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Tag: Gianni Infantino

  • FIFA president cleared in ethics probe

    FIFA president cleared in ethics probe

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation into his expenses, recruitment and alleged sacking of whistleblowers.

    Infantino took charge of football’s world governing body in February after the disgraced Sepp Blatter resigned, the BBC reports.

    FIFA’s ethics committee found no “conflicts of interest” and no breaches of the organisation’s ethics code.

    “The benefits enjoyed by Mr. Infantino were not considered improper,” it said.

    Infantino said he was pleased with the decision, adding that he “would like to thank all those who co-operated with the ethics committee to ensure that the facts were heard and the truth prevailed.”

     

  • Saraki urges NFF factions to resolve crisis

    Saraki urges NFF factions to resolve crisis

    The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Monday appealed to warring factions in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sheathe their swords in the interest of football development in the country.

    Saraki gave the charge when the president of NFF, Amaju Pinnick, led the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, on a visit to the Senate in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    He urged the NFF executive members to seize the international recognition accorded Nigeria by the visit of FIFA leadership to put the crisis plaguing the federation behind them.

    “Apart from the major issue of reform and accountability, the key issue remains the development of our own football, and I think Africa, as you said, is the greatest place such can come from.

    “We are going to play our own role in creating the enabling environment. I am happy that other presidents of football associations from different African countries are here.

    “I think your visit clearly shows that you want to work with us in Africa. We must play our own role and that is why we must give all the support we can.

    “It gives me an opportunity to talk to members of NFF that we must solve our problems.

    “With this kind of world recognition we have today, the only thing we can do is to show example here in Nigeria how we think a football association should be run.

    “A lot of you professionals sometimes blame politicians that when we lose elections we don’t want to accept the outcome. But now, we politicians are now reformed,” he said.

  • Buhari backs FIFA anti-corruption drive

    Buhari backs FIFA anti-corruption drive

    … Infantino endorses Pinnick as NFF president

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday welcomed FIFA President, Gianni Infantino’s programme to reform the world game through transparency, anti-corruption and good governance.

    The President spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while receiving Infantino, and the FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samuora.

    Buhari congratulated the duo on their election, particularly Samuora, the first African and female to be elected FIFA Secretary-General.

    He pledged Nigeria’s support to the FIFA president’s reform agenda, noting that they were similar to those his presidency had outlined to resuscitate Nigeria.

    The President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that his administration will pay keen attention to accountability and transparency to fast-track football development in Nigeria.

    Buhari challenged football administrators to fashion out strategic programmes to develop the game in the country.

    He said: ‘‘Nigerians are married to football. In the rural areas, when there is no electricity and there is a game to watch, Nigerians go to the extent of renting small generators, popularly known as ‘I better-pass-my neighbour’ to watch the game.

    ‘‘We will take the development of football very seriously and I encourage the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to believe in itself and organise effective competitions for the good of the game.

    ‘‘Accountability is a serious business and I welcome you (Infantino) into the club of accountable Chief Executive Officers.”

    In his remarks, Infantino asked the Nigerian authorities to pay attention to infrastructure and find a lasting solution to the problem of violence and insecurity at match venues.

    ‘‘I foresee Nigeria as bedrock for the development of the game in Africa. However, infrastructural stability and security are needed to make this happen, ’’ he said.

    The FIFA officials were accompanied by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, NFF president, Amaju Pinnick and the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Infantino maintained that there is no crisis in Nigerian football because the NFF president is already in place.

  • Update: Buhari meets FIFA president, Obasanjo in Aso Rock

    Update: Buhari meets FIFA president, Obasanjo in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met separately with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari first met with Obasanjo for over one hour before the arrival of Infantino.

    The FIFA president arrived the seat of power at about 1:50pm and was accompanied by FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura.

    The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, and the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, were also at the meeting.

    The FIFA officials will later on Monday watch a football exhibition at the National Stadium, Abuja.

  • Photos: Saraki receives FIFA President, Gianni Infantino

    Photos: Saraki receives FIFA President, Gianni Infantino

    FIFA Pressy
    L-R: Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and FIFA President, Gianni Infantino


     FIFA

    FIFA President, Gianni Infantino mets Saraki

  • FIFA president to visit Nigeria July 24

    FIFA president to visit Nigeria July 24

    … To meet Buhari, Ambode, others

    FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, will begin a two-day working visit to Nigeria on July 24.

