FIFA - The African Mirror

Jul

2022

UEFA steps up fight against online racist abuse of players

UEFA is to launch a programme to combat online racist abuse of footballers by working with social media companies to remove harmful content from platforms and raise awareness, it said. Europe's soccer governing body added that the programme, which will start at the July 6-31 Women's European Championship, will work to "actively monitor, report and remedy" cases of online abuse. England's Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were the targets of online racist abuse after they missed penalties in a 3-2 shootout loss to Italy in last year's European Championship final. A report published by FIFA last month revealed…

Mar

2022

By The African Mirror

Kenya and Zimbabwe have been suspended from world football: what happens next

SPORT

KENYA and Zimbabwe have both been suspended by the world’s football governing body, FIFA, owing to government interference in the operations of the national football federations. Nairobi and Harare dissolved their federations late last year and replaced them with government-appointed officials. The suspension, overshadowed for now by Russia’s dramatic banishment from virtually all international sport, will hit the two countries in the pocket and freeze international participation. Sports researcher Wycliffe Njororai Simiyu explains why this is straight from FIFA’s aggressive policy against what it terms “third-party interference”. Author WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU, Professor, Health and Kinesiology, University of Texas at…

Jan

2022

By The African Mirror

The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in pictures

MULTIMEDIA

[origincode_photo_gallery_wp id="88"]

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

UK’s Johnson calls racist abuse of England players in Hungary ‘disgraceful’

WORLD

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on world soccer's governing body FIFA to take action over what he described as "disgraceful" racist abuse aimed at England players by Hungary fans during a World Cup qualifier. "It is completely unacceptable that England players were racially abused in Hungary last night," he wrote on Twitter. Johnson urged FIFA to take "strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated from the game for good." FIFA said on Friday that it had opened disciplinary proceedings into the incidents at the match and reiterated an earlier statement reaffirming…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

FIFA loses court bid to revive probe of Blatter over media rights deal

WORLD

A Swiss court has rejected world soccer body FIFA's bid to revive a criminal probe against its former president, Sepp Blatter, over a 2005 deal with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to sell World Cup broadcasting rights. The Swiss Office of the Attorney General (OAG) last year dropped the investigation, one of two it was conducting against the 85-year-old Blatter, who was banned from the sport for years for ethics violations. FIFA sought to reverse the OAG's decision, but the Federal Criminal Court rejected its request in a verdict that said the OAG had acted properly. Blatter, who led FIFA…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Africa, a hunting ground for sporting talent

SPORT

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD NEWSROOM At the 1990 World Cup, former Cameroonian forward Roger Milla personified the free spirit and creative genius of Africa’s athletic talent ― displaying wit and ebullience in the game, despite his relatively advanced years for top-end athletic performance at the time (he was 38). Then came George Weah, who won the Ballon d'Or (FIFA's world best player of the year) in 1995. With their impressive physiques and footballing talent, the duo provided the world with a lens through which to examine and appreciate the continent’s sporting talent. Today, Africa offers a vibrant and diverse pool of…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Iheanacho – a troubled joker having the last laugh

SPORT

OLUWASHINA OKELEJI KELECHI Iheanacho has suffered a number of setbacks since his breakthrough season at Manchester City. He was subjected to relentless criticism from Nigerian media and national team coach Gernot Rohr during a patchy run of form with Leicester City. But 2021 has seen a change in fortunes following the player’s rise from vilification to being named March’s English Premier League Player of the Month. Amidst all the adulation, Iheanacho cries out for his late mother and dedicates his rebirth to the woman who gave him life. His rich vein of form has led to an improved standing with…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

European Super League: why punishing the breakaway 12 could backfire badly

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE football world has been rocked by the announcement of a breakaway European Super League (ESL). The majority think it a bad idea, from governing bodies Fifa and Uefa through to national bodies such as the FA and English Premier League. ADRIAN R BELL, Chair in the History of Finance and Research Dean, Prosperity and Resilience, Henley Business School, University of Reading ANDREW URQUHART, Associate Professor of Finance, ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading CHRIS BROOKS, Professor of Finance, Henley Business School, University of Reading The same goes for the fan groups at the six English clubs that…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Super League crumbles, 6 English teams quit

SPORT

THE $6-billion dream of a breakaway European Soccer League featuring 12 of the richest clubs lies in tatters after strong player and fan resistance forced six English teams to withdraw. In sensational development in the past 24 hours, cracks began showing among the 12 clubs evidenced by the following developments: Manchester City has withdrawn from the ESL.Chelsea pulled out.Liverpool withdrew after players publicly expressed their opposition.Manchester United withdrew the club had “listened carefully to the reaction from our fans, the UK government and other stakeholders”. The club’s announcement came after its executive vice chairman Ed Woodward, who negotiated the ESL…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

European soccer club shares jump after Super League announcement

BUSINESS

GIANCARLO NAVACH and DANILO MASONI SHARES in English soccer team Manchester United and Italy's Juventus jumped on yesterday after they and 10 other top European clubs announced the formation of a breakaway Super League that could significantly boost revenue for the clubs' wealthy owners. Juventus' share price surged nearly 19% as shareholders cheered the move to set up a rival to UEFA's established Champions League, Europe's most prestigious club competition. Shares in Manchester United rose 9% after opening on the New York Stock Exchange. The Super League, financed by U.S. bank JP Morgan, heralds the prospect of bigger and more…