Sports
Fraud Office Probes World Cup Bid
The Serious Fraud Office has been urged to reconsider its decision not to investigate allegations of Fifa corruption during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.
Conservative MP Damian Collins made the call after media claims that former Fifa executive, Chuck Blazer recorded conversations with football officials at the London 2012 Olympics.
Russia would host the 2018 World Cup after England’s unsuccessful bid.
The 2022 World Cup would be in Qatar.
The SFO can investigate “cases which undermine UK commercial/financial PLC in general and the City of London in particular” and has been following bribery claims stemming from the December 2010 decision to award rights for the next two World Cups.
Fifa has already undertaken its own investigation into the corruption allegations, led by independent ethics investigator Michael Garcia.
American Blazer was a member of Fifa’s executive committee from 1996 to 2013.
On Sunday, the media alleged US FBI agents recruited Blazer by threatening him with arrest and prosecution for tax fraud if he failed to cooperate.
The media said Blazer was supplied with a modified keyring that contained a tiny microphone in order to secretly record conversations with leading football officials during a visit to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
“If there is evidence that Chuck Blazer held meetings during the Olympics, that would come under the jurisdiction of the SFO,” Collins told Tidesports source.
“I want to see if they would now be prepared to act.”
Fifa declined to comment about Blazer when contacted.
Tidesports source has seen a letter from the SFO to Collins, sent before the allegations about Blazer were published, which said the crime bureau was watching corruption allegations “with interest”.
The letter added that the SFO did not believe it had the right to launch its own inquiry.
SFO director David Green told Collins: “The allegations that have occurred so far are against non-UK nationals and the alleged conduct took place outside of the UK.”
That could now change if reports of Blazer recording officials in London are accurate.
Green’s letter adds: “I can… assure you that the SFO will continue to keep the jurisdictional position under review.”
Collins wrote to the SFO in September asking it to seek access to the report produced by Michael Garcia.
Garcia spent 18 months interviewing individuals from nations wanting to stage the 2018 and 2022 finals – and wants greater transparency from Fifa.
But Fifa president Sepp Blatter said Garcia’s full report will not be published because of legal issues.
The information that will be eventually be revealed is now in the hands of Hans-Joachim Eckert, a German judge tasked by Fifa with deciding if any individuals breached the organisation’s code of ethics.
He is due to make an interim statement later this month, which may include redacted sections of Garcia’s findings.
Collins is concerned that information relating to claims made by former chairman of the FA Lord Triesman concerning alleged corruption could be contained within Garcia’s files but will not be made public.
Lord Triesman made a series of allegations concerning his time involved with England’s 2018 bid in evidence to a House of Lords committee in 2011.
Furthermore, Collins asked the SFO to consider whether evidence of any additional wrongdoing, which might fall under its jurisdiction, could be revealed by obtaining access to Garcia’s report.
In light of the SFO’s response and Chuck Blazer’s alleged role as an FBI informant, Collins believes Fifa must now publish Garcia’s findings and inform the relevant law enforcement agencies.
“If Fifa is sitting on evidence relating to acts of bribery and corruption, then it is more than just a football matter,” Collins said.
“It is unthinkable they wouldn’t reveal what they have.
“There are people who are stopping evidence being made available. You’ll have to draw your own conclusions as to why that is.”
Basket ball players struggling for honour during a sports event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently
All is now set for the maiden Sun Open Amateur Golf Tournament expected to take place at the Python Golf Course in Port Harcourt.
The tournament which is expected to attract hundreds of golfers from across the country will see the winner represent Nigeria at the Qatar Open.
Speaking to newsmen at a briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Python Golf Club of Port Harcourt and partner of the golf tournament, Ikenna Okafor said the partnership with the organizer of the tournament, High Performance Center Sports Leadership Hub, HPC, will advance the game of golf and also project amateur golfers to the global stage.
According to the Chairman, who is also an ardent promoter at various levels, the Python Golf Club will sustain its efforts to ensure golf development in the country.
He further urged interested golfers to sign up for the mundial.
On his part, the Director of the High Performance Center Sports Leadership Hub and organizers of the Sun Open Amateur Golf Tournament, Dr Bob Olukoya said the tournament will also advance sports diplomacy between Nigeria and its international counterparts.
He also said the tournament will serve as an opportunity for Nigeria to get a ranking in the golfing community.
Dr Bob Olukoya also revealed that Nigeria has now been removed from the blacklist of the Qatari Golf Association.
The tournament,which will hold between the 21st and 24th of this month is expected to attract a good number of golfers, especially, amateurs and potential professionals, who would use the platform to hone their skills.
It is also an opportunity for the Python Golf Club to push further their efforts toward developing and promoting the sport in Rivers State and beyond.
Port Harcourt residents and indeed Nigerians are set for thrilling experience as no fewer than 68 polo players from Nigeria, Argentina, England, and South Africa are set to compete in the 2025 Port Harcourt International Polo Tournament scheduled to gallop off on Sunday at the Port Harcourt Polo Club.
The tournament to be hosted in collaboration with the Nigerian Polo Association (NPA), would take place from January 12-18.
Over the years, the event has attracted polo patrons and enthusiasts from Nigeria and beyond, making the tournament one of the major flagships in Nigeria.
President of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, Prince Henry Agbodjan, noted that the tournament, themed ‘Unity in Motion,’ aims to provide a lively and enjoyable experience for polo enthusiasts nationwide, residents of Port Harcourt and beyond.
The President said this during a Press briefing at the club last Wednesday.
He added that, apart from the matches, attendees could look forward to entertainment shows and opportunities to purchase items at affordable rates from the tournament’s Micro Market.
“The event will serve as a major commercial boost for the Rivers State economy,” Agbodjan remarked.
He expressed appreciation to the Rivers Government and the tournament’s sponsors for their support and called on the media to raise awareness to further promote the sport of polo in Nigeria.
In his own speech, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the tournament, Dolapo Attoni said that this year’s tournament was expected to surpass previous editions, showcasing the finest polo players from Nigeria and around the globe.
“About 60 players from 20 teams across Nigeria and eight players from Argentina, England, and South Africa will compete for four trophies and other prizes,” Attoni said.
Attoni highlighted the participating teams, which include two each from Adamawa, Plateau, Kano, Katsina; three from Lagos; one from Nassarawa; and eight from Rivers.
“The teams are categorised into high goal, medium goal, and low goal teams.
“They will compete for four trophies, comprising the TY Danjuma Cup, Alfred Diette Spiff Cup, TJT Princewill Cup, and Governor’s Cup, which has been rechristened OB Lulu Briggs Cup.
“Trophies, medals and individual prizes will be awarded to winners and runners-up, while sponsors and individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of polo in Nigeria will also be recognised,” he added.
Attoni, who also serves as the Vice President of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, mentioned that matches would take place daily between noon and 6:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Captain of the Port Harcourt Polo Club, Ikenna Nebolisa, expressed confidence in his team’s readiness to compete.
“Our players and horses are fully prepared to claim victory and make our fans proud,” he concluded.
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
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