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3 Key Things You Need To Understand As World Cup Kicks Off In Russia

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The Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off today and the entire world is looking up to the host Russia to deliver the best of the biggest sporting event in the world.

There are three things that will constantly be highlighted by the media – Video Assistant Referee [VAR], racism, and goals.

VAR

FIFA has decided referees need help so they have conscripted more referees to become Video Assistant Referees [VAR] to help ensure that more often than not, the proper decisions are made on the pitch.

“If you see some assistant referee not raising the flag, it’s not because he’s making mistakes,” said Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of FIFA’s referees’ committee.

Collina added: “It’s because he’s respected the instruction to keep the flag down. They were told to keep the flag down when there is a tight offside incident and there could be a very promising attack or a goal-scoring opportunity because, if the assistant referee raises the flag, then everything is finished.”

In what many had called for – the need for technology to increase the efficiency of referees to get correct decisions -= this trial must succeed for many others to follow.

Racism

Bryan Idowu changed nationality last year and will represent Nigeria at Russia 2018.

He told Amkar Perm website in 2016, “…Then it was hinted to me that with my skin colour the path to the main team was unfeasible. The reason was the fans, who don’t like dark-skinned players.”

Racism in Russia is a fact, whether it would rear its head during this tournament is the question. As recent as March this year, Russian fans heckled some black players from France during a friendly match – a case for which FIFA fined Russia’s soccer federation $29,600.

Aleksandr Alayev, the Russian federation’s acting chief told Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, Russia would make the persons responsible for the rude actions to pay and that the federation “will do everything possible to prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future.”

Goals

Football is about goals and will always be. The greatest cheer in the stadium and far away from the action across many television sets is when the net bulges.

The Technical Study Group for the 2014 World Cup revealed, “the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil was marked by top quality and attacking football, excellent players, and a positive general football philosophy.

“The teams’ objectives were to score and win matches instead of trying not to lose or concede. This led to a glut of goals, 171 in total at an impressive average of 2.67 goals per match, which matched the record set in France in 1998.”

The UEFA Champions League, with which many judge FIFA’s footballing extravaganza, also saw more attacking football, which led to more goals, and spectacular at that, being scored.

Will the matches in Russia be open and free flowing or will they be cagey and boring? The fans want to see goals!

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South African FA president, Danny Jordaan arrested over misappropriation of funds

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Danny Jordaan, the president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), has been arrested for alleged misappropriation of R1.3 million.

According to the South African police service, the 73-year-old was apprehended on Wednesday in Johannesburg.

Police said Jordaan used the federation’s resources for his gain, “including hiring a private security company for personal protection and a Public Relations company without authorisation from the SAFA Board”.

Authorities added that alleged misappropriation happened between 2014 and 2018.

“The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation charged with probing the allegations executed search seizure warrants, 08 March 2024 at the South African Football Association’s office where an assortment of electronic gadgets and files were seized for further investigation, thus leading to the arrest,” the statement reads.

Gronie Hluyo, SAFA chief financial officer, and Trevor Neethling were also arrested.

The trio are due to appear in court later on Wednesday.

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Gift Atulewa, ex-Flying Eagles player, dies after battling high blood pressure

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Gift Atulewa, the former Flying Eagles player, is dead.

In a chat with TheCable, Azuka Chiemeka, spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association, said the ex-footballer died on Tuesday morning.

Chiemeka said Atulewa died after suffering complications from high blood pressure, which the ex-footballer had been battling for a while.

The DSFA spokesperson added that the ex-footballer’s remains have been taken to the Central Hospital in Warri.

Atulewa was a member of the Flying Eagles squad that participated in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

The team, which had Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi, and Taiye Taiwo, finished with a silver medal after losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final.

Atulewa played professional football for Bayelsa United F.C. before moving to Ocean Boys F.C. and Warri Wolves F.C.

He had recently returned from Cote d’Ivoire, where he earned a coaching certificate.

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French footballer Ben Yedder gets suspended jail term for sexual assault

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Former France international footballer Wissam Ben Yedder received a suspended two-year jail sentence on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a woman in September.

Ben Yedder, 34, is the former captain of French Ligue 1 side Monaco and is second on the club’s list of all-time leading goalscorers. He left Monaco at the end of last season and has been without a club since.

On the evening of September 6, Ben Yedder met a woman during an inebriated outing and invited her into his car, according to the investigation.

There, the woman told police, he performed a sex act in front of her.

The woman immediately filed a complaint with police, who arrested Ben Yedder later that night.

“I don’t remember anything, I can’t say if I did it. It’s because of alcohol that I’m here,” Ben Yedder, who entered a rehab programme after the incident, said during the trial. He did not attend the sentencing on Tuesday.

Ben Yedder is also the defendant in another case going to trial in December in which he is charged with psychological violence against his wife. The couple is in the process of divorcing.

Ben Yedder also stands accused by another woman of raping her in the summer of 2023. Police are still investigating that claim.

He has denied both accusations.

Ben Yedder started his professional career in Toulouse before moving to Spanish side Sevilla.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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