Archive | October 8, 2015

Issa Hayatou is FIFA’s Acting President….

FIFA SG Jerome Valcke and FIFA LOC Chairman Issa Hayatou

Issa Hayatou has been appointed the acting president of FIFA. Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jerome Valcke were suspended for 90 days on Thursday as investigations into football’s governing body continue. Blatter, 79, is suspected of making a “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs – around £1.3million – to UEFA president Michel Platini which was “at the expense of FIFA.” All three are banned from all football activity but deny any wrongdoing. Issa Hayatou, who heads Africa’s football confederation (CAF) will act as president during Blatter’s ban.

Hayatou has said he will not be a candidate for the FIFA presidential election come February 2016 but can his interim presidency help usher in an African substantive FIFA president? We’ll see.

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Enyeama retires from Super Eagles….

Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has announced his retirement from international football. This is not unconnected with his recent row with Nigeria’s coach, Sunday Oliseh. Sad. We wish you well Enyeama. You had an international career you can look back and be proud of. #Respect!

Pacquaio may retire after next bout….

Manny Pacquiao

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao says he is likely to retire from the sport after one more fight next year. Pacquiao, who lost to Floyd Mayweather in his last fight, could face Britain’s Amir Khan or American Terence Crawford. Pacquiao said he “cannot say” whether his last fight would be a rematch against Mayweather, with the American having pledged to retire after his defeat of Andre Berto. The six-weight world champion wants to run for a seat in the Philippines senate in 2016, and told ANC: “I think I’m ready [to retire]. I’ve been in boxing for more than 20 years. If you are a senator, your focus should only be your job and your family.”

Breaking News: FIFA suspends Blatter, Platini and Valcke….

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter

FIFA has suspended president Sepp Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini and FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke. “The adjudicatory chamber of the ethics committee chaired by Hans‑Joachim Eckert has provisionally banned FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, UEFA President and FIFA Vice-President Michel Platini, and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke (who has already been put on leave by his employer FIFA) for a duration of 90 days,” said a FIFA statement. “The duration of the bans may be extended for an additional period not exceeding 45 days. “The former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-joon has been banned for six years and fined 100,000 (Swiss Francs). “During this time, the above individuals are banned from all football activities on a national and international level. The bans come into force immediately.”

Breakfast time for Super Eagles….

The Super Eagles are pictured having breakfast at their Belgium hotel this morning. They will be facing Congo today by 7pm. For those in Naija, I learnt AIT would be showing the match live. Super Sport might also be doing that. Enyeama looks crestfallen sha.

Dinamo player fails drug test….

Arijan Ademi

Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Arijan Ademi failed a drug test after their recent Champions League win over Arsenal, the club has announced. Ademi played the full 90 minutes during the Croatian side’s 2-1 victory in Zagreb last month. If the player’s B sample is also positive he could face a ban, but there are no rules to disqualify teams from the competition unless two or more players fail drug tests.