International Football
AT LAST, FA CHAIRMAN GREG CLARKE APOLOGIES TO NIGERIAN-BORN ALUKO
After initial grand standing and refusal to take definitive action on Nigerian-born Eniola Aluko’s claim of racial remarks made by the immediate past England national women coach, Mark Sampson, the chairman of The FA, Greg Clarke has finally admitted that the organisation had failed England women’s players Aluko, Drew Spence and Lianne Sanderson over its handling of claims of discriminatory remarks.
Clarke also stated that the FA has “lost the trust of the public” over the case. The chairman gave a 2,628 word speech to the FA council’s autumn meeting in Wembley in which he apologised to those listening following the results of the parliamentary inquiry and his appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee.
Clarke assessed last week’s inquiry in his speech. He said, “The judgement of the politicians, the judgement of the media, and most importantly the judgement of the public was very clear – we had failed Eniola Aluko, Drew Spence and Lianne Sanderson. We have apologised to them and I reiterate that apology again today.”
The chairman judged that the FA had “lost the trust of the public” and pinned the causes down to three characteristics of the organisation. Clarke believes that the FA is perceived to lack competence, diversity, or trust in the talents of its senior players and staff.
He admitted that the FA’s ‘efforts’ of inclusion were not enough, citing that the organisation have an all-white Board and Senior Executive Team and only one BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) Head Coach across the England teams.
Clarke backed this up by stating that according to their own insight tracking, just 27% of football fans think the FA are a competent governing body. Only 24% said that have a positive perception of the FA.
Greg Clarke has now promised change within the FA, starting by conducting a full cultural review of St. George’s Park, the FA’s national football centre. This will be done with the intention of “improving its inclusivity and our collective care for players. Performance and a positive culture must not be an either or choice.”
For Clarke this will be “the FA, doing what it has failed to do in the past, and getting its own house in order – asking itself some fundamental questions to ensure it can be the best organisation it can be – and to begin to restore that lost trust.
International Football
Two Moroccan football players lost at sea, says club official
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Abdellatif-Akhrif.png)
Two Moroccan players from top-flight soccer side Ittihad Tanger have been missing at sea since Saturday after strong currents drifted their small yacht, a club official said on Sunday.
They were in a group of five players from the club who went cruising off the northern city of Tangier when strong currents and heavy winds drifted their yacht away as they were swimming in deep waters, club deputy president Anass Mrabet told Reuters.
“Three players have already been rescued on Saturday, while research is still ongoing for the missing Salman Harraq and Abdellatif Akhrif,” he said.
The players did not have buoys on them when they jumped from the small yacht to swim, he said citing recounts by rescued players.
While Akhrif, 24, is already a full member of the squad, Harraq, 18, was about to move up to the senior team this year, Mrabet added.
Ittihad Tanger have been in the Moroccan top flight since 2015 and won the league title for the first and only time in their history in the 2017-18 season. However, they have struggled in the lower half of the standings in recent years.
-Reuters
International Football
FIFA launches ‘Football Manager’ World Cup with $100,000 in prize money
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/arsene-wenger.jpg)
FIFA will host its first ever FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager this year to crown the best virtual manager on the highly-popular video game, world soccer’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA is partnering with Sports Interactive, the developers of the game that has sold millions of copies and has also been used by several football clubs to scout players and opponents thanks to its extensive database.
Players will compete for $100,000 in prize money in the final event from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.
“This competition requires participants to demonstrate a profound understanding of football strategy and tactics,” said former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the ambassador for the esports event.
“Success demands not only mastery of game mechanics but also in-depth football knowledge, making this format a fascinating blend.”
FIFA said in the inaugural year of the event, selected member associations will be invited to be represented at the final event.
Member associations from all six confederations are expected to be invited while players can sign up on FIFA’s website.
-Reuters
International Football
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio robbed at gunpoint
![](https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/baggio.jpg)
Former Italy international Roberto Baggio was assaulted and robbed at gunpoint at his home in northern Italy while watching his country’s match against Spain in the Euro 2024 tournament on Thursday, local police said.
Burglars broke into Baggio’s house near Vicenza, hit him on the head with a gun butt and locked him and his family in a room while they stole jewellery, watches and cash, daily Il Corriere della Sera reported. It said he suffered a deep wound.
“Luckily, the violence I suffered only resulted in a few stitches, bruises and a lot of fear. Now it is to overcome the fear,” Baggio was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.
Baggio, 57, played for clubs including Juventus (JUVE.MI), opens new tab, AC Milan and Inter Milan. He also played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals, and is widely seen as one of his country’s all-time greats.
After the robbery, Baggio, widely known as the “divine ponytail”, was treated at a local hospital where he received stitches for the head wound, Italian media reported.
Italy lost to Spain 1-0 on Thursday and now must avoid defeat by Croatia to guarantee progression in the tournament.
-Reuters
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