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Tag: Fifa

  • FIFPRO drags FIFA to court over jam-packed football schedule

    FIFPRO drags FIFA to court over jam-packed football schedule

    Footballers under the Players union International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) has taken legal actions against  world football’s governing body FIFA.

    Recall that In May, FIFA said they would not consider rescheduling their 32-team Club World Cup after global players’ union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association (WLA) threatened legal action if they did not review their plans.

    FIFPRO said England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and France’s players union (UNFP), both of which are members, submitted a legal claim with the Brussels court of commerce on Thursday.

    “FIFPRO Europe member unions have today submitted a legal claim against FIFA, challenging the legality of FIFA’s decisions to unilaterally set the International Match Calendar and, in particular, the decision to create and schedule the FIFA Club World Cup 2025,” FIFPRO said in a statement.

    “Player unions believe that these decisions violate the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights while also potentially violating EU competition law.”

    In May, FIFPRO and WLA had expressed their concern over the expanded competition in a letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom.

    The letter reads that  the global football calendar is “beyond saturation” and that national leagues are unable to properly organize their competitions, while players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks.

    In response, FIFA rejected their claims that it had made unilateral decisions to benefit its competitions in the international calendar.

  • 2023 AFCON top scorer Equatorial Guinea’s Nsue banned by FIFA for breach of contract

    2023 AFCON top scorer Equatorial Guinea’s Nsue banned by FIFA for breach of contract

    The Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA) has ruled that Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio shouldn’t have represented Equatorial Guinea because he was not eligible to do so in his 11-year international career

    Recall that Nsue won the Golden Boot as top goalscorer at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year with five goals in four appearances.

    In December 2013, FIFA ruled that Nsue was not eligible to play for Equatorial Guinea — following several appearances for Spain’s youth teams — but he continued to represent them regardless.

    FIFA opened a new investigation into Nsue’s eligibility in March with the 34-year-old given a six-day deadline to respond, but world football’s governing body said no response arrived.

    The World football body  published its judgement in a 15-page ruling on Monday, with Equatorial Guinea stripped of their World Cup 2026 qualification victories against Namibia and Liberia — which they both won 1-0 thanks to Nsue goals — with their opponents awarded a three-goal victory.

    FIFA has ruled that former Nsue has been banned from all international football for six months, while the Equatoguinean federation (Feguifut) was fined 150,000 Swiss francs ($164,000, £129,000).

    The FIFA disciplinary verdict is a repeat judgement of its ruling in 2013 when Nsue was deemed to be ineligible when Equatorial Guinea defaulted two World Cup 2014 qualification matches as 3-0 defeats due to his participation — the forward’s first two caps for the nation.

    Nsue played 26 competitive matches for Spain from Under-16 level through to Under-21 and featured in the Under-21 European Championship in 2011.

  • Golden Eaglets’ hopes of playing at the World Cup raised as FIFA increases Africa’s slot to 10

    Golden Eaglets’ hopes of playing at the World Cup raised as FIFA increases Africa’s slot to 10

    The hopes of the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria to feature at the next U-17 World Cup has been raised following the announcement from FIFA increasing Africa’s  slots from 4  to 10.

    Recall that the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria failed to reach the final of WAFU B, a competition meant to produce two representatives for the African U-17 championship holding in Algeria later in the year .

    By virtue of making it to the final of WAFU B, Burkina Faso and Cote D’Ivoire already bagged qualification to African U-17 championship.

    Initially, the African U-17 Championship  was meant to produce four African countries for the World Cup.

    However, rising from its congress few days ago, FIFA announced that 48 countries will participate in the next FIFA U17 World Cup in 2025 and increased the slots allocated to Africa from four to ten.

    Since the announcement, the Confederation of African Football has not stated the modalities for qualification after FIFA increased Africa’s slot to 10.

    FIFA’s increment to 10 slots means that Africa will be able to present six more countries for the World Cup and the hopes of Golden Eaglets and the Black stars of Ghana both countries  who initially crashed out of the qualification process have been raised.

    In all, 48 countries will participate at the next U-17 World Cup taking place in Qatar next year 2025.

     

  • FIFA’s hammer falls on Equatorial Guinea for fielding ineligible player

    FIFA’s hammer falls on Equatorial Guinea for fielding ineligible player

    The Fédération internationale de football association  FIFA Disciplinary Committee has wielded its big stick on Equatorial Guinean Football Association (FEGUIFUT) and the player Emilio Nsue López following the latter’s participation in several matches of the national team including 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

    FIFA banned FEGUIFUT for fielding Nsue in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition, despite being ineligible.

    After considering all elements brought before it, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee was comfortably satisfied that the player was ineligible and consequently decided to declare the matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition in which the player was fielded (namely Equatorial Guinea v. Namibia and Liberia v. Equatorial Guinea played on 15 November 2023 and 20 November 2023, respectively) lost by forfeit by Equatorial Guinea (by a score of 3-0).

