Napoli manager, Rudi Garcia,says the club didn’t intend to hurt a Nigeria international,
Victor Osimhen with the controversial TikTok video.

The club shared a video on their TikTok account which appeared to be mocking Osimhen after he missed a penalty in the club’s goalless draw against Bologna last weekend.

He threatened to take legal action against the club and has also taken down all images of him in the Partenopei jersey on his Instagram account.

He had earlier been involved in a bust-up with Garcia after he was substituted against Bologna.

Speaking on the issues surrounding the club after the game, Garcia admitted that the club had been faced with a bit of trouble since the weekend game against Bologna.

He added:“Over the last two days there was a bit of trouble with some clumsy behaviour.Nobody wanted to be hurtful, not the TikTok with the video of Victor, nor Victor by taking his photographs down on social media.

“Nobody intended to hurt anyone, these are instinctive reactions and are understandable,” Garcia was quoted by Football Italia after the game.

Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, could face three months in jail after he pleaded guilty to drunk-driving charges in his home country, New Zealand.

The incident took place on August 19, when Adesanya encountered a Random Breath Testing unit in Auckland while returning from dinner with friends.

He was found with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in his system, meanwhile the legal limit in New Zealand is 50 milligrams.

He said in a statement:”I want to apologize to the community, my family and my team for the decision I made to get behind the wheel after drinking at a dinner.

“I am disappointed with my decision to drive, it was wrong. I know that people might follow me and I want them to know I do not think this behavior is acceptable.”

He could face up to a $2,680 fine and/or three months in jail and will be back in court on January 10 for sentencing.

Nigerian duo Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala have been shortlisted for the 2023 Ballon d’Or award in the men’s and women’s categories.

The award ceremony will take place in Paris on October 30.

Osimhen is the leading scorer in the African Cup of Nations qualifying series with seven goals, becomes the first male Nigerian footballer to be shortlisted for the award in 24 years.

He made history as the first African to be crowned Capocannoniere last season in the Serie A and the Napoli striker is the first player from the continent to achieve the feat winning the Scudetto after scoring 26 Serie A goals (31 goals in 39 games across all competitions).

Oshoala earned her consecutive nomination after a successful campaign with Barcelona Femeni where she won the Women’s Champions League.

She became the first African to be nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or and this time, she is the only African player listed in the women’s category.

She was the top scorer for Barcelona Femeni last season after she notched 26 goals (21 league goals and five in the Women’s Champions League) in all competitions.

She was also instrumental in Barcelona Femeni winning the league title and the Women’s Champions League last season.

The 2023/24 season of The Saudi Pro League (SPL) showing live on StarTimes has witnessed some surprising and thrilling performances from both local and international players.

One of the most remarkable stories of the season so far is the rise of Abderrazak Hamdallah, the Moroccan striker who plays for Al-Ittihad.

Hamdallah has scored four goals in his last three league games, putting him ahead of some of the world’s most famous and expensive players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Firmino, Malcom Filipe Silva, and Sadio Mane, who have all joined the SPL in 2023.

His extraordinary form has stunned fans and experts alike, as he challenges for the coveted Golden Boot award, which is given to the top goal-scorer in the league.

The Golden Boot race is not the only attraction of the SPL, which has become one of the most competitive and star-studded leagues in the world.

The SPL boasts some of the best teams and players in Asia and beyond, such as Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Odion Ighalo, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, and many more.

Football fans in sub-Saharan Africa can catch all the exciting action and drama of the SPL live on StarTimes, the affordable pay-TV provider.

StarTimes has successfully renewed its contract with the Saudi Professional League (SPL), for two consecutive seasons from 2023/24 to 2024/25 on an all-media platform and all languages rights in sub-Saharan Africa region.

Angeles Bejar, mother of Spanish Football Association boss, Luis Rubiales, currently suspended for kissing a female footballer on the lips, has vowed to ‘die for justice’ as she enters the second day of a hunger strike.

She locked herself in the Divina Pastora church with her sister-in-law, Mari Carmen, at Costa resort of Motril, near Malaga, early on Monday morning, Daily Mail reports Tuesday.

Bejar said she would carry on her protest ‘indefinitely’ until ‘justice’ was achieved for her son.

She said, “I will stay here as long as my body holds out. I don’t mind dying for justice because my son is a decent person and it’s not fair what they’re doing.”

