Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner will not face extradition to the U.S. to face bribery charges as part of a sweeping, decades-long corruption scandal which involved some of the soccer world’s top brass, a court in Warner’s home country of Trinidad and Tobago ruled on Tuesday.

Warner was accused of receiving millions of dollars, opens new tab in bribes to vote for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup. While corruption allegations against him date back to the 1980s, he was banned from the sport for life in 2015.

However, he will likely walk free, with the Caribbean nation’s top court ruling on Tuesday that it would not comply with the U.S. extradition request. He is not facing any charges at home and has maintained his innocence.

The U.S. Department of Justice argued that Warner had enormous influence as a powerbroker for former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter in his role as vice president and as head of the CONCACAF, which organizes soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Warner was part of “two generations of soccer officials” who abused their positions for personal gain, the DOJ claimed. Blatter was cleared earlier this year of corruption charges in Switzerland.

Justice Karen Reid, in an oral hearing, argued that the Trump administration had not respected due process and the rule of law for non-citizens in the U.S., and as such, she would not send Warner over.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two of Warner’s sons, Daryll and Daryan, pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme in the U.S. in 2013. They cooperated with the DOJ probe and a federal court ruled earlier this year that they would not face additional prison time.

-Reuters

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The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Sports has commenced a comprehensive inventory of all sports infrastructure across the state, following a directive from Governor Umo Eno at a recent State Executive Council meeting in Uyo.

The initiative aims to enhance safety, ensure proper maintenance, and assess the viability of facilities for possible upgrades or replacements.

Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, emphasized that the inventory is crucial to sustaining the state’s reputation as Nigeria’s sports tourism centre.

Key facilities under review include the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo Township Stadium, Eket Stadium, Olympic-size swimming pool, Arise Park sports facilities, Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre sports facilities Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, West Itam Sports Centre and various sports centres and academies.

He noted that Akwa Ibom remains the only Nigerian state with a stadium certified by both CAF and FIFA for international football matches, attributing this to the state’s strong maintenance culture — a legacy the current administration seeks to expand under the Arise Agenda.

During the recent Town Hall meeting in Eket, the Governor engaged the sports commissioner on the functional state of facilities at the Eket Stadium and asked him to report back to Exco as soon as possible, as directed.

“Akwa Ibom State has been Nigeria’s sports tourism centre for some years now, and Governor Umo Bassey is determined to maintain the status quo as we have seen in his administration’s resolve in maintaining sports infrastructure and facilities across the state.

“The fact that Godswill Akpabio International Stadium is the only stadium in Nigeria that meets CAF and FIFA standards for hosting international football matches is a testament to the maintenance culture of past and present administrations in the state.

 As outlined in the Arise Agenda of the governor, we are committed to extending the maintenance culture to all sports infrastructure and facilities in Akwa Ibom State.

“The comprehensive compilation and sports assets inventory exercise is a step towards repositioning and ensuring proper maintenance of sports infrastructure and facilities while promoting and marketing our state as a sports tourism destination”.

The initiative is expected to support strategic planning for future sports development and enhance the state’s capacity to host local and international sporting events.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino was reportedly spotted in the picturesque hillside town of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco, as part of a private visit to the country.

Infantino, accompanied by family members, toured the famous blue-painted alleys of the town’s medina (market) and visited the central square, Outa El Hammam.

Morocco World News reports that local sources revealed that the FIFA president received a detailed briefing on Chefchaouen’s architectural significance and its place in Moroccan cultural history.

He also posed for photos with residents and praised the town’s beauty and warm hospitality.

The FIFA chief’s appearance in Chefchaouen comes on the heels of an earlier family stop at Taghazout Bay, a coastal resort near Agadir.

Although his trip has been officially described as personal, Infantino’s presence in Morocco has drawn public interest, especially in light of the country’s growing prominence in world football.

Morocco is preparing to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and is one of the three co-hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal.

Major infrastructure and stadium upgrades are currently underway across Moroccan host cities in preparation for the tournaments.

Earlier last week, Infantino was in Rabat for the official opening of FIFA’s new Regional Development Office for North and West Africa.

Situated adjacent to the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, the new office will coordinate FIFA programmes throughout the sub-region.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa. The event was described as a landmark in FIFA’s ongoing collaboration with Moroccan football authorities.

Morocco has emerged as a key player in international football, thanks to its sustained investment in youth development, world-class facilities, and capacity to host major tournaments.

Infantino has previously highlighted the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamoura as a model for football development worldwide.

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