14, June 2016

Alex Song close to Galatasaray deal ⁰

Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, who has spent the last two seasons on loan with West Ham, is close to sealing a move to Galatasaray. According to ‘fotospor’, Song has reached an agreement with the Turkish club, but now must wait for them to agree a deal with Barça as the he remains under contract at Camp Nou until 2017.

The 27-year-old’s agent Darren Dein and Galatasaray’s sporting director Cenk Ergun have reportedly agreed on a three-year deal worth 1.5 million euros per season. Now Galatasaray must contract Barça if they wish to push the transfer through, although the Catalan club may be prepared to let Song leave for free.

He played 16 games for West Ham this season and a return to the Premier League side for a third season has been ruled out.

11, June 2016

Ali buried in home city of Louisville ⁰

Rousing tributes have been paid to boxing legend Muhammad Ali at a memorial service in his home city of Louisville, Kentucky. Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other speakers spoke of his fight for civil rights, while a message from President Barack Obama praised his originality.

The interfaith event took place hours after thousands said farewell as his coffin passed through city streets. Ali was buried in a private ceremony attended by friends and family.

BBC

8, June 2016

Cameroon: Man who could not honor Captain Abega Theophile sends Ali condolence to Obama ⁰

President Biya who was conspicuously absent during the burial ceremony of the late Dr Abega Theophile, the legendary captain of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon has addressed an official telegram to US President Obama from his five star hotel resort in Swiss over the death of Mohammed Ali. Cameroon Intelligence Report understands the Biya document was sent to Washington on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. In the said telegram, Mr Biya wrote:

“Mr. President, I have learned with emotion, the death of Mr Mohammed Ali, former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. I salute the memory of this legend. In these painful circumstances, I extend to you and to the family of Mr. Mohammed Ali my sincere condolences. Please accept Mr. President, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.” The funeral of the American triple heavyweight world champion will be held in the US on Friday, June 10, 2016.

CIR

5, June 2016

New FIFA President in fresh scandal ⁰

The World Football governing body FIFA has remained steeped in controversy for the better part of the past three years. Its former President Sepp Blatter was forced out amid various allegations of corruption and several top FIFA officials have since been indicted of offences ranging from receiving bribes to embezzlement.

The newly elected FIFA President Gianni Infantino is now embroiled in a fresh scandal, barely six months into his reign at FIFA. Infantino is accused of destroying recordings of a Fifa council meeting in Mexico and reports in some quarters indicate that FIFA is considering a 90 day suspension.

A FIFA spokesman however denied that FIFA has begun investigative proceedings against Infantino; “We are not in a position to indicate if we have or have not begun preliminary investigatory proceedings against an individual. We would however like to point out that there are no formal proceedings going on against Mr Infantino.”

FIFA’s current scandal revolve around reports that Infantino had planed to fire Domenico Scala, the head of audit in FIFA. The congress in Mexico city for which recording was destroyed was allegedly passed a resolution to allow the FIFA council to fire members of the Independent watchdog.

In simple terms, the FIFA council headed by Infantino was given the power to fire Scala and all the other members of the FIFA Independent watchdog.

Bode Dolu’s Blog

4, June 2016

Muhammad Ali passes on at 74 ⁰

Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74, a family spokesman has said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion, one of the world’s best-known sportsmen, died at a hospital in the US city of Phoenix, Arizona, after being admitted on Thursday.

He was suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was complicated by Parkinson’s disease. The funeral will take place in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, his family said in a statement.

BBC

4, June 2016

Rio Games: WHO to conduct Zika examination ⁰

The World Health Organization is to conduct an examination into the risks of holding the Olympic Games in Brazil because of the Zika virus. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen has asked WHO to examine whether the Rio Games could accelerate the mosquito-borne virus.

“The Olympics draw people from all over the globe. It’s important we understand the health implications,” said Shaheen. On Wednesday, Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy said his concerns about exposure to the virus had eased.

However, former Masters and US PGA champion Vijay Singh and Australia’s Marc Leishman are golfers who have already announced their withdrawal from the Olympics because of worries relating to the virus, which is linked to brain defects in newborn babies.

BBC

4, June 2016

Sepp Blatter and Co. awarded themselves 80 million dollars in bonuses ⁰

Former high-ranking Fifa officials Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner awarded themselves pay rises and bonuses worth $80m (£55m) over five years, say Fifa lawyers. Football’s governing body revealed the contracts of ex-president Blatter, fired ex-secretary general Valcke and sacked former finance director Kattner one day after a Swiss police raid.

Fifa’s lawyers said there was evidence that the trio made “a coordinated effort” to “enrich themselves” between 2011 and 2015. Documents and electronic data were seized from Kattner’s old office during Thursday’s operation, which relates to investigations into Blatter and Valcke, according to sources close to Fifa’s internal investigation.

Suspected of criminal mismanagement of Fifa money, Blatter and Valcke were banned for six and 12 years respectively by the governing body’s ethics committee in February. Both deny wrongdoing. A statement for the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG), which carried out the investigations, read: “Documents and electronic data were seized and will now be examined to determine their relevance to the ongoing proceedings.”

Fifa said the evidence uncovered by its own internal investigation would be shared with the Swiss Attorney General’s office and the US Department of Justice. Richard Cullen, Blatter’s lawyer, said: “We look forward to showing Fifa that Mr Blatter’s compensation payments were proper, fair and in line with the heads of major professional sports leagues around the world.”

Meanwhile, Blatter’s long-time public relations advisor Klaus Stoehlker told BBC Sport he would be ending their professional relationship, adding: “The Fifa volcano is exploding now.” Fifa has been in turmoil since May 2015, when a US investigation exposed widespread corruption at the top of the organisation.

BBC

3, June 2016

Muhammad Ali in hospital ⁰

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized for a respiratory issue, a family spokesperson has said. The 74-year-old is reportedly being treated and currently in fair condition.

Family spokesman Bob Gunnell confirmed Ali’s condition to the Associated Press. Ali suffers Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed in 1984 after quitting boxing. He was last seen out in public back in April when he attended the Celebrity Fight Night charity event in Arizona.

3, June 2016

FIFA appoints UN official as SG ⁰

The World Football governing body,FIFA has appointed the Senegalese United Nations Official, Fatma Samoura as the new Secretary General. According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the first female FIFA Secretary General will bring a fresh wind to the council. Samoura will replace the fired Jerome Valcke if she passes an eligibility check.

Also on Friday, FIFA lifted Indonesia’s suspension from world soccer, Indonesian national and club teams, referees, and officials were banned over government interference in the running of the national federation. Indonesia was readmitted after the government agreed to end its suspension of the soccer federation, but the national team has missed out on qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup while banned. Benin and Kuwait are suspended due to government interference in their federations’ independence.