    In addition, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed the following sanctions:

    a fine amounting to CHF 150,000 upon FEGUIFUT; and

    a six-month ban from playing for any representative team of any association upon the player Emilio Nsue López.

    The FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s findings were notified today to the parties concerned.

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: FIFA replaces officials of Benin Republic, Nigeria clash

    2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: FIFA replaces officials of Benin Republic, Nigeria clash

    World-governing body, FIFA has made changes to the officiating team of the 2026 World Cup qualifying match between Benin Republic and Nigeria which is scheduled for the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the Ivorian capital on Monday, 10th June 2024.

    The changes have sent packing Ethiopian official Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, who was originally designated as referee for the encounter scheduled to kick off at 4pm. In his place, Gabonese official Pierre Ghislain Atcho will now be the referee.

    Weyesa’s compatriots Temesgin Samuel Atango and Tigle Gizaw Belachew have been retained as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2 respectively. However, another Ethiopian, Tewodros Mitiku, earlier designated as fourth official, has been thrown out, replaced by Cameroonian Antoine Max Effa Essouma.

    The originally-designated referee assessor, match commissioner and security officer retain their places in the Day 4 encounter that comes up only three days after the Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in a Day 3 battle.

  • First-ever Women’s Club World Cup competition to hold in 2026 – FIFA

    First-ever Women’s Club World Cup competition to hold in 2026 – FIFA

     The first-ever Women’s Club World Cup competition  will take place across January and February 2026, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have announced.
    According to FIFA, the competition will be made up of 16 teams and will be contested every four years, falling during the period between the Women’s UEFA Champions League group stage and knockout rounds.
    It will also take place during the domestic campaigns in the European leagues and before the start of the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League that usually starts in March.
    However, FIFA are yet to release details regarding how clubs would qualify for the tournament and where the inaugural edition of the competition will be held.
    In the same vein,  a new international match calendar will run between 2026 and 2029 to give players more opportunities for recovery and cut the number of international breaks from six to five.
    “The Women’s International Match Calendar and the subsequent amendments to our regulations represent an important milestone in our pledge to take the women’s game to the next level by enhancing competitiveness across the world, particularly in those regions where women’s football is less developed and protecting the well-being of the players,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the 74th FIFA congress in Bangkok.
    “Having agreed the calendar well in advance will be beneficial for planning purposes”.
  • Paris 2024: Again, Nigerian officials snubbed as FIFA list 12 African referees for football event

    Paris 2024: Again, Nigerian officials snubbed as FIFA list 12 African referees for football event

    The match officials for the football events of the 2024 Olympic Games have been released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

    FIFA listed 12 match officials from Africa with Nigerian officials failing to make the list once again.

    The African referees for the tournament include Beida Dahane from Mauritania, Ismail Mahmood Ali from Sudan and Karboubi Bouchra from Morocco.

    Meanwhile, assistant referees from Africa include Ahmed Liban Abdoulrazack from Djibouti, Chikotesha Diana from Zambia, Jermouni Fatiha from Morocco, Noupue Elvis from Cameroon, Santos Jerson Emiliano Dos from Angola and Yiembe Stephen from Kenya.

    In the video match officials category, Ashour Mahmoud from Egypt and Benbraham Lahlou from Algeria will were selected.

    Additionally, Nabadda Shamirah from Uganda will provide support as part of the match officials.

  • Endeavour to change the narratives about Nigerian referees – Gusau advises FIFA referees

    Endeavour to change the narratives about Nigerian referees – Gusau advises FIFA referees

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) has charged Nigerian referees to make conscious, deliberate efforts to change the running narratives of sheer incompetence, flagrant disregard of the rules by some and blatant roguery by a few, through saying the truth to themselves and resolving to uphold their professional tenets while committing to decent conduct.

     

    Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja as 30 different referees were decorated with their FIFA badges to represent Nigeria this year, Gusau reiterated that a big sore point with the NFF and the Nigeria Football fraternity even as the Super Eagles excelled at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire (finishing second in the 24-nation championship) was the absence of any Nigerian arbiter of any cadre at the 30-day event.

     

    “The absence of any Nigerian referee of whatever cadre in Cote d’Ivoire remained ‘an elephant in the room’ for most of us that were in Cote d’Ivoire. It is a real shame that we didn’t even have an assistant referee. The CAF Head of Refereeing was quoted at some time saying Nigerian referees are good but they need only the best to handle matches at major tournaments. Are we happy about that?

     

    “I receive complaints/videos about poor officiating in our League matches almost every week, and always forward these to the Referees Committee to see that we still have some bad eggs amongst us. Some of the decisions I see are simply inexplicable. You must resolve here and now to change your ways and change the narratives about Nigerian referees at home and abroad.”

     

    Gusau disclosed that the Federation has opted to come up with stiffer sanctions for erring arbiters.

