Sports
Morocco fear dirty tricks by FIFA in bid to stage 2026 World Cup
It has emerged that Morocco are concerned about a possible dirty tricks campaign which they consider has been waged by FIFA against them since the African country made its late bid to stage the 2026 World Cup.
Morocco, making their fifth bid to host the tournament, have faced one problem after another in challenging the united bid of USA, Canada and Mexico.
The latest concern is that FIFA have yet to answer official letters questioning, on strong legal grounds, why American territories Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands have not been ruled out from voting at the FIFA Congress on June 13.
Morocco have also had to combat FIFA making changes to their staging requirements just 48 hours before the bid book deadline in March.
This included changing the maximum time allowed from team hotel to training ground and the minimum population for a host city.
They also changed the maximum time allowed to travel from host city centre to airport to 90 minutes when Morocco had included a journey of 91 minutes.
It was also proposed at FIFA council level – but rejected – that the number of suitable existing stadiums should be increased to six which would have knocked out their bid at a stroke.
The Moroccan bid are also not happy that two senior figures on the united bid, American Sunil Gulati and Canada’s Víctor Montagliani, have allegedly stayed in the FIFA council room when World Cup bid business was being discussed.
Plus it is felt the United delegates showed a lack of respect in Brussels, not giving the Moroccans the courtesy of listening to their presentation when they had been present for the United address to media.
And that even FIFA’s administrative staff were frosty to the Moroccans at a World Cup workshop in Zurich – although relationships have since improved.
In addition there has been political interference in a tweet from American President Donald Trump – a veiled threat to US allies if they support the Africans.
Morocco bid chief Hicham El Amrani said: ‘Fifa rules are very clear on political interference.’
This was not enough opposition to prevent O’Brien from taking his seat, but it was a warning shot from a group who normally toe the party line.
There is an on-going investigation into the ECB paying O’Brien’s Glamorgan £2.5million to stop staging Test cricket in Cardiff.
Meanwhile the best news from the meeting is that Giles Clarke is no longer president of the ECB so no longer on the board. Good riddance.
Three county cricket chairmen objected to appointment of Barry O’Brien (left) on ECB board
But Thuram, for some reason, was very keen to stress that he was not an ambassador for the bid – merely a supporter – and even took off his official Morocco pin badge to prove the point.
Morocco do have their great Olympic 1500m and 5,000m champion Hicham El Guerrouj and Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos as representatives.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
South Africa vs Nigeria: Why we failed to defeat Super Eagles – Percy Tau
Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
Kanu advocates for establishment of standard soccer academies
Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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