Sports
NPFL fines Kano Pillars N1m over pitch encroachment by fans
The board of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has imposed a fine of N1 million on Kano Pillars over the pitch encroachment of the club’s fans during their match against Rivers United.
According to a statement on the league’s website on Tuesday, Kano Pillars fans jumped the barriers onto the field of play to celebrate their 92nd-minute winning goal in the matchday four encounter at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday.
The club was charged with a breach of rule B13.18 of the NPFL framework.
NPFL said the Sai Masu Gida side must pay the fine within 14 days, or failure to comply within the stipulated time would be considered a continuous breach of the league’s framework and rules.
In another development, Heartland FC was issued a “stern warning” over the behaviour of the fans in holding the players and officials “hostage” at the stadium after their match away at Kwara United in Ilorin.
The league also instructed the Owerri-based club to organise an orientation workshop for its supporters on the spirit of fair play best practices.
“It has come to our attention that some irate supporters of your club held players and officials hostage after the match, making it difficult for them to exit the stadium premises until a detachment of security operatives arrived as reinforcement,” the statement reads.
“Such behaviour is unacceptable and tarnishes the reputation of both Heartland and the NPFL.”
Kano Pillars gained promotion back to the NPFL this season after the club was relegated in the 2021/22 season due to points deduction over fan violence.
Sports
Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley arrested by police
United States Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley was tasered and arrested by police following a confrontation with officers in Miami, Florida.
The 29-year-old, who won 100m bronze at last summer’s Paris Games, faces charges of battery, resisting a police officer and breach of the peace following the incident on Thursday evening.
Officers were investigating another incident when Kerley approached them with an “aggressive demeanour” over concern about his car, according to a police report.
The report said Kerley “continued to resist officers and used evasive movements to avoid being arrested” before being wrestled to the ground by four officers.
Police bodycam footage shows Kerley getting back to his feet then being tasered and falling back to the floor before being taken into custody.
Local media in Miami reported, external that on Friday Kerley made an appearance in court and he has now been released on bail.
His lawyer said the incident had been a “total misunderstanding”.
As well as his bronze in Paris, Kerley also won 100m silver at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and gold at the 2022 World Championships.
He has also won world 4x100m and 4x400m gold medals, and has recorded the sixth-fastest 100m time in history with 9.76 seconds.
Sports
Gift Orban joins Hoffenheim after one year at Olympique Lyon
Gift Orban, former Super Eagles invitee, has completed a move to Germany’s Hoffenheim from Olympique Lyon.
The German Bundesliga side announced the 22-year-old centre forward’s signature in a post on their X handle.
Orban signed a four-year deal and will wear jersey number 14 at his new club.
The move ends Orban’s torrid one-year spell at Lyon, in which he featured in 21 matches, scoring only five times.
He has only played five times this season, playing three Ligue 1 and two Europa League games, respectively.
The pacey striker has not been included in nine of the last 10 league matches for Lyon. Orban’s previous league appearance was on September 22, while he last played in a match for the former French League champions in the Europa League, coincidentally against his new club. The game ended 2-2, with Orban lasting 62 minutes before substitution.
Orban, who scored 32 goals in 52 matches for Genk before his move to Lyon, posted on his X that he handled his excitement about swapping France for Germany. He described his new home as “wonderful.”
“New year, new adventures! Excited to be part of This Wonderful Club Hoffenheim,” said Orban.
Andreas Schicker, Hoffenheim’s sporting director, was also excited about the player’s joining the club and believed his attacking skills would improve the struggling side.
“In Gift Orban, we have found exactly the fast striker with good depth that we were looking for. He has proven time and time again his goalscoring talent and his enjoyment of playing.
“