Governing Bodies
British soccer criticised for cancelling play after queen’s death
British soccer has come under fire for its decision to postpone this weekend’s round of fixtures following the death of Queen Elizabeth, with some fans questioning the move in contrast to other sports bodies who opted to let play resume.
The queen, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died at her home in Scotland on Thursday aged 96, prompting English soccer’s top-flight Premier League as well as the English Football League to postpone their next round of fixtures as a mark of respect.
Soccer games in Northern Ireland this weekend were also postponed, while the Football Association of Wales postponed fixtures from Sept. 9-12. Professional matches in Scottish football were also cancelled. read more
There was widespread annoyance that the FA had cancelled grassroots soccer in England.
But England’s deciding third cricket test match against South Africa at The Oval resumed on Saturday, while the rugby Premiership will also get under way after Friday’s two season-opening matches were rescheduled.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which is the representative body for soccer fans in England and Wales, said the cancellation of games was a missed opportunity for fans to pay their respect.
“We believe football is at its finest when bringing people together at times of huge national significance — be those moments of joy or moments of mourning,” the FSA said.
Former England internationals Peter Crouch and Gary Neville echoed the group’s sentiments.
“Black armbands, silences observed, national anthem, Royal band playing etc to the millions around the world watching? Isn’t that a better send-off,” Crouch said.
Neville added: “Sport can demonstrate better than most the respect the Queen deserves.”
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had said there was “no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures”, effectively leaving the decision to each sport’s governing body.
‘DIFFICULT DECISION’
The Rugby Football League said they had taken the “difficult decision” of ensuring matches at all levels went ahead while the BMW PGA golf Championship opted to restart as a 54-hole event on Saturday after Friday’s play was cancelled.
Sunday’s Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon with 60,000 entrants, will also go ahead as planned, a decision that was welcomed by many competitors.
The British Horseracing Authority had suspended all events for two days but said they would resume on Sunday.
There were moving scenes at The Oval in London as supporters applauded at length after singing “God Save the King” before the day’s action got under way, the vast majority of the crowd no doubt singing the anthem for the first time in their life.
But Neil Stevens, 58, a recent retiree and cricket fan, told Reuters he had mixed feelings.
“I was concerned about today, whether they were going to scrub the whole thing,” he said.
“I’m mixed about it. The problem is it’s completely ruined this as a match. Are we going to get a three-day result? We’ve had a couple (of three-day results), but in a sense it has taken away that aspect of this game.
“But it was appropriate to do something to mark the passing of our monarch. I’m not particularly a royalist. You don’t get to retire in that job — you work until you drop dead. For that, it was appropriate to do something.”
Another fan, Alex Turner, 32, said he felt the Premier League had made a mistake and that the England & Wales Cricket Board had made the smarter decision.
“It’s a good sign,” he added. “The ECB have done well to keep things going. It was a better strategy.”
-Reuters
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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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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