Governing Bodies
DOUBTS OVER GUARDIOLA’S FUTURE IN MAN CITY
Pep Guardiola faces a huge test of his loyalty to Manchester City after his club were hit with a stunning two-year from UEFA competitions on Friday (Feb 14).
City have been banned from the Champions League and Europa League for the next two seasons and fined €30 million (S$45 million) after Uefa found them guilty of committing “serious breaches” of financial regulations.
The Premier League champions overstated sponsorship revenue in accounts submitted between 2012 and 2016, according to European football’s governing body.
Uefa also said City failed to cooperate with an investigation into the matter launched by its Club Financial Control Body.
The shock punishment will cost City an estimated £170 million (S$300 million) in lost Champions League revenue and the club reacted furiously, immediately vowing to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“Manchester City is disappointed but not surprised by today’s announcement by the Uefa Adjudicatory Chamber,” a statement read.
“The club has always anticipated the ultimate need to seek out an independent body and process to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence in support of its position.”
But, while City urgently plan their appeal, the football world waits to see how Guardiola reacts to a punishment that could convince the Spaniard to quit the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.
Guardiola reportedly has a break clause in his contract which means he can depart at the conclusion of this campaign should certain stipulations be met that satisfy the City hierarchy.
City officials were said to be confident that, despite an underwhelming season which has seen them fall 22 points behind runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool, Guardiola would honour a contract that currently ties him to the club until 2021.
But staying with City now European football could be off limits is likely to be a rather more unappetising prospect for Guardiola.
Whether the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss wants to stick it out at City will show how much he has grown to love the club since arriving in 2016.
Guardiola is close to City directors Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, who worked with him at Barca, but his ties to City’s Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour might be frayed if there is no escape from the embarrassing ban.
Leading City to a pair of Premier League titles in record-breaking fashion and winning a domestic treble last term underlined Guardiola’s enduring qualities.
However, he has failed to get past the quarter-finals of the Champions League with City and another daunting test lies in wait in the last 16 when they face Real Madrid later in February.
DOOMSDAY SCENARIO
The most recent of Guardiola’s two Champions League titles as a manager came way back in 2011 with Barca and his failure to add to that tally is the one blemish on his otherwise glittering CV.
The critics who crow that he can only win Europe’s elite club prize with a genius like Barca’s Lionel Messi in his team have nagged at Guardiola for years.
So the prospect of wasting two seasons waiting to return to the pursuit of his holy grail could be too much for Guardiola to bear, especially as rampant Liverpool look capable of keeping the Premier League crown out of City’s grasp for years to come.
Asked about the potential for a European ban in December 2018, Guardiola had been optimistic, but that trust proved misplaced.
“We will not be banned. I trust in them (the owners),” he said at the time. “If it happens, because Uefa decide that, we will accept it and move forward.”
Everything has changed now and reports immediately after news of the ban broke claimed the 49-year-old would consider his future unless City win the appeal.
Guardiola is already 7/4 with bookmakers to not be in charge of City before the start of the next Premier League season.
In a doomsday scenario for City, it might not only be Guardiola who could be weighing up his options if the ban is upheld.
Mansour may feel the damage to his reputation and to City’s status is too much to take and could put the club up for sale.
City stars including Raheem Sterling, Kevin Be Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte are unlikely to be impressed at being hauled off the Champions League stage through no fault of their own.
They may consider demanding transfers, adding another factor that could push Guardiola towards the exit door.
AFP
Governing Bodies
CAF President to Address Kenya 2027 AFCON Concerns, Senegal Trophy Row, Future Hosts and New Secretary General
By Kunle Solaja
The President of the Confederation of African Football is set for a potentially far-reaching press conference on Sunday evening, with four key issues expected to dominate discussions and shape the immediate future of African football.
At the top of the agenda will be the announcement of Nigeria’s Samson Adamu as the acting general secretary of CAF. He will thus be the highest-ranking Nigerian football official.
The next may be the growing concerns over Kenya’s readiness to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the controversy surrounding Senegal’s continued public display of the AFCON trophy, and the anticipated announcement of hosts for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the tournament.
The briefing is widely viewed as a critical moment for CAF’s leadership, coming at a time when governance, credibility and long-term planning are under intense scrutiny.
Particular attention is expected to be paid to Kenya, one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON alongside Uganda and Tanzania. CAF is believed to have raised red flags over the pace of infrastructure development in the country, especially regarding stadium upgrades, training facilities and transport networks.
Recent inspection findings have reportedly pointed to gaps that could jeopardise project timelines if not urgently addressed. CAF may, therefore, outline stricter compliance benchmarks or timelines for Kenya to meet, with the possibility of sanctions or redistribution of hosting rights within the East African bloc if progress remains unsatisfactory.
