Lagos State.

    He stressed that Osibanjo had for decades, taken the oath of Office to defend the same Constitution and the Rule of Law.

    “I also swore to the same oath when I qualified as a lawyer 53 years ago. What is the minister talking about defending the constitution and obeying the rule of law?

    “After reading what the Honourable Minister says, one is left to wonder in whose interest he is serving, because it is obviously not in the interest of government and the Nigerian people.

    “He never showed any concern whether Nigeria was banned by FIFA or not, except his own interest.

    “For instance, the minister knows that Mr Chris Giwa had been banned for five years by FIFA, yet, he put him on the list of a 15-man delegation to FIFA in Switzerland.

    “Another clear case is when Mr President directed the Department of State Services (DSS), to flush out Mr Chris Giwa and his subordinates from the Glass House, Dalung was not only believed to have encouraged Giwa’s return.

    “He is reported to have facilitated the resurrection of the leadership feud within the NFF, which undermines the great successes of the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF on the nation’s towering football engagements,’’ he said.

    According to Clark, in the overall interest of the future of football, and for Nigeria to maintain its position as the largest country in Africa, the Ministry of Sports is not the place for the likes of Mr Dalung.

    He noted that given Nigeria’s present status, disloyalty, indiscipline, arrogance and mediocrity should not be condoned in any area of public service.

    “The legal profession which I have cherished and belong to investigate all my adult life cannot be ridiculed by certain persons who are bereft of character and honour required of public officers.

    “One should expect that the minister should strive to see how permanent peace will be restored to Nigerian Football administration, particularly now that he has set up a reconciliation committee.

    “He should not be personifying the disagreement within the NFF, but seek out of court settlement in Jos High Court, where the Supreme Court referred the matter to.

    “The Supreme Court did not give any definite judgment in favour of anybody and therefore, it was very improper of the minister to drag in the Supreme Court in his offensive statement.

    “It must be emphasised that, the unity of Nigeria is very paramount, and football is one of the contributory factors to this unity,’’ he said.

    Clark said “as an elder statesman of 91, an incurable football enthusiast, and having remained so since my youth, and my days as a student in England, I was a strong supporter of Manchester United, until I returned to Nigeria in 1965.

    “I continued to show my interest in football and other sporting activities from primary to secondary school levels when I was appointed Commissioner for Education in the old Midwest State.

    “Then, football and other sporting activities were domiciled in the Youth Directorate which was directly under my supervision as Commissioner for Education.

    “It was our policy then to develop football and other sporting activities and our footballers and athletes excelled in all competitions.

    “In order to develop sporting activities, therefore, the School of Physical Education was established at Afuze, now Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze in the then Owan Division, now Owan Local Government Area of Edo.

    “This is what I expected a Sports Minister who knows his onions to concentrate on.

  • FIFA to oversee Uruguayan Football Association’s activities

    World governing body FIFA has intervened to take control of football in Uruguay, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has said.

    The move is part of a bid to ensure free and fair elections could be held for the post of the Uruguayan football association’s president.

    In a letter to the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) on Tuesday, FIFA said it would take over the day-to-day running of the AUF.

    It also pledged to revise the association’s statutes and adjust them to comply with those of CONMEBOL and FIFA, and when that process was complete, hold an election for president.

    “The mandate of the regularisation committee will run until Feb. 28, 2019,” the letter, which was widely published in Uruguayan news media, said.

    “The regularisation committee will act as an electoral commission whose decision will be firm.’’

    Neither FIFA nor the AUF responded to Reuters’ requests for comment, but CONMEBOL said the intervention “was based on the lack of guarantees for the electoral process.”

    Read Also: FIFA dumps threat to ban Nigeria

    The intervention came after “diverse interest groups in Uruguayan football expressed their concern over the lack of an electoral system with clear rules,” Conmebol said in a statement.

    Incumbent AUF president Wilmar Valdez unexpectedly resigned in July and the ballot to succeed him was postponed pending questions about the eligibility of the remaining candidates.

    The lack of leadership means long-time coach Oscar Tabarez has not signed a new contract and his place has been filled temporarily by Under-20 coach Fabian Coito.

    Coito will lead the side for next month’s friendly match against Mexico in the U.S.

    With a population of only 3.5 million, Uruguay punches above its weight in global football, winning the World Cup in 1930 and 1950 and reaching the semi-finals in 2010.