     

    “To whom much is given, much is expected. We ensured that the NPFL improved indemnities at the beginning of the season, and I have also instructed the General Secretary to start the process of procuring the necessary gadgets for our referees. But anyone caught disgracing the uniform, the refereeing body and by extension Nigeria football, will be thrown into a permanent cooler. We want to see you people officiating at top continental championships and we will not sit idly by while some incorrigible ones destroy all that vision.”

     

    Earlier, Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor admitted that the Gusau administration has been very excellent in responding to the demands of referees since coming into office, and promised that all that is necessary will be done to restore Nigerian refereeing to its pride of place in the continent.

     

    A total of 30 individuals were decorated, including seven men referees, seven men assistant referees, four women referees, four women assistant referees, four beach soccer referees and four futsal referees. One of the beach soccer referees, Jelili Ogunmuyiwa is presently on duty at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup ongoing in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates while Musa Dung Davou is on his way to the FIFA Futsal World Cup finals.

     

    At the occasion were NFF Board Member/FIFA Match Commissioner Babagana Kalli; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (MON); Congress members Idris Abdullahi Musa ‘Thuraya’ and Chikelue Iloenyosi; NFF Technical Director, Coach Austin Eguavoen; NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire and; President of NRA, Sani Zubairu.

     

    There were also NFF Referees Committee members Rabiu Umar (vice chairman), Oba James Odeniran, Abraham Zakowi, Calistus Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, Waziri Furo Gawe and Bello Abubakar, as well as fitness instructors Emmanuel Edekin Imiere and Victor Ojereme, and Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria National League, Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman.

  • FIFA referee’s first-quarter fitness test and badging hold in Abuja

    FIFA referee’s first-quarter fitness test and badging hold in Abuja

    The first-quarter FIFA fitness test for Nigerian international referees will take place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, 20th February 2024.

     

    Medical tests were conducted on the referees on Monday, 19th February 2024.

     

    Special Assistant to the NFF General Secretary and Coordinator of Refereeing Development in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Adebayo Ameenu said the 30 Nigerian referees listed for international duty this year will be decorated with their badges at a ceremony inside the NFF/FIFA Goal Project on Wednesday, 21st February 2024.

     

    The 30 individuals are made up of seven men referees, seven men assistant referees, four women referees, four women assistant referees, four beach soccer referees and four futsal referees. One of the beach soccer referees, Jelili Ogunmuyiwa is presently on duty at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup ongoing in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

     

    REFEREES (MEN)

    Ogabor Joseph

    Grema Mohammed

    Basheer Salihu

    Kassim Abdulsalam

    Abubakar Abdullahi

    Nurudeen Abubakar

    Patrick Egba

     

    ASSISTANT REFEREES (MEN)

    Igho Hope

    Samuel Pwadutakam

    Yakubu Mohammad

    Ahmed Tijjani

    Igudia Efosa Celestine

    Digbori Tejiri

    Usman Abdulmajeed Olaide

     

    REFEREES (WOMEN)

    Hannah Elaigwu

    Yemisi Akintoye

    Ndidi Madu

    Alaba Olufunmilayo

     

    ASSISTANT REFEREES (WOMEN)

    Akpan Friday Mfon

    Beauty Kabenda Terah

    Abibatu Yusuf

    Faith Agbons

     

    REFEREES (BEACH SOCCER)

    Ogunmuyiwa Jelili

    Fawole Olawale

    Olayinka Olajide

    Ahmed Rabiu

     

    REFEREES (FUTSAL)

    Musa Dung Davou

    Paul Umuago

    Ukah Ndubuisi

    Bello Zuru

  • Peseiro eyes No 1 spot for Super Eagles as FIFA releases latest ranking

    Peseiro eyes No 1 spot for Super Eagles as FIFA releases latest ranking

    Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up, Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by 14 spots to placed 28th in the world in the February FIFA ranking.

    With the latest FIFA ranking, Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has set his eyes for number one sport for the Nigerian football team in Africa.

    In a post shared via his official X account, Peseiro disclosed that his goal is to get the Super Eagles to the number spot in Africa.

    In the ranking table published on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, the team garnered 1,522 points as against the 1,474 points garnered in December 2023.

    The upward movement further shot up the Super Eagles as the third placed team on the continent, behind Morocco and Senegal who have 1663 (12th) and 1620 (17th) points.

    However, the newly-crowned African champions Cote d’Ivoire, reaped the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil by being in the 39th place having moved up by 10 spots.

    AFCON second runners- up, South Africa climbed 8 spots to 58th, with Egypt (36th), Cameroon (51st) & Ghana (67th) dropping down after their early AFCON 2023 exits.

    The Angolan side who were ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), are the biggest climbers in the latest installment of the global ranking.

    In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown.

    Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who were edged out in the final, made good ground, as did Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

    Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings.

    Senegal (17th, up 3), which suffered a shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON Round of 16, broke new ground.

    Tajikistan (99th, up 7) marked their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

    Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).