Sports
Sports Administrators React To Blatter, Platini’s Ban
Some football adminis
trators yesterday expressed mixed reactions over the suspension of Sepp Blatter, FIFA President and Michel Platini, UEFA president for eight years each from all football-related activities.
Blatter and Platini, were on Monday suspended following FIFA Ethics Committee investigation of the “disloyal payment’’ in 2011.
The two were found guilty of breaches surrounding a 1.3 million pound ($2m) “disloyal payment’’ authorised by Blatter in favour of Platini in 2011.
The FIFA Ethics Committee which found Blatter and Platini guilty said they demonstrated an “abusive execution’’ of their positions.
Some of the football pundits who spoke to newsmen said that Nigerian sports administrators must learn from the incident.
They claimed that administrators must embrace transparency to avoid messy court cases.
Adegboye Onigbinde, a FIFA and CAF instructor urged Nigerian to learn from the Blatter/Platini saga and commended FIFA for taking the hard decision.
“I hope Nigerians will learn lessons from this; if FIFA can do that to a whole Blatter; it indicates that FIFA is a well-organised international body.
“Another lesson we have to learn is that for decades people have been saying that football matters cannot be taken to courts but we can see what is happening at the FIFA level now.
“When people have things to hide, they start threatening us. These are the lessons we have to learn that no matter how mighty you are, let us have the fear of God in us.
“Everyday for the thief one day for the owner,” he said.
Sani Toro, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said he was happy about the Blatter decision to fight FIFA for his innocence.
“I am not saying he is innocent but any African should not be happy at the developments because he has done so much for the continent.
“It was during his time that Africa was able to host a FIFA World Cup. Nobody wanted Africa to host the world cup but Blatter insisted.
“It was during his time that Africa saw many developments in the world of football and he also brought in money into football.
“He has fought for football for a very long time and I feel that such a thing should not be done to him, I hope they can review his case and give him a lesser punishment,’’ he said.
Sani Lulu, also a former NFA President said that this was part of the change that all football stakeholders had been calling for in FIFA.
“I know God is doing some work there. It is change all over the place, even in Nigeria, so let us believe that this change mantra is ordained by God. It is spreading to all over the world”.
Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of League Management Company (LMC) said he had yet to assess the situation critically to form an opinion.
“I am still studying the situation and the details before I can form an opinion about the whole issue,’’ Dikko said.
Sports
Galaxy Win Sixth MLS Title
LA Galaxy won a record-extending sixth MLS Cup title as they beat New York Red Bulls to delight a home crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The MLS Cup is the showpiece match at the end of the US season, pitching the champions of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals together.
This was the first MLS Cup between two sides from the largest cities in the United States, Los Angeles and New York, and it produced a hectic opening with all three goals scored in the first half-hour.
Red Bulls were the lowest seed to ever reach the final after finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and their underdog status initially showed as Galaxy dominated the 29th MLS Cup early on.
Galaxy led after nine minutes when Joseph Paintsil squeezed his shot under goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, and it was 2-0 soon after as Dejan Joveljic ran through the Red Bulls defence and finished with the outside of his boot.
Both men celebrated by holding up the shirt of team-mate Riqui Puig, the former Barcelona player who ruptured his ACL in the Western Conference Final which Galaxy won to reach this championship game.
Galaxy threatened to overwhelm their opponents as Sean Nealis headed a free-kick against his own crossbar.
But Red Bulls centre-back Nealis pulled his team back into the game after 28 minutes when he chested down and volleyed in from 15 yards when Galaxy players failed to clear a corner.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half: Galaxy right-back Miki Yamane struck the outside of the post, before Emil Forsberg curled an effort off the upright for Red Bulls.
But Galaxy, who had home advantage because of their better record in the regular season, held on to win their first MLS Cup since 2014.
Red Bulls remain without an MLS Cup title in their history after losing on what was their second appearance in the championship game.
Sports
Bayern Extend Bundesliga Lead To Six Points
Bayern Munich continued their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season with a 4-2 win against Heidenheim.
A double from Jamal Musiala and goals from Dayot Upamecano and Leon Goretzka saw Bayern extend their lead at the top of the table to six points as closest challengers Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 2-2 draw by Augsburg.
Vincent Kompany was without the injured Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Mathys Tel and Serge Gnabry, with Musiala starting on the bench.
Leroy Sane spurned two excellent early chances from close range before Upamecano headed the hosts in front from a Joshua Kimmich corner.
Bayern enjoyed 86% possession and completed 10 times as many passes (503) as the visitors (51) in the first half, yet Alphonso Davies hit the post with the only other clear chance created.
To their credit, Heidenheim didn’t wilt and drew level when Mathias Honsak rounded stand-in Bayern goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after Upamecano under-hit a backpass.
Kompany immediately introduced Musiala from the bench and was rewarded five minutes later when the 21-year-old drove into the box and beat Kevin Muller with a low strike.
Bayern looked to have secured the three points when Goretzka’s shot deflected past Muller, but the visitors halved the deficit almost immediately through a Niklas Dorsch tap-in.
Any nerves soon dissipated when Musiala ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged to slot home the fourth and final goal.
Bayern will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tomorrow before returning to domestic duty away against Mainz on Saturday.
Sports
La Liga: Barca Stumble Again
Robert Lewandowski continued his superb start to the season but could not prevent Barcelona dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis.
Lewandowski scored his 16th goal of the league campaign before Ferran Torres cancelled out Giovani Lo Celso’s penalty – but Assane Diao snatched a point for Betis with a late equaliser.
Real Betis could have easily scored twice in the opening three minutes but Raphina cleared Diego Llorente’s header off the goalline before Abde Ezzalzouli – formerly of Barcelona – saw his one-on-one effort saved by Inaki Pena.
Lamine Yamal wasted a good chance to break the deadlock from close range but team-mate Lewandowski made no such mistake.
The Poland international converted Jules Kounde’s cross from close range to finish a fine team move and score for the 23rd time in 21 games in all competitions.
Betis emerged from half-time with renewed energy but spurned three more clear chances.
Sergi Altimira and Lo Celso sent headers wide of Pena’s post before the Barcelona goalkeeper was called upon to tip Chimy Avila’s snap-shot wide.
Betis finally got their just reward when Lo Celso converted from the penalty spot after Barca substitute Frenkie de Jong felled Vitor Roque – on-loan from the Catalans – as he raced into the area.
Barca pushed for a winner and found it when substitute Torres beat the offside trap to latch on to Yamal’s reverse pass and finish past Fran Vieites.
It looked like Barca would see out the win, but in the fourth minute of injury-time 19-year-old substitute Diao swept home to rescue a point for the hosts.
The draw sees Barca surrender control in the title race. Flick’s side are five points ahead of closest challengers Real Madrid but Los Blancos have played two games fewer.
Barca will be in Champions League action against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00 GMT kick-off) before facing Leganes in La Liga on Sunday, 15 December.
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