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Tag: Fifa

  • After night always comes dawn: Ronaldo speaks after FIFA snub

    Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed FIFA event at the Teatro all Scala in Milan, Italy on Monday night, during which FIFA crowned Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the best player for 2019.

    The striker later uploaded on Instagram a photograph that shows him and his son engrossed with some reading.

    Along with the photograph came a motivational message in Portuguese, directed to his 184 million fans and most probably FIFA.

    “Patience and persistence are two characteristics that differentiate the professional from the amateur. Everything that is big today has started small.

    “You can’t do everything, but do everything you can to make your dreams come true. And keep in mind that after night always comes dawn. LR”.

    The message already attracted 4.5million likes by midnight, with some fans telling Ronaldo: ‘You are champ, “you are the greatest of all time”.

  • BREAKING: Messi wins Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award

    BREAKING: Messi wins Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award

    Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been named The Best FIFA Men’s Player at this year’s award ceremony,

    Messi, who won the Spanish La Liga title with Barcelona last season as well as the European golden boot having scored 54 goals in 58 games in all competitions, last won the award in 2015.

    He did not, however, enjoy success with the national team, losing in the Copa America semi-finals to rivals Brazil.

    His win is somewhat of a surprise with Van Dijk, a centre back who transformed Liverpool’s defence on the way to the Champions League crown, having won the European best player award.

    Messi’s win at the La Scala Opera house in Milan also marks a return to the dominance of the Argentine and Ronaldo, who between them have won the award all but once since 2007.

    U.S. co-captain Megan Rapinoe won the women’s top award after helping her country to the World Cup title this year in a tournament considered to be a milestone in the development and expansion of women’s football internationally.

    “I’m at a loss for words,” she said. “This was an incredible year for women’s football, for those who just noticed you are a bit late to the party. It truly was incredible, to be part of the World Cup, the enthusiasm we had was amazing.”

    Rapinoe, a strong off-the-field activist who also refused a potential visit the White House when the U.S. were on track to retain their world title, said players should use their success to help others.

    “I ask everyone here, lend your platform to other people, share your success. We have a unique opportunity to use this game to actually change the world for better. I hope you take that to heart, do something, we have incredible power in this room.”

    She beat fellow co-captain Alex Morgan and England’s Lucy Bronze.

    Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp was voted men’s coach of the year while U.S. national team coach Jill Ellis took home the best women’s coach trophy.

  • Samson Siasia appeals FIFA’s life ban

    Former Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia said on Thursday he had lodged an appeal against his life ban from the game by world football governing body, FIFA.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Siasia was banned for life from the game, following a match-fixing probe by FIFA.

    Siasia, who spoke to NAN in Abuja through his associate, Opukiri Jones-Ere, said his lawyers had submitted an appeal against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

    “Siasia has submitted his statement of appeal to CAS in Switzerland, asking the court to stop FIFA’s decision until his appeal is heard.

    “He has galvanised all resources and the deserved courage to clear his name and unchain himself from the FIFA ban which hit him unexpectedly last month.

    “He has also vowed to go to the end of his life to show that he is innocent,” Jones-Ere said.

    On Aug. 16, FIFA said in a statement that the adjudicatory chamber of its independent ethics committee found the 51-year-old Siasia guilty.

    He was “guilty of having accepted that he will receive bribes in relation to manipulation of matches in violation of FIFA Code of Ethics.”

    Siasia played 51 times as a striker for the Nigerian national team and later coached various national youth sides before his first spell as senior coach in 2010.

    His case is the latest to emerge from FIFA’s long-running investigation into the activities of Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal, whom FIFA has called a “known match fixer”.

    Perumal has admitted such activity in several interviews.

    FIFA said Siasia was banned for life “from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international levels.”

    Siasia was also fined CHF 50,000 (41,997.1 pounds).

    The former Nigerian international was appointed Super Eagles head coach from 2010 to October, 2011 and was reappointed in 2016.

    FIFA had in 1989 banned Nigeria for two years from age-grade football competitions over discrepancies discovered in the ages provided by the duo of Siasia and Dahiru Sadi.

    The ages were provided while registering both players for the 1985 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in the then Soviet Union and the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

  • FIFA announces final three-man for Men’s Player of the Year

    FIFA, on Monday, announced their final three-man shortlist for the Men’s Player of the Year award.

    They are: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Portugal), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands) and Lionel Messi, (Barcelona, Argentina).

    FIFA made the announcements via their official website.

    One of the three will be named FIFA Men’s Player of the Year (2019).

    The winner of the award will be selected by a panel of experts chosen by FIFA, comprised of former goalkeepers and strikers.

    Others included are: Frenkie De Jong (Ajax/Barcelona), Matthijs De Ligt (Ajax/Juventus), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Sadio Mane (Liverpool) and Mohammed Salah (Liverpool).

    Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric, who is the current holder of the award, has been left out.

