Sports
Celtic Hits Out At SFA
Celtic have accused the Scottish Football Association’s disciplinary process of being “disparate and arbitrary” fqllowing the decision to uphold Glenn Loovens’ ban for his challenge on Maurice Edu.
Manager Tony Mowbray reacted on to the news Loovens had lost his appeal over the matter by saying: “We accept that and move on.”
But, 24 hours later, the club insisted they were “justified” in challenging the decision and suggested they were being unfairly targeted by the SFA, who they claim have ignored similar incidents involving other teams.
Loovens, 25, was suspended by the SFA’s disciplinary committee after they reviewed footage which appeared to show the Holland international flicking a boot at Edu during the May 9 Old Firm derby at Ibrox. He was punished with a one-match ban and had 12 points added to his 2008-09 disciplinary points total for “misconduct of a significantly serious nature”.
He appealed against the decision but lost that verdict and will now miss Saturday’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Motherwel1.
As well as the Loovens case, the SF A also reviewed a Scott McDonald challenge on Dundee United’s Lee Wilkie but the Hoops striker was cleared of any wrongdoing.
A Celtic spokesperson said: “The club still awaits clarification from the Scottish Football Association in terms of the process followed with regards to this case and other incidents.
“We have written to the SFA on two occasions, the first time over a month ago, to ascertain the criteria for referring incidents to the SFA Review Panel.
“We have received no substantive response on this issue so far and the procedure by which Glenn Loovens and Scott McDonald were referred for review remains unclear. Therefore, we still do not understand the procedure by which Glenn Loovens and Scott McDonald were referred for review and other similar incidents in recent months have not been. The process seems to be disparate and arbitrary.
“Our objective is to ensure that these processes are applied fairly, consistently and in a transparent manner, for the benefit of all clubs and players. We will continue to pursue this objective and look forward to hearing from the SFA shortly.”
Sports
European Giants Circle For Osimhen
Victor Osimhen will be the centre of attention as several of Europe’s biggest clubs send scouts to yesrerday’s Intercontinental Derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, with the Nigerian forward set to play a decisive role in the Super Lig title race
Representatives from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Juventus were expected to be present at Rams Park, underlining the scale of interest in both the fixture and its standout performers.
Reports in Turkish media indicate that the derby will serve not only as a key moment in the domestic title race but also as a platform for transfer discussions and strategic collaborations between clubs.
According to those reports, top European sides have secured places at the stadium with a dual purpose.
“Europe’s leading representatives will be present at the stadium within the framework of both player transfer and cooperation,” ,” Milliyet reported.
“Real Madrid, Barcelona, among many clubs, including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Napoli and Juventus, have made reservations for today’s match.”
Osimhen was expected to be among the primary players under observation, alongside teammates Baris Yilmaz and Gabriel Sara, with scouts closely monitoring their performances in one of the most high-profile fixtures in Turkish football.
The report further noted, “Victor Osimhen, Yilmaz and Sara were at the top of the watch list and that the interest would mainly be in these players.”
It also highlighted broader discussions beyond player recruitment, stating, “Apart from this, ideas will be exchanged for strengthening relations between the clubs and new joint agreements.”
The Nigerian striker’s presence came at a crucial point in the season, with Galatasaray holding a four-point lead over second-placed Fenerbahce and knowing that victory would all but secure the league title with three matches remaining.
Osimhen recently returned from injury, making a brief appearance in the cup defeat to Genclerbirligi after missing four games, a period during which Galatasaray’s form showed signs of inconsistency.
His absence coincided with a mixed run of results in April, where the league leaders recorded two wins, one draw and one defeat, including a loss to Trabzonspor and a draw at home to Kocaelispor.
Defensively, Galatasaray have also shown vulnerability, conceding in each of their last six matches across all competitions, a concern ahead of a fixture that could define their campaign.
The derby follows disappointment in the Turkish Cup, where Galatasaray suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Genclerbirligi, while Fenerbahce were also knocked out after a 1-0 loss to Konyaspor
Sports
Tennis Event Boosts Grassroots Development Push
A tennis tournament held in honour of Olusola Odumosu, Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps FCT Command, has been described as a major step towards grassroots sports development and youth engagement.
The three-day competition, staged at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, began midweek , last week and ended on Friday, attracting young players across different categories.
On the court, top-ranked player Canice Abua won the men’s singles title after a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Lucky Danjuma, who is ranked fourth nationally.
In the boys’ category, Unity Alex defeated Khaleed Dalha in straight sets to win the title, while Salvation Alex triumphed over Opeyemi Olademeji to win the girls’ singles event.
Odumosu, who marked his birthday with the event, said the initiative was designed to uncover young talent and strengthen the foundation of tennis development in Nigeria.
Sports
W/Cup Qualifier: Flamingos In Impressive Opener
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, opened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a dominant 6-0 victory over Generation Next in Abuja as head coach Akeem Ishola Busari continues to shape his squad.
The emphatic win came during a 60-minute friendly at the Goal Project at the weekend, where the Flamingos took control early and led 4-0 at half-time before the match was halted in the 54th minute due to heavy rain.
Goals were spread across the squad, with Shavih Istifanus opening the scoring inside the first minute, followed by a brace from Tobiloba Sarafa in the 10th and 23rd minutes.
Harmony Chidi added the fourth in the 28th minute, while Aminat Adebisi struck just before half-time and Precious Paul completed the scoring early in the second half.
The match forms part of a busy training camp in Abuja, where Busari has invited 36 players as Nigeria step up preparations for their second-round qualifier against Guinea.
-
Maritime2 days agoCustoms Deploys Seven Patrol Vessels, Boost Waterway Anti-smuggling
-
Sports2 days agoFinancial Issues Stall Chelle’s Eagles Contract Talks
-
Oil & Energy2 days agoGlobal Energy Crisis Is Reviving Green Hydrogen
-
Sports2 days ago
Four Private Clubs Gain Promotion To NPFL
-
Sports2 days agoEuropean Giants Circle For Osimhen
-
Sports2 days agoNFF mourns ex-Eagles striker Eneramo
-
Sports2 days agoW/Cup Qualifier: Flamingos In Impressive Opener
-
Sports2 days agoTennis Event Boosts Grassroots Development Push