The CAF President is likely to reaffirm the body’s commitment to delivering a world-class tournament while emphasising that hosting comes with non-negotiable standards.
Another sensitive issue expected to feature prominently is the situation involving Senegal, whose national team has continued to parade the AFCON trophy despite reports that they have been stripped of the title.
The development has sparked debate across the continent, raising questions about adherence to CAF’s disciplinary processes and the authority of its decisions. Observers say the episode risks setting an uneasy precedent if not decisively handled.
CAF is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the reported withdrawal of Senegal’s title, as well as outline any disciplinary or corrective measures deemed necessary.
Beyond the immediate controversies, attention will also turn to the future as CAF is expected to announce host nations for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Such decisions are typically strategic, reflecting CAF’s broader vision of expanding football development across different regions of the continent. Sunday’s announcement could, therefore, reshape the geographical rotation and long-term planning of Africa’s flagship competition.
In addition, the CAF President is anticipated to unveil Samson Adamu as the acting General Secretary, marking a key administrative transition within the organisation. The role is central to CAF’s day-to-day operations and policy implementation, making the appointment a significant indicator of the leadership’s direction in the coming years.
Sunday’s press conference is shaping up as more than a routine engagement with the media. It represents a defining moment for CAF as it seeks to assert authority, address contentious issues and chart a clear path forward.
Stakeholders across African football will be watching closely for firm decisions and clear messaging that could influence not only the organisation of upcoming tournaments but also the credibility and governance standards of the game on the continent.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria has recorded another major milestone in continental football administration with the appointment of Samson Adamu as Acting General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football.
Sports Village Square reports that Adamu, whose father, Dr Amos Adamu, was also a seasoned football administrator, has become the eighth person to hold the seat at the confederation, which clocked 69 on February 8 last year.
Top sources within CAF confirmed on Sunday that Adamu’s appointment takes immediate effect following the exit of Véron Mosengo-Omba, who stepped down from the position after mounting pressure and internal transition discussions.
Mosengo-Omba, a Congolese lawyer, had been appointed in March 2021, succeeding Abdelmounaim Bah, and brought with him experience from FIFA, where he served as Chief Member Associations Officer.
Adamu’s elevation is widely seen as a recognition of his growing influence and performance within CAF since joining the organisation in 2018 as Director of Competitions.
In that role, he replaced Mosengo-Omba and quickly established himself as a key figure in the organisation of major continental tournaments.
For Nigeria, his appointment represents a significant boost in representation at the highest administrative level of African football, reinforcing the country’s longstanding contribution to the development of the game on the continent.
Before his move to CAF, Adamu had built a strong reputation as an innovator in sports management, notably as the initiator and Chief Executive Officer of the internationally acclaimed Copa Lagos Futsal tournament, which attracted global attention and participation.
Since arriving at CAF, he has earned commendation for his efficiency and visibility, playing central roles in competition management and strategic coordination. His consistent performance reportedly made him a natural choice when discussions began over a replacement for Mosengo-Omba.
Although his current role is in an acting capacity, observers believe Adamu’s appointment could pave the way for a substantive position, depending on ongoing administrative decisions within CAF.
His emergence underscores Nigeria’s continued relevance not only on the pitch but also in the corridors of power in African football governance.
Past and Recent General Secretaries of CAF (in reverse chronological order):
- Samson Adamu (Nigeria): Appointed Acting General Secretary on March 29, 2026.
- Véron Mosengo-Omba (DR Congo/Switzerland): Served from March 2021 to March 2026.
- Abdelmounaim Bah (Morocco): Served as Acting General Secretary from March 2020 to March 2021.
- Mouad Hajji (Morocco): Served April 2019 to March 2020.
- Amr Fahmy (Egypt): Served from 2017 to 2019.
- Hicham El Amrani (Morocco): Served from 2010 to 2017.
- Mustapha Fahmy (Egypt): Served for nearly 30 years (starting in 1961).
- Youssef Mohamad (Sudan): Served as the first General Secretary upon CAF’s foundation in 1957.
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Governing Bodies
FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Congo officials over financial misconduct
FIFA’s ethics committee launched disciplinary proceedings against three senior Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) officials on Wednesday, including president Jean-Guy Mayolas, over allegations of financial misconduct.
Mayolas, his wife and his son were sentenced to life in prison earlier this month after a criminal court in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville, convicted them of embezzling $1.1 million in FIFA funds. Media reports said their whereabouts were not known , and they were tried in absentia.
FECOFOOT general secretary Wantete Badji and treasurer Raoul Kanda are also subject to the disciplinary proceedings, FIFA said. Badji and Kanda were sentenced to five years each in prison by the court in Brazzaville for related charges.
“These proceedings follow the receipt of information and documents during an audit,” FIFA said in a statement.
-Reuters
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