    Messi and Ronaldo have shared the prize five times apiece over the past decade.

  • FIFA bans Liberia’s Bility for 10 years

    FIFA has given Liberian official, Musa Bility, a 10-year ban from football for financial offences, the sport’s world governing body said on Wednesday.
    Bility, a member of the African Confederation (CAF) executive committee and former president of the Liberian federation (LFA), was found guilty of misappropriating FIFA’s funds, according to the organisation.
    An investigation opened after an audit of LFA accounts revealed various payments made and received from entities owned by Bility or his family, said FIFA.
    Bility was also fined 500,000 Swiss francs (507,300 dollars).
    Earlier this week Bility had said he would contest FIFA’s decision to take oversight of the operational management of CAF from Aug. 1 to Jan. 31, 2020.

  • FIFA’s African football takeover plan set for court challenge

    FIFA’s plan to take over the running of African football is set to face a possible roadblock, with an executive committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) saying he will challenge the decision in court.
    Hasan Bility, who is from Liberia and a CAF executive committee member for last two years, said he will ask the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport to declare invalid the agreement by which FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura will be sent on a secondment to overhaul the African governing body.
    Bility said he also wants to ask the court to compel CAF to start a forensic audit of its finances, which he said the executive committee had previously agreed to, but CAF president Ahmad Ahmad then stalled.
    CAF is in crisis following corruption allegations against Ahmad which he has denied.
    Ahmad was reported in March to FIFA’s ethics committee for alleged corruption and harassment by CAF general secretary Amr Fahmy. Fahmy was then fired.
    He was detained in June by French police in Paris where he was questioned over a sportswear deal between CAF and a French company, in which the African body is said to have paid exorbitant prices for equipment it could have got much cheaper directly from the manufacturers.
    In a statement released to the media on Monday, former Liberian Football Association president Bility said Ahmad must resign and the proposed FIFA takeover be cancelled.
    “In an attempt to salvage CAF from imminent implosion and irreversible reputational damage, FIFA proposed a poorly conceptualised and worse executed agreement,” Bility said.
    “Logically, and in a sane world, the acquiescence by the CAF leadership that they have been unable to manage their own affairs ought to have been followed by quick resignation of its top leaders.
    “It is clear to me and many others that the agreement as currently structured has the sole purpose of shielding and cleansing CAF President Ahmad from the crimes he has committed – financial impropriety, sexual harassment and nepotism.”
    FIFA has confirmed there is an ethics investigation into Ahmad, although he was yet to be sanctioned.
    Ahmad has not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment on the specific allegations against him.
    Bility also claimed FIFA President Gianni Infantino has seized on the opportunity to get rid of his secretary general.
    “Infantino has thus seized this opportunity to offer Fatma a ‘golden parachute’ into a confederation job to pave the way for her eventual replacement at the helm of FIFA,” he said.
    FIFA on Monday told Reuters it had no further comment to add to last week’s release of an 11-point road map to help African football.
    Infantino claimed last week that the unprecedented move to step in and administer African football would “significantly improve” the sport in the continent.

  • FIFA introduces stricter punishment for racist behaviour

    FIFA introduces stricter punishment for racist behaviour

    FIFA is doubling its minimum ban for racist incidents to 10 games and will allow players to make victim statements and participate in the proceedings, the governing body said on Thursday.
    Stricter punishments against racism and other discriminatory behaviour was a key part of FIFA’s updated disciplinary code which takes effect from Monday.
    “FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee may permit the victim to make a statement, allowing the latter to participate in the proceedings. FIFA will not let down victims of racist abuse,” the body said in a statement.
    The changes follow on from several high-profile incidents last season in domestic and international football.
    Inter Milan were ordered to play two home games behind closed doors after their supporters racially insulted Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
    Koulibaly, who received a red card for showing dissent, was banned for two matches, sparking criticism that the victim was being punished.
    Montenegro were also ordered by European governing body UEFA to play a home game behind closed doors.
    This was part of sanctions handed out for the racist behaviour of their supporters during a match against England.
    The updated FIFA code expands the scope of what is considered discriminatory behaviour to anything related to “race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability,
    sexual orientation, language, religion, political opinion, wealth, birth or any other status or any other reason”.
    A match will be forfeited by the team if their supporters are found to be guilty of racist and other discriminatory behaviour.
    “For a first offence, playing a match with a limited number of spectators and a fine of at least 20,000 Swiss Francs ($20,220) shall be imposed on the association or club concerned,” FIFA said.
    “Unless there are exceptional circumstances, if a match is abandoned by the referee because of racist and/or discriminatory conduct, the match shall be declared forfeited.”
    The match can be forfeited after the referee has applied a “three-step procedure” for such incidents.
    This includes requesting a public announcement to call for such behaviour to cease, suspending the match until it stops, and in critical scenarios, abandoning the match altogether.
    The updated code also includes the option of imposing transfer bans on clubs which default on debts in cases processed by FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
    Earlier this week, FIFA also launched a new global programme teaching member-associations and confederations to safeguard children from abuse.
    The new initiative, called FIFA Guardians, will allow members in reviewing their existing safeguarding measures through practical guidance and support materials.
    “FIFA has a duty and responsibility to ensure that those who play football can do so in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment,” FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said.
    “I am confident that the FIFA Guardians programme will help to mobilise action and guide our 211 member-associations around the world in reviewing and implementing their own safeguarding measures to keep children safe in football. FIFA believes this to be every child’s right.”

