Governing Bodies
FIFA boss sparks anger saying biennial World Cup could prevent migrant deaths in Mediterranean
FIFA president Gianni Infantino sparked criticism on Wednesday when he said increased revenues from a biennial World Cup could create opportunities for Africans who otherwise may find “death in the sea” crossing the Mediterranean.
He later said his address to the Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights organisation, had been “misinterpreted” and that he meant that football could “help improve the situation of people around the world”.
The idea of a World Cup every two years has been gathering steam with Infantino trying to get support from national federations, saying the switch would create an extra $4.4 billion in revenues for the world body.
FIFA has said that the additional funds would help reduce the gap in revenues between the developed and less developed football markets.
In his speech, Infantino stressed the importance of making soccer more inclusive for countries outside of Europe.
“This topic is not about whether we want a World Cup every two years, but about what do we want to do for the future of football,” Infantino said. “If we think about the rest of world and the vast majority of Europe, then we have to think about what football brings.
“Football is about opportunity, about hope, about the national teams. We cannot say to the rest of world give us your money, but watch us on TV. We need to include them.
“We need to find ways to include the whole world to give hope to Africans so that they don’t need to cross the Mediterranean in order to find maybe a better life but, more probably, death in the sea.”
Infantino added that the biennial World Cup might not be the answer to the migrant crisis.
Infantino’s comments were met with anger, with Ronan Evain, the executive director of Football Supporters Europe saying they were “disgusting” and that Infantino was unfit to run global football.
“My colleagues at Human Rights Watch (HRW) interview refugees around the world pretty much every day. They never mention the timing of World Cup tournaments,” HRW European media director Andrew Stroehlein said.
Later on Wednesday, Infantino said his comments had been “misinterpreted”.
“In my speech, my more general message was that everyone in a decision-making position has a responsibility to help improve the situation of people around the world,” Infantino said.
“If there are more opportunities available, including in Africa, but certainly not limited to that continent, this should allow people to take these opportunities in their own countries. This was a general comment.”
According to the U.N.-affiliated International Organization for Migration, more than 1,315 people fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East diedtrying to cross the Mediterranean last year.
During the same session, the Council of Europe backed UEFA to remain solely in charge of organising European football and said that it “firmly opposes the European Super League project”.
“It’s ‘No’ to selfish super leagues and ‘No’ to extravagant World Cup proposals. But ‘Yes Yes Yes’ to working together to protect and strengthen our model that works in the interest of European football and society,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said.
Reuters
FIFA has sanctioned two lower division clubs in Kenya and Vietnam for match manipulation, relegating them to the third tier, world soccer’s governing body said on Friday.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee found Kenyan side Muhoroni Youth guilty of “activities related to the manipulation of football matches and competitions”, expelling the club from the second-tier National Super League.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has further ordered the relegation of the Muhoroni Youth senior team to the Football Kenya Federation Division One League (third tier) ahead of next season,” FIFA said.
Vietnamese club Phu Tho was also found guilty of match manipulation. The club’s senior team was expelled from the Vietnamese Football League Second Division and relegated to the third division.
FIFA said the clubs had been notified and can appeal the decision.
-Reuters
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The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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