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LA LIGA AND SPAIN FA AT LOGGERHEADS

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If the La Liga season is cut short or abandoned because of the coronavirus pandemic, the top four teams in the current standings will qualify for next season’s Champions League, the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) has said.

With all teams having played 27 rounds before play was halted on March 12 due to the outbreak, leaders and defending champions Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad will be the four clubs that will go through to Europe’s premier club competition if no more action is possible this season.

“The RFEF wants to have done its homework in case, in the event of a suspension of competitions, it receives the request from UEFAregarding the Spanish clubs that would have access to European competitions next season,” general secretary Andreu Camps said in a statement on Thursday night.

“Thus… it has been agreed in the RFEF delegate commission to make a plan in order to give certainty in an extreme scenario, such as not being able to finish the competitions, so that all the clubs know the new scenario they are facing.”

After the last round of games ended, Barcelona topped La Liga with 58 points, two ahead of rivals Madrid.

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Sevilla are third on 47, with Real Sociedad, who have not played in the Champions League since the 2013-14 campaign, a point further back in fourth.

The teams in fifth and sixth place – which are Getafe (46) and Atletico Madrid (45) – will qualify for the Europa League.

The result of the King’s Cup final, if that is contested, could have an impact on the team grabbing the final Europa League spot.

With finalists Sociedad already in the top four, their opponents Athletic Bilbao (10th) are in pole position for the third Europa League spot should the league not resume.

The suspended final had been set for today and would have been the first Cup final featuring the country’s two biggest Basque teams.

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The RFEF’s decision remains a proposal that has not been approved by La Liga. League president Javier Tebas said in response: “Nulling and voiding the season is not an option on the table.

“We’re reviewing multiple scenarios, such as what happens if we play behind closed doors… and what happens if games aren’t played.

“We have to look at all possibilities, but we’re not working towards a situation where we don’t complete the season.”

Other clubs that stand to lose out the most have also voiced their unhappiness with the unilateral plan.

Atletico, who eliminated title-holders Liverpool to reach the last eight of the Champions League this term, told Spanish media such a scenario “would be unfair to them”.

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It could force the club into selling at least one of their key assets such as the highly sought-after Saul Niguez, given that participation in the Champions League represents 15 per cent of the club’s budget.

Valencia, who are in seventh spot on 42 points, and Getafe also told Spanish daily Marca they were equally outraged.

But Sergio Busquets feels a premature conclusion may be something clubs have to come to terms with – as unpalatable as it might be.

“It’s going to be difficult to resume,” the Barca midfielder told local radio stations Onda Cero and Cope. “I don’t think it can be done. It’s going to be difficult to resume because of the travelling, getting everyone together.”

AFP, Reuters

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Governing Bodies

Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.

Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.  

 The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.

It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May  1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.

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 Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.  It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.

The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.

In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.

This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.

 They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.

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The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).

The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open. 

Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.

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Governing Bodies

Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports

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Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.

  The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the “failure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sport’s sector.”

  He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered  a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that  participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the country’s sports minister.

 According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.

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“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.

“By declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.

“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”

Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.

 The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as  the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.

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  “The FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.” 

RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul

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Governing Bodies

CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of  ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball

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The Confédération African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederation’s official match balls produced by Puma which has also unveiled a special edition for the Super Cup duel holding on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

According to CAF, OLA, symbolizing the dynamic and energetic nature of African football, means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba and “rise” and “success” in Arabic.

The OLA ball stands out with its vibrant design and cultural significance. “OLA” 

The ball is a mix of black and gold, representing power and sophistication. The ball will be the centrepiece of the eagerly-awaited match between the two giants of African football.

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