  • Aborted FIFA Ban: Not yet Uhuru for Nigeria football

    Aborted ban of Nigeria announced Monday by world soccer ruling body FIFA, has been described as a temporary succor and a time bomb waiting to explode. 

    A cross section of soccer fans who bared their minds Tuesday on the issue on various platforms including live programs said the forced peace will not last insisting that finding a permanent solution to perennial war every world cup year at the Glass House should be the focus of all.

    An Auchi based fan who gave his name as Durojaiye, likened what is happening in the football house to what is happening in the political arena in the country, and challenged Nigerians not to fold their hands and watch as  selfish individuals hijack the nation and the little that make them happy.

    “I equate what is happening to our football today to what is happening in political arena.  We have seen that in spite of their promises and boasting both PDP and APC have failed to provide purposeful leadership so Nigerians should rise up in 2019 and look for a material outside these boastful parties to move the country forward.

    In the same vein the NFF election is in September, the two warring parties should be told in plain terms to take a walk so that we allow new people to contest elections. They don’t have monopoly of knowledge so they cannot be the only ones that can run football in a country of over 200 million,” he said.

    Another caller took the debate to the next level alleging that the brouhaha could be a gang up against the country for purely selfish reasons.  “How are we sure that both factions are not fighting in the morning and partnering at night like our politicians who throw stones in the morning and fraternize at night while the people suffer and even kill themselves on their behalf?” she queried and yet another alleged that the squabble is merely diversionary with a view to ensuring that no question is asked about the funds used for the World Cup. “For me this unending disagreement is deliberate and diversionary.

    We went to world cup after so much swag and noise; we raised a lot of funds from corporate bodies and got funds from FIFA. If the squabble continues nobody will have the time to ask for the account.  Nobody will say come and tell us how much you raised locally and how much you got from FIFA, what is the total money gathered and how much was expended?

    Nobody will ask for such records and that is what they want, very sad situation,” submitted a very angry caller from Abuja.

    FIFA in a letter confirming its decision to jettison the proposed ban added a last paragraph which indicates that it is still monitoring the situation in the country.

    “FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation in order to ensure that FIFA’s rules and regulations are fully adhered to” the letter added Monday.

    Like the fear expressed by the fans it is apparent that the make-shift peace will not last the distance especially with a release by the legal representatives of the Giwa faction H.S Ardzard and co faulting  a tweet by Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbanjo recognising the Amaju Pinnick board.

    The release emphasised that there is separation of powers between Executive and Judiciary adding that setting aside a ruling of the judiciary appears to indicate that “government is at war with itself”

    Former international Victor Ikpeba had earlier on Monday night football called for a change in the pattern of voting to elect the President of the Nigeria football Federation. 

    According to the former Borussia Dortmund ace dubbed ‘Prince of Monaco’ while he was playing for the French side between 1993 and 1999; the FA Chairmen in the country are very powerful adding that ex-internationals who should have roles to play in the process have been sidelined.

     

     

     

  • FIFA dumps threat to ban Nigeria

    • Warns to closely monitor NFF

    World football governing body, FIFA, has suspended its plan to ban Nigeria.

    FiFA made its decision known in a statement issued and also posted on its website on Monday.

    The statement written in three paragraphs reads;

    “Following the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council of 13 August 2018 concerning the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), FIFA received confirmations that the legitimate leadership of the NFF under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices.”

    However, FIFA also confirmed that it would continue to closely monitor the situation in order to ensure that FIFA’s rules and regulations are fully adhered to.

    Earlier in the day, the Federal Government has announced its recognition of the Amaju Pinnick -led executive as the authentic leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ).

    Laolu Akande, Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the announcement on his official Twitter handle.

    The tweet which was sent at 11.38 a.m., few minutes before the 12 p.m. deadline given by FIFA for the resolution of the leadership tussle in the Nigerian football governing body, said the government had already informed FIFA of the decision.

    “The FG has already conveyed to FIFA its firm position recognizing Amaju Pinnick-led NFF as the current & only NFF Exco.

    “Govt will also continue to work with all relevant stakeholders involved to resolve dispute in a timely manner. FG is upholding NFF treaty obligations to FIFA,’’ Akande tweeted.

    The World football governing body FIFA had said it would go on to suspend Nigeria from football activities if they failed to comply with its instructions by Monday at noon (CET).

    The leadership tussle in the glasshouse may have now been brought to and hand with this development it is however yet unknown if the two principal actors Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa will respect the status and possibly have sheathed their swords for the course of football administration growth moving forward