Man U Fan Kills Four Barca Fans

A Manchester United football fan in south-eastern Nigeria drove a minibus into a crowd of Barcelona supporters, killing four people, police say.

Ten other people were wounded in the incident in Ogbo town, after United lost Wednesday's European Champions League final 2-0 to the Spanish team.

A police spokeswoman told Reuters news agency: "The driver passed the crowd, then made a U-turn and ran into them." He is now in police custody. Both teams have a large fan base in Nigeria.

"The man confessed to doing it on purpose," police spokeswoman Rita Inoma Abbey told the BBC. "He now says he doesn't know why he did it, but it was an intentional act." Football fans across Africa closely follow the European leagues, which recruit some of the continent's best players. Earlier this month, a Kenyan Arsenal fan hanged himself after his team's defeat in Champions League semi-final second leg by Manchester United.

Nigeria League Club To Tunisian Side Before FIFA

By abdulgafar oladiemji

Nigeria premier league side Kaduna United FC is poised to charge, Tunisian Club side Etoile Du Sahel before football world governing body over the non payment of a fee agreed by both sides before the release of Charles Negedu to the Tunisian clubIn a press release issued by the clubs media officer Abdul tonga, Hon. Sabo Babayaro said the Tunisianshave been posting a non charlant attitude toward redeeming the agreed forty thousand dollars (40,000) fee,according to him, both side reached a gentleman agreement culminating to the release of all relevant transfer documents, base on a gentleman accord that the fees would be upset on a later date. In his words

“Charles Negedu has been sign by Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia since the beginning of their football season. And the transfer deal is 40,000 dollars, and since this player travel to Tunisia the club refused to pay us the money and when ever I called them on phone non among the management want to answer my called. Now their season is off, I want to forward the matter to NFF, than to FIFA so that they can pay us our money as their using the player in all their matches. “everybody knows that football is a business no duet about that, and we in Kaduna United we have a very big dream to take the club to their high level, and as you know football is a business that brings money and consumed money, we need money to foster our activities..

“Now is a time that every club will look some money in addition with want we received from the government, because football and sports in general is now a very big investment. The government and the Governor are ready to give us all the support we may need from them, with that I think is a very big challenge for us to look some avenues that we can get some income to the club” said Babayaro.

2010 presidential Task Force-Odegbami and Co Should Resign now

By Abdulgafar Oladiemji

The 2010 FIFA World Cup task force set up by the Federal government on which prominent Ex footballers namely Mathmatical Segun Udegbami ,John Fashanu and Ex Super Eagles Skipper Austin Jay Jay Okocha are on board with the mandate to motivate and mobilize forces towards ensuring Nigeria picks the sole ticket in its group at the expense of the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, Harambee Stars of Kenya and potential group spoilers Mozambique.

This so called Task force is a waste of human resource and a deceitful tactical swerve by state authorities, who are technically refraining from bluntly expressing its distrust and lost of faith in the Sani Lulu led NFF and the National sports commission in leading football crazy Nigerians to the promise land,or how best could one describe the idea that led to the formation of a committee comprising of strange bed fellows.

It is either the government does not trust its arm responsible for the national football team and the NFF, though fully aware of the provisions of FIFA statues on government interference through which its hands are tied from showing Lulu and his cohorts the exit route from the glass house, the Nigerian government would not have hesitated in sending the present NFF eggheads packing.

Nigerians have lost confidence in the Sani Lulu led glass house, theirs has been woeful results, lack of accountability, tribal sentiments and display of poor understanding on modern administration of the game. For the first time in years the Super eagles became Super chickens in the era of Sani Lulu, did Nigeria lost her place of pride in African female football circle, what more, in Sani lulu‘s era for the first time in the history of Nigeria football administration millions of naira in foreign currency got missing from God knows where, either in an office or a store at the National football secretariat, please ask NFF

To add salt to injury,Uncle sege,Jay jay and Fashanu who should be handed the mantle of leadership of Nigeria soccer have been selected to serve a committee that is irrelevant, inconsequential and only a big minus to their hard earned football status,they need have a rethink and resign from the committee, serving in the 2010 presidential committee would do them more harm than good, they would be better placed to serve Nigerian football, where given charge of the glass house but not in a committee made up of core politicians who know nothing next to what the game is all about, before you say jack the committee becomes another Eagle square where our politicians converge annually to do what they know how to do best.

