Sports
Reps intervene in rift over footballers’ unpaid bonuses
The House of Representatives Committee on Sports on Wednesday pledged to wade into the crisis over unpaid bonuses to national football teams players by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Ekene Abubakar, stated this in Abuja at a meeting with the NFF at the National Assembly Complex.
The committee and the federation agreed to work together to find lasting solutions to the recurring issue of unpaid bonuses of all national teams players.
When asked to explain the issues surrounding the non-payment of Super Falcons players in their recent World Cup outing, NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau, said the money owed the players would be paid as soon as the federation received grants from FIFA.
Abubakar also charged the NFF to immediately resolve the issues regarding the two affected State FAs (Plateau and Nasarawa) where the Normalisation Committees have been set up.
To resolve the issues, the committee urged the NFF to abide by the statutes, saying, “What we are simply saying following petitions received from the two States Football Associations is that the federation should respect and go back to its statute to restore peace and order in Nigerian football.”
Gusau assured the committee that all pending issues, including elections into State FAs would be resolved within three weeks.
In a related development, the NFF informed the House Committee on Sports that it was still investigating Auwalu Jada, who was suspended from all football-related activities following an allegation of match-fixing, assuring the lawmakers that the Bauchi-born football administrator would be given a fair hearing before a final decision was taken.
In November 2022, Jada was seen on tape boasting of his ability to fix matches in the Nigerian Professional Football League.
Sports
UEFA Considers World Cup Boycott Over FIFA’s $20bn Investment Proposal
UEFA strongly opposed the proposal, insisting football “isn’t FIFA’s to sell” and criticising the lack of transparency surrounding the plan.
UEFA is preparing an emergency meeting of its 55 member associations to discuss FIFA’s proposed $20 billion private investment plan, with a potential World Cup boycott among the options being considered.
The proposal, unveiled by FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, would create the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new subsidiary responsible for the commercial and event operations of FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups.
FIFA said the venture would seek minority investment while retaining full control of football governance, with funds intended to expand development programmes for its 211 member associations.
UEFA strongly opposed the proposal, insisting football “isn’t FIFA’s to sell” and criticising the lack of transparency surrounding the plan.
Sources told ESPN there is significant resistance within the European governing body.
Sports
Idi Amin’s grandson disqualified from Commonwealth boxing bout
He was jeered out of the ring after a tempestuous bout against England’s Damar Thomas in the super-heavyweight division.
•Aziz Abdul, Idi Amin’s boxer grandson
The grandson of former Ugandan president Idi Amin saw his bid for Commonwealth boxing gold end in disgrace as Aziz Abdul was disqualified for a headbutt in his quarter-final on Wednesday.
Amin famously declared himself the “King of Scotland” in 1976, having developed a fascination with the country with his remark inspiring an Oscar-winning film, “The Last King Of Scotland”.
Aziz arrived in Glasgow declaring his dream of becoming “the new king of Scotland.
But he was jeered out of the ring after a tempestuous bout against England’s Damar Thomas in the super-heavyweight division.
Despite landing three sweeping left hooks in the opening round, a short, stabbing left by Thomas earned a plainly displeased Aziz a standing count.
Aziz swung wildly throughout the second and was deducted his second point for persistently punching Thomas in the face as they exited a clinch.
AFP
Sports
Real Madrid generate €1.2bn revenue despite failing to win a trophy
The club’s strong financial showing was boosted by an increase in income from their renovated Santiago Bernabeu stadium, up by 11 percent to 363 million euros ($413m), along with new sponsorships.
•Real Madrid President Florentino Perez . (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Spanish giants Real Madrid said Tuesday they generated a record 1.221 billion euros ($1.39 billion) in revenue in the 2025/2026 season, despite failing to win a trophy.
“Operating revenue, excluding income from player transfers, reached €1.221 billion, 3.1 percent more than in the previous financial year,” said Los Blancos in a statement.
“Real Madrid has therefore exceeded the €1.2 billion mark for the first time, a figure that no other sports organisation in the world has achieved to date, consolidating the club’s position as the revenue leader in the sports industry.”
Madrid said they made 26 million euros ($30m) profit after tax, up by 8 percent on the earnings from 2024/25.
The club’s strong financial showing was boosted by an increase in income from their renovated Santiago Bernabeu stadium, up by 11 percent to 363 million euros ($413m), along with new sponsorships.
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