Rubiales kissed Women’s World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso, on her lips earlier this month in Sydney, Australia and his actions sparked global controversy accusing him of both assault and taking attention away from Spain’s achievement.

He has also been criticized for grabbing his crotch in front of Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter Sofia, which he has since apologised for, but has defiantly refused to resign from his post as the head of Spain’s football association as requested by politicians and other high-profile figures in football and sport with even the United Nations wading into the row.

The UN Human Rights in a statement on Tuesday said, “Women in sport continue to face sexual harassment and abuse – every one of us has the responsibility to call out and challenge such abuse.”

The mother of Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales has gone on a hunger strike because of the inhuman hunt against her son.

Rubiales, 46,had been criticized after he kissed forward Jenni Hermoso,33, on the lips following Spain’s Women’s World Cup final win.

His mother, Angeles Bejar,who has now locked herself in a church in Motril,told the Spanish news agency EFE that the strike would continue “indefinitely, day and night.”

Hermoso said the kiss during the presentation ceremony in Sydney on 20 August was not consensual.

Rubiales vowed not to resign on Friday but was suspended by world football’s governing body FIFA on Saturday.

Spanish media have gathered outside the Divina Pastora church in Motril on the southern Spanish coast, the town where Rubiales was raised.

Bejar told EFE that the “inhuman and bloody hunt that they are doing with my son is something he does not deserve”.

Rubiales’ cousin Vanessa Ruiz, who acts as a family spokesperson in Motril, said: “We are suffering a lot for him. He has been judged before his time.

“They (media) don’t stop harassing us. We had to leave our house. We want them to leave us alone and for Jenni to tell the truth. It’s not fair.”

The Spanish government has asked for Spain’s Sports Tribunal (TAD) to suspend Rubiales, a request which will be discussed at a TAD meeting on Monday.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has also called regional federations to an “extraordinary and urgent” meeting on Monday “to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself”.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena were among the many pro wrestling superstars to remember and honor Windham Rotunda, also known as Bray Wyatt, following his death Thursday at the age of 36.

WWE head of creative Triple H announced the news of Wyatt’s death Thursday, leading to an outpouring of love and support from others in the sports entertainment industry:

The Rock provided some heartfelt words regarding Wyatt on X, formerly known as Twitter, in addition to another pro wrestling legend in Terry Funk, who died Wednesday at the age of 79:

The Rock had a memorable encounter with Wyatt and The Wyatt Family at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 when they interrupted his promo.

Johnson and Wyatt had an entertaining promo battle of their own, and The Rock proceeded to beat Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan in an impromptu match.

Cena was also involved in that segment, as he helped The Rock fight off the Wyatts. That marked one of the many times Cena and Wyatt worked together on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Wyatt was one of Cena’s greatest on-screen rivals. Cena recognized that fact in his post, noting that Bray “brought the best” out of him:

Cena defeated Wyatt at WrestleMania 30 in what was the biggest match of Wyatt’s career to that point, as he had debuted on the main roster less than one year earlier.

Recently, Cena and Wyatt met in one of the most unique contests in WrestleMania history, facing off in a Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania 36 in 2020.

Both Cena and Wyatt showed off their acting chops and delivered a never-before-seen performance, and it was Wyatt who ended up in the win column.

In addition to The Rock, Cena and Triple H, several other current and former WWE Superstars made their feelings known regarding Wyatt over the past two days as well, including Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Bayley, Saraya, Alexa Bliss, The Miz and Matt Hardy:

Wyatt will go down as not only one of the most creative minds in WWE history, but in the entire existence of the pro wrestling business.

Then one-time WWE champion and two-time universal champion left an indelible mark on the industry and clearly meant so much to so many involved.

Spanish Women’s World Cup winning midfielder Jenni Hermoso said she did not consent to being kissed by the country’s federation chief Luis Rubiales, after he refused to resign Friday following worldwide outcry over the incident.

In a statement released by the women players’ union Futpro, Hermoso and 80 other players said they would not accept an international call-up “if the current leadership continues” at the Spanish football federation.

Rubiales, 46, said in a speech at an emergency RFEF meeting that his kiss on Hermoso’s lips was “mutual, euphoric and consensual” and that she had said “OK” when he asked her if he could give her “a peck”.

He also asserted that “she was the one who lifted me in her arms and brought me close to her body”.

But,Hermoso hit back strongly against his claims later Friday.

“I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me and in no case did I seek to lift up the president,” Hermoso said in the Futpro statement.