Ask Rotimi Amaechi whats happening to Sharks football club of Port Harcourt,since he took over as the executive governor of River state, what has the present sports minister achieved in the world of Tennis, we are yet to see a Nigerian feature competitively in any of the renowned global Tennis open and today they have a presidential mandate to take Nigeria to South Africa 2010, when they could not deliver in their immediate constituency, somewhat this is football interference and not football involvement.Sani Lulu would never complain, neither would Amos Adamu who never hesitates in suing poor journalist to court for discharging their legitimate duty raise an eyebrow, you know why, you don’t bite the finger that feed you.

Stay tune

A word is enough for the wise.

Nigeria 2009- FIFA Name 6 Centers Axe 3

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji


The FIFA facility inspection team in Nigeria on completion of its last lap inspection tour of facilities on Thursday has unveiled Abuja,Calabar,Enugu,Ijebu Ode,Lagos and Kano as the approved six of the bidding 9 centers where matches would be played at the FIFA U-17 World Cup tagged Nigeria 2009.


Speaking to news in Lagos, head of the inspection team and FIFAU-17 committee, Mr. Jack Warner, berated Nigeria over its non compliance with hosting conditions laid down by the football world governing body, which mandates host countries to ensure the provision of FIFA graded facilities 12 months prior to kick off date.


Warner charged Nigeria to borrow a leaf from South Africa and Egypt who are host to two major FIFA competitions, World Cup 2010 and FIFA U-20 respectively, noting that both countries have lived up to expectations in the provision of FIFA facilities months before their slated kickoff date.

The North American football czar(CONCACAF)stated that, during their last inspection visit, Vice president Jonathan Goodluck assured his team that all would be set before the end of April, stating that to their dismay, of all the centers visited in May , Lagos and Abuja are the cities that could be said to have met the standard set by FIFA for the global cadet championship billed to kick off in October 2009.

He then task FIFA and CAF Executive member Dr Amos Adamu and President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani to mobilize the sports commissioners of Kano,Ogun,Enugu and Cross, alongside contractors handling renovations works in these centers to fashion out ways through which they could ensure speedy completion of work in their states.

The FIFA boss then directed that host cities whom are yet to meet up with FIFA standard have been accorded a 30 days grace to round up rehabilitation works on their facilities designated to host events during the U-17 World Cup.

Warri has been dropped by FIFA citing insecurity, while Bauchi and Kaduna lost in their bid to be named one of the hosting cities.

FIFA SATISFACTION A PLUS FOR KANO FOOTBALL-Kano FA Boss

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

Kano state FA boss Sherrif Ahlal has described the positive reaction from the Jack Warner led Nigeria 2009 FIFA inspection team to Kano, as a huge relief and sign of good things to come, considering the socio- political and economic benefits that would accrue to the state as one of the approved U-17 World Cup centers.


He made the remark in an exclusive interview at the state FA secretariat in Kano on Wednesday. Ahlal revealed that prior to the scheduled inspection visit by FIFA, football stakeholders in the state were gripped by anxiety over what might be the reaction from the football world governing body, owing to the non completion of ongoing rehabilitation works at designated facilities across the states, irrespective of the significant progress made in the upgrading of these facilities which are at an advance stage in tune with FIFA recommendations.


He added that a contrary reaction to the pass mark from the FIFA inspection team would have given birth to a retrogressive resultant consequence that will impede the growth of football in the state.

The Kano state football henchman said, the privilege of hosting a major FIFA football fiesta is a route to sociopolitical and economic advancement, he emphasized that with the new earned status of Kano as a sure berth judging by the remarks by Jack Warner, it would serve as a platform to sell Kano to the world as the home of Nigerian football, likewise its commerce industry and the hospitable nature of its people, couple with the opportunity to create new avenues for social, political and economic interaction amongst people of distinct backgrounds during tournament.

