Governing Bodies
African sports journalists body, AIPS condemns hosting of Rugby Africa in France
The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has condemned the decision of Rugby Africa to host its continenal championship outside the continent.
In a press release by the professional body representing the international sports media, with more than 9,500 members worldwide, AIPS frowns at the taking of the championship, the rugby equavalent of soccer’s Africa Cup of Nations, to Paris.
“I believe the decision made by the president of Rugby Africa to host the African qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup in provincial France, rather than keeping it on the African continent is completely wrong, and sends a highly disturbing message to all Africans, especially the young populace and the continent’s rising rugby community”, remarked Mitchel Obi, the Nigerian president of Africa’s wing of AIPS.
Continuing, Obi remarks: “People will rightly be asking themselves why the most prestigious rugby tournament on the continent is being moved away and played in Europe, when there are plenty of alternative locations within Africa that are perfectly well-equipped to host it.
“Playing the tournament in France not only deprives African audiences of watching world-class rugby on their doorstep, it also denies local economies of much-needed income from a high-profile event that would have driven the tourism and hospitality industries, and increased international exposure and investment.
“Moreover, it is not even ‘France’ as a whole that is hosting this vital African tournament. No, the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 is to be played in ‘Région Sud’, a region of France that ranks seventh-lowest in terms of population, and is the furthest away from the capital, Paris.
“The games will be played in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille – a city that is the beating heart of France’s football scene, but is hardly known for its love of rugby.
“The signing ceremony announcing the award of the tournament to ‘Région Sud’ was a perfect illustration of how insignificant this tournament is in the minds of the sport’s administrators.
“France’s Minister of Sport was notable by his absence. So too the president of the French Rugby Federation. Instead, the main dignitaries in attendance were the president of ‘Région Sud’ and the mayor of Aix-en-Provence – a town with a population of 143,000 football fans.
“The Rugby Africa Cup has shrunk from a celebration of an entire continent, down to an unfancied provincial event in a distant sphere lacking the colour and charm of a welcoming host.
“At best, it is depressing and patronizing for the players and fans of African rugby. At worst, it is an insult to the whole continent of Africa. It reinforces the stereotypical depictions that Africa still endures in Western media, so it is incredibly disappointing that Rugby Africa’s president – an African himself – has chosen to follow this path.
“The main reason he has given for his decision to host the competition in France rather than Africa seems to center around ‘mediatization’ and visibility – with the argument being that events hosted in Africa are somehow less accessible to international audiences.
“But one only needs to look at some of the events already being hosted in Africa to see that argument is absurd. In fact, the opposite is true. More international sporting events than ever are turning to Africa for hosting duties.
“Even the International Olympic Committee is coming to Africa, with the Youth Olympics Games to be held in Senegal in 2026 – the first time any Olympic competition will hold on the continent.
“Over the next five years Africa will host a wealth of prestigious international sporting events:
- The 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (Dakar, Senegal, 2026)
- UCI Road Cycling World Championships (Rwanda, 2025)
- Cricket World Cup (South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, 2027)
- Jeux de la Francophonie (Kinshasa, DRC, 2023)
- Africa Cup of Nations (Côte d’Ivoire, 2023)
- Africa Games (Accra, Ghana, 2023)
- African Beach Games (Tunisia, 2023)
- Netball World Cup (South Africa, 2026)
- The 22nd CAA African Senior Athletics Championships (Mauritius, 2022)
- Mediterranean Games (Algeria, 2022)
“Incidentally, 3650 athletes will take part in this year’s Mediterranean Games in Algeria, while fewer than 200 will be on show at the Rugby Africa Cup. So, this is clearly not about scale, logistics or infrastructure.
“Anyone suggesting that Africa is ‘not ready’ or is in some way unsuited to hosting major global sporting events is reinforcing old colonial stereotypes of arrogance and entitlement. It is a laughable thought. The world has moved on and knows the promise which Africa holds as the choice host of events.
“As the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in Africa, we have particular concerns about the ability of African sports journalists to access and effectively cover the Rugby Africa Cup in such a remote location. We have urgently reached out to Rugby Africa and to World Rugby to ask what is being done to help them secure visas, flights, and accommodation.
“As the governing body and the custodians of the game, World Rugby could and should have intervened in Rugby Africa’s decision to host an African tournament on a different continent. By 2050, a quarter of the world’s population will be African, and the sport is growing faster here than it is anywhere else. The future of world rugby is Africa. And it needs protecting – including from the President of Rugby Africa, if need be.
“Sadly the decision to award hosting duties for the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 to a provincial area of France was not and never made with the best interests of African rugby at heart.
“It is sincerely regrettable that the leadership of Rugby Africa made this miserable decision without deserving consultations with key Stakeholders and partners who over the years have stretched themselves to add value to the growth of the game in the continent. Here we are reminded of the lack of a vital reach and consultation with Rugby Africa’s main official sponsor (APO Group) whose Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard is evidently at a loss with a decision entirely without merit and support even for any die-hard enthusiast.
“I earnestly hope such distinguished partners won’t lose their appetite to pad and lift the game inspite of this wrong patch.
“Notably, the entire family of Sports Journalists across Africa and all those who care passionately for the health and growth of Rugby in the continent insist on the need to bring and keep home the Gold Cup where it rightly belongs and finds its shine.
“President Babbou must change gear without delay and forget his provincial French fancies.”
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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