  • BREAKING: FIFA pledges 32-team Women's World Cup

    BREAKING: FIFA pledges 32-team Women's World Cup

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino has pledged to increase the size of the Women’s World Cup to 32 teams and double its prize money, and launch a women’s Club World Cup.

    After calling the current tournament “the best women’s World Cup ever”, Infantino set out a five-point plan to make sure football “seizes this opportunity”.
    Bidding for the 2023 tournament – which has yet to be allocated and was set to contain 24 sides – may have to restart to accommodate the extra teams.
     

  • Blatter says he’s available over Qatar 2022 investigation

    Blatter says he’s available over Qatar 2022 investigation

    Disgraced former FIFA president Joseph Blatter says he is available as a witness should French authorities wish to interview him over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
    “I am prepared to help to clarify all these situations” the 83-year-old Swiss said on Thursday. “I heard that they will like to speak with me.”
    Former UEFA chief Michel Platini, like Blatter suspended from football in 2015 and then banned, was recently detained by French police and questioned over the 2010 award to Qatar.
    Blatter’s 17-year reign as FIFA president ended when he was suspended for making a disloyal payment of two million Swiss francs (2 million dollars) to Platini in 2011.
    Both men have denied wrong-doing.
    Several investigations are still ongoing around Blatter but he insists on his innocence.
    “It’s four years, and nothing has happened, this case should be settled, because it’s a non-case,” he said.
    The background to the Platini questioning was a dinner he attended in the Elysee Palace shortly before the 2022 World Cup award.
    Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Tamim bin Hamad, the then crown prince and now Emir of Qatar were also present.
    Along with Platini, French police also questioned Sophie Dion, a former sports advisor to Sarkozy, and Claude Gueant, formerly an Elysee general secretary.
    Blatter also revealed he was taking legal action against world governing body FIFA in a bid to recover 60 watches he claimed were his.
    A FIFA spokesperson however dismissed Blatter’s defence as irrelevant.
    “Blatter is of course entitled to his opinions but … these opinions and allegations come from a person who was banned from football for six years for engaging in unethical behaviour.”

  • Corruption Scandal: FIFA takes over running of CAF

    Corruption Scandal: FIFA takes over running of CAF

    A drastic and dramatic overhaul of African football is expected to be announced on Thursday, the eve of the kickoff of the African Cup of Nations, in the wake of corruption scandals consuming the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

    The CAF executive committee took a stunning decision on Wednesday to cede control of the running of the organisation and have FIFA general secretary, Fatma Samoura parachuted in as “FIFA High Commissioner for Africa”, according to sources.

    No announcement has been made by African football’s governing body but CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad is scheduled to hold a press conference in Cairo on Thursday at 0900 GMT.

    Ahmad, who is the subject of an ethics investigation by FIFA after allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct, proposed the idea in a document shared with colleagues on the executive committee, the sources said.

    Samoura is to lead a FIFA team that will conduct “a root-and-branch review of governance of the confederation, oversee operational management of the organisation, and recommend where needed a series of reform efforts,” the document read.

    “This will be done in order to put CAF itself on a modern and sound footing, improve its image and reputation and thus ensure that CAF is better equipped to face future challenges and to grasp future opportunities.”

    FIFA is to also undertake a forensic audit of the monies they have been giving CAF.

    The idea of sending Samoura to Africa is said to have been put together by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CAF vice president Amaju Pinnick in the wake of Ahmad’s brief detention by French police last week for questioning on corruption allegations.

    Ahmad, who is seeking to hold onto some semblance of power or even walk away from his post without sanction, had been forced to accept the deal and then propose it to his own colleagues, CAF sources told Reuters on Thursday.

    With FIFA seeking to improve football’s image, the Ahmad controversy has come as major embarrassment to Infantino, who has been claiming a new-look, clean and corruption-free FIFA.

    Ahmad, by virtue of his position as leader of African football, is automatically a FIFA vice president.

    African football has been rocked not only by the firing of CAF general secretary Amr Fahmy for whistle blowing, but also a walk off in the Champions League final and the alleged assault on a referee by another of CAF’s vice presidents.

    The Cup of Nations kicks off in Cairo on Friday when hosts Egypt take on Zimbabwe.