Sports
Sports Administrators React To Blatter, Platini’s Ban
Some football adminis
trators yesterday expressed mixed reactions over the suspension of Sepp Blatter, FIFA President and Michel Platini, UEFA president for eight years each from all football-related activities.
Blatter and Platini, were on Monday suspended following FIFA Ethics Committee investigation of the “disloyal payment’’ in 2011.
The two were found guilty of breaches surrounding a 1.3 million pound ($2m) “disloyal payment’’ authorised by Blatter in favour of Platini in 2011.
The FIFA Ethics Committee which found Blatter and Platini guilty said they demonstrated an “abusive execution’’ of their positions.
Some of the football pundits who spoke to newsmen said that Nigerian sports administrators must learn from the incident.
They claimed that administrators must embrace transparency to avoid messy court cases.
Adegboye Onigbinde, a FIFA and CAF instructor urged Nigerian to learn from the Blatter/Platini saga and commended FIFA for taking the hard decision.
“I hope Nigerians will learn lessons from this; if FIFA can do that to a whole Blatter; it indicates that FIFA is a well-organised international body.
“Another lesson we have to learn is that for decades people have been saying that football matters cannot be taken to courts but we can see what is happening at the FIFA level now.
“When people have things to hide, they start threatening us. These are the lessons we have to learn that no matter how mighty you are, let us have the fear of God in us.
“Everyday for the thief one day for the owner,” he said.
Sani Toro, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said he was happy about the Blatter decision to fight FIFA for his innocence.
“I am not saying he is innocent but any African should not be happy at the developments because he has done so much for the continent.
“It was during his time that Africa was able to host a FIFA World Cup. Nobody wanted Africa to host the world cup but Blatter insisted.
“It was during his time that Africa saw many developments in the world of football and he also brought in money into football.
“He has fought for football for a very long time and I feel that such a thing should not be done to him, I hope they can review his case and give him a lesser punishment,’’ he said.
Sani Lulu, also a former NFA President said that this was part of the change that all football stakeholders had been calling for in FIFA.
“I know God is doing some work there. It is change all over the place, even in Nigeria, so let us believe that this change mantra is ordained by God. It is spreading to all over the world”.
Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC) said he had yet to assess the situation critically to form an opinion.
“I am still studying the situation and the details before I can form an opinion about the whole issue,’’ Dikko said.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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