“I do not tolerate my word being questioned and much less that they invent words that I did not say.”

Futpro said in the statement that every player signing it, which included the 23 World Cup winners, were taking a stand.

“We want to finish this statement asking for real structural changes, that help the national team to keep growing, to be able to transfer this great success to later generations,” it read.

“It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is succeeding in tarnishing the greatest sporting success of Spanish women’s football.

“After all that happened during the medal ceremony at the Women’s World Cup, we wish to declare that all the players signing this document will not return to a national team squad if the current leadership continues.”

Before the World Cup, 15 players had taken a similar stance against the federation but many relented and three were part of the team’s triumph in Australia and New Zealand.

Many players, including double Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, had written messages of support for Hermoso on social media, some including the phrase “it’s over” — potentially referring to Rubiales’ leadership of Spanish football.

AFP

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed payments of match bonuses and allowances for the Super Falcons.

The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau,disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on dispute between Super Falcons and NFF

He said no fund was released for participation but revealed that in the 2023 FiFA women’s world cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand $960,000 were given to all 32 countries that qualified.

According to him, this preparation money provided by FIFA is to be used by these countries to prepare the teams for the world cup.

“We can’t use this money to pay outstanding allowances for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup”, he added.

Speaking,Rep Blessing Onu, the Chairperson of the committee,questioned how the NFF was able to fund the Super Falcons in the 2019 FIFA women’s world cup hosted by France.

She said the document of how the Super Falcons were funded in the 2019 FIFA women’s world cup, the breakdown of match bonuses and its slips for 23 players and the coaching crew be provided by NFF before Aug 30.

The NFF President replied that they usually get funded by CAF and FIFA, adding that no payment was gotten from the Federal Government for its staff and officials rather the federation got its operational cost from FIFA.

“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) provides 250,000 dollars per annum as a subvention fund”, said the NFF President.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Luis Rubiales on Thursday after the Spanish Football Federation president kissed Spain star Jenni Hermoso on the lips following the Women’s World Cup final last weekend.

“The FIFA disciplinary committee informed Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Association, today that it is opening disciplinary proceedings against him based on the events that occurred during the final,” world football’s governing body said in a statement.

The body said the incident “may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA disciplinary code”.

Spain star Hermoso released a joint statement with union Futpro on Wednesday, which called for action to be taken against the RFEF president.

“We are working to ensure that acts such as those we have seen never go unpunished, that they are sanctioned and that the exemplary measures are adopted to protect women footballers from actions that we believe are unacceptable,” the statement said.

Global human rights organisation, Amnesty International,gave their support to Hermoso on Thursday.

“Amnesty International wants to show their support for the demands of the player, who has asked the (RFEF) to set underway ‘exemplary measures’ regarding the non-consensual kiss,” said the organisation in a statement.

“(We) underline that this behaviour is a form of sexual violence like any other, and cannot be justified in any way.”

Spain’s women’s football league, Liga F, has also called for Rubiales to be sacked.

The RFEF have opened an investigation into Rubiales’ conduct and are holding an emergency meeting on Friday.

Rubiales, 46, initially attacked his critics before eventually apologising but the criticism of his behaviour has not abated.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez previously said that Rubiales’ apology for the kiss was “not enough”.

Earlier Thursday Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti criticised Rubiales for his conduct.

“It’s a very delicate topic, like most people it was behaviour that I obviously did not like,” Ancelotti told a news conference.It was not the behaviour of a president of the federation.”

The Italian coach would not be further drawn on the issue.

“I don’t know if he should resign or not, I think he will take the most adequate decision,” added Ancelotti.

Real Madrid play Celta Vigo in La Liga on Friday and the Galicians’ manager Rafa Benitez also spoke about Rubiales.

“The success of the national team is the news and unfortunately it’s been relegated to the background,” said Benitez.

“We all agree we have seen behaviour which was not correct and the competent authorities are there to take decisions.”

Getafe president Angel Torres criticized Rubiales on Wednesday and said the president could not spend “one minute more” in his post.

American forward Megan Rapinoe, the world’s highest-profile women’s player, was similarly scathing in an interview with The Atlantic earlier this week.

“What kind of upside-down world are we in? On the biggest stage, where you should be celebrating, Jenni has to be physically assaulted by this guy,” said Rapinoe.

She referred to Rubiales’ behaviour at the final as portraying “a deep level of misogyny and sexism”.

AFP