Governing Bodies
CAF SILENT AS FIFA, UEFA & FORMER US PRESIDENT BUSH, BACK GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS
While CAF which region is populated by Blacks has remained silent, FIFA, UEFA have both expressed their support for players who wish to protest against racism on the pitch.
This is coming even as former US President, George Bush wrote an open letter to President Donald Trump, castigating him for his stance in the anti-racism protest that is sweeping across, not just the US, but the entire world.
George Bush in his letter to Donald Trump, Called George Floyd’s death, and subsequent harassment a “shocking failure.”
“It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country,” continued the former president.
Bush then stated that the protests are “a strength” of America, before offering criticism of those opposing them.
“Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America,” said the president, “or how it becomes a better place.”
“America’s greatest challenge,” Bush continued, “has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity.
“The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals.”
The death of George Floyd in the United States has led to widescale protests and riots, and many players and their clubs have been keen to show they stand side-by-side with those taking a stand.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle were all among those teams to make a statement during training, with entire sides taking a knee – a form of protest made prevelant by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Other forms of protest have already been seen on the pitch in the Bundesliga, with England international Jadon Sancho revealing a T-shirt at the weekend under his Borussia Dortmund shirt, which read ‘Justice for George Floyd’.
Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, while under arrest in Minneapolis last week.
Sancho, 20, was booked by referee Daniel Seibart for removing his shirt, but football’s governing bodies have now indicated that these forms of protests should not be punished by officials.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, in a FIFA competition the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment.’
Borussia Monchengladbach star Marcus Thuram also protested by dropping to his knee after scoring in their win against Union Berlin.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: ‘Football is a sport which encourages tolerance, inclusion and justice. These are the same values being espoused by those showing solidarity to George Floyd.
‘If a player in our competitions were to display a message or act symbolically to ask for equality for human beings the circumstances around the event should be taken into account in line with UEFA’s zero tolerance against racism.’
The statements come after the FA revealed it would look to its officials to use common sense towards any acts of protest when the Premier League and Championship return later this month.
The German governing body, the DFB, said after the weekend matches that they did support the fight against racism but would still be looking into the actions of Sancho and Co.
DFB vice president Rainer Koch said: ‘According to the DFB constitution, the control body’s task is to ensure that the DFB’s constitution and regulations are adhered to and to examine the circumstances surrounding violations.
‘This is now happening as a result of this weekend’s actions. Part of these examinations is to ascertain whether during matches and on the pitch are the right place for these actions.
‘As is the case internationally, the game itself should remain free of political statements or messages of any kind; the fair and competitive action on the pitch should be the focus.
‘There are of course opportunities before and after the match for these kinds of things. We’ll have to wait and see whether sanctions are required in these instances.’
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
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.
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.
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.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare ‘State of Emergency’ in Sports
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.
“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.
“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
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
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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