Governing Bodies
PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREES TOLD TO BE MORE LENIENT IN HANDBALL DECISIONS
Premier League referees have been encouraged to use their discretion when it comes to making a decision on a potential handball, after weeks of mass controversy surrounding the interpretation of the new rule.
Officials were previously made to follow guidelines from FIFA when it came to handballs, with the new law stating any use of the arm in the box must be given as a penalty – accidental or otherwise.
Sports Village Square observes that if this law had been in use at the Russia 2018 World Cup, a penalty would have been awarded to Nigeria when Marcos Rojo headed the ball down to his hand. But the referee, even after VAR check did not award a penalty kick.
It’s a rule which has caused chaos during the opening weeks of the Premier League season, with the decision against Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle United the latest of many, and there have been countless calls from players, managers and fans to alter the rule.
It appears those calls have been answered as the Times state the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, who are in charge of instructing referees, will soon ask officials to use their common sense during games, rather than strictly punishing every incident.
In situations like Dier’s, who was punished for inadvertently having his arm raised, referees will be asked to decide whether the situation genuinely warrants a penalty or whether one would only be given because of the new rule.
FIFA, who took control of the VAR protocol this season, have enforced a new interpretation of handball across Europe in an attempt to make officiating more consistent. The Premier League had always tried to be more lenient with decisions, which is why last season’s total of 20 handball penalties awarded was less than half of the totals in Italy (57) and Spain (48).
English football is now on track to match those numbers and there is no way for the rule to be changed this season.
However, if a request to alter the rule is submitted to the International Football Association Board by the end of October 2020, it will be considered and could be implemented for the 2021/22 season if approved.
It seems likely that such a request will be made, given the uproar surrounding the rule already this year, but the final decision will rest with IFAB officials like Pierluigi Collina, David Elleray and Arsène Wenger.
-90min
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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