    Infantino will be accompanied on the trip to Nigeria by FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura.

    The Swiss – Italian, who was elected FIFA president at an extraordinary general assembly held in Zurich on February 26, confirmed the trip at a meeting with NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, in Paris, France, on Sunday.

    “The FIFA president and Secretary General will arrive in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Sunday, 24th July on a two –day working visit to Nigeria,” africanFootball.com quoted Pinnick as saying on Monday.

    During the visit, the FIFA supremo will meet President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He will also hold meeting with some football federation chiefs from Africa in Abuja.

    Infantino and Samoura will attend an evening session with Corporate Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday and later meet the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The visiting FIFA officials will also watch the final of the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship.

     

  • FIFA President to visit Nigeria

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday announced that President of Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, will visit Nigeria in June.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by NFF’s Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said that the visit was a fall-out of NFF President, Amaju Pinnick’s recent meeting with Infantino in Mexico.

    The statement said that during the visit, the FIFA president would visit President Muhammadu Buhari and also attend the final of the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship.

    “He will also have an evening with Corporate Nigeria and as well as have an interactive session with a horde of African FA Presidents who will also be in Nigeria to receive him,’’ it said.

    It added that Infantino believed that Nigeria was a big country and a massive football-playing nation that should help with “the new FIFA leadership’s drive to truly develop the game’’.

    “He is excited about our various capacity–building and youth development programs and that is why he is coming to watch the NFF/ZENITH Bank Championship finals,’’ NFF said.

    Infantino assumed office as head of world’s football governing body after winning election at an extraordinary general congress in Zurich on Feb. 26, 2016. (NAN)

  • FIFA president to visit Nigeria

    FIFA president to visit Nigeria

    New FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has told the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, about his intention to visit the country very soon.

    Infantino held talks with Pinnick at the ongoing FIFA congress in Mexico on Friday.

    The Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, disclosed this during a television programme on Friday.

    Dikko said the FIFA supremo is happy with the development of soccer in Nigeria and most especially the partnership with La Liga.

    “I want to let Nigerians know that the NFF president had a chat with Infantino during the ongoing FIFA Congress in Mexico and he praised the development of football in Nigeria and also commended the federation for attracting the La Liga to partner with our league,” Goal quoted the LMC chairman as saying during the TV programme.

    “The FIFA president immediately told the NFF boss that he would like to come to Nigeria so that he can also see areas in which he could be of assistance to Nigerian football. He said he would come very soon.”

  • 2018 World cup: Infantino visit Russia

    2018 World cup: Infantino visit Russia

    FIFA’s new President, Gianni Infantino, toured Moscow’s reconstructed Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday during his first visit to the 2018 World Cup host since he became president two months ago.

     

    According to a statement on FIFA’s website, Luzhniki, one of 12 arenas around Russia that would host World Cup matches, is being remodelled to have 81,000 seats and is set to host the tournament’s opening and final match.

     

    Accompanied by the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, Infantino commended the reconstruction work taking place at the stadium and described the venue as the right choice for the world’s most important events in football.

     

    Report says Russia is spending an estimated 10 billion Euros (11 billion dollars) on hosting the World Cup.

     

    Infantino is also set to travel to the 2022 World Cup host, Qatar, on Wednesday.

  • FIFA must get World Cup bidding right – Infantino

    FIFA must get World Cup bidding right – Infantino

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said it is the responsibility of the governing body to ensure the bidding process for future World Cups is “bullet-proof.”

    The hosting rights for the 2018 and 2022 events given to Russia and Qatar have been tainted by allegations of corruption.

    Infantino, who was elected FIFA boss last month, wants to begin the bidding process for the 2026 World Cup within three months.

    “We have to get the 2026 bidding process absolutely right,” Infantino told the BBC.

    “It’s certainly the commitment that I want to give, that I will do everything I can to make sure that this happens because I think that the credibility of FIFA is, as well, at stake here.

    “We need to make sure that we do everything we possibly can, not only to prevent strange things to happen around bidding processes but also to prevent the perception that strange things could happen.

    “We need to make sure that bidding process that we put in place is absolutely bullet-proof.”

    Every World Cup bidding process since 1998 has been the subject of allegations of corruption and bribery.

    The bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments is the subject of an ongoing Swiss criminal investigation, while there is also a United States inquiry following the arrest and indictment of several top FIFA executives by the U.S Department of Justice on corruption charges.