Commenting on the technical benefits, he said the renovation of football facilities in the state to FIFA grade is a plus for Kano club sides campaigning at various levels in the national league, noting that the facilities would be put to use toward grassroots soccer development projects

In his words” These facilities is going to be used by our clubs after the U-17 World Cup, this will expose our local players to standard facilities which will improve our standard of play and help our footballers to get exposed to world class facilities, even visiting clubs stand to benefit from the facility”

Ahlal, then called on fanatical football followers in the Pyramid city to maintain the culture of soccer tolerance and shun acts that would dent the state’s hard earned reputation as the centre of football in the country.
A FIFA inspection squad led to Kano by Jack Warner, applauded the level of work progress at the Sani Abacha stadium,Warner, however task the state government not

SCRAP TRANSFER WINDOW NOW

The Football League wants the transfer window scrapped domestically and a transfer ban on clubs that fall behind on their tax payments.Chairman Lord Mawhinney also wants to explore the possibility of a joint TV deal with the Premier League. The plans were outlined in a four-page letter from Mawhinney to Culture Secretary Andy Burnham. It was written in response to questions raised by the Government about football finances and the running of the game.

Burnham wrote to the Football Association, Premier League and Football League in October 2008, asking seven different questions. The Premier League delivered its response earlier this week, outlining plans for greater financial transparency over the running of football clubs including a strengthened fit and proper person's test. Mawhinney's letter was written following discussions with the Football League board and sent to Burnham on 18 May.

In it Mawhinney argues that since Fifa "remain implacably opposed" to altering the current transfer window system, Government help would be needed if it was to be altered to allow domestic transfers. But Mawhinney told the BBC: "We think the original idea was to regulate international player transfers. "We are proposing there should be a distinction between domestic and international transfers." When asked how likely he thought it would be that changes would be made to the transfer window, Mawhinney said: "I do not know the answer to that."Currently the transfer window is open from 1 July to 31 August and from 1 to 31 January.

The proposals regarding tax and National Insurance payments are aimed at improving the relationship with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. When a club is in administration it must pay in full its debts to its football creditors - a policy that is opposed by HMRC, which is no longer a preferential creditor and often has to settle for a greatly reduced offer.

Mawhinney said the Football League opposed scrapping its policy regarding football creditors. But he added: "We will propose at our Annual Meeting next month an initiative which seeks to provide clubs with an incentive to keep up to date with payments to HMRC. "If approved, clubs who fall behind will be embargoed from signing further players." A new Football League television deal starts next season, with 10 live Championship games per season on the BBC.

The new agreements are worth £88m per season to Football League clubs and encompass terrestrial and pay television, broadband internet, video-on-demand and mobile services. That deal runs until 2012, while the next Premier League deal starts in 2010 and ends in 2013, but Mawhinney is keen to explore the possibility of there being one deal in the future.

"It is not illogical to say is there a prospect of benefit to both if we turn it into one TV deal," Mawhinney told the BBC.

"The truth is we don't know the answer because we have never tried." Culture Secretary Burnham has called for more consistency in financial regulations, more transparency and scrutiny of club ownership and debt levels. He also wants rule changes for clubs in insolvency; a reconsideration of rules forcing insolvent clubs to pay football debts first and a strengthening of the fit and proper persons test for club owners.

Global Recession Rips Tennis 10 million Dollars

THE financial crisis has cost the Australian Open nearly $10 million in vital sponsorship after Garnier decided to abandon its deal with the grand slam tennis event.As the sponsorship market continues to tighten locally and internationally, Garnier, part of the L'Oreal Group, yesterday became the second major backer to pull out.The tournament's other associate sponsor, GE Money, recently decided against extending its three-year arrangement.

It announced in October that it was cutting 335 jobs, including 135 in Melbourne.A statement from Garnier said the beauty products company had recently advised Tennis Australia of its decision not to continue as a sponsor in 2010."Garnier has enjoyed its partnership with the tournament and has had five very successful years of involvement," the statement said.The Open's much smaller arrangement with MasterCard is also over, while a multi-faceted deal with Optus that extends to Australian national teams is under review.An Optus spokesman said:

"We have a long-standing relationship with Tennis Australia and we are still operating under our current contract, which concludes late 2009. We are in discussions and will provide more information following completion of the process.

"Tennis Australia declined to comment. The deals with Garnier, MasterCard and GE Money were among five up for renewal this year.The Australian Open's 2009 sponsorship portfolio was worth an estimated $35 million. It has been headed since 2001 by Korean car manufacturer Kia, which remains committed until at least 2013. Lacoste and Rolex both signed lucrative multi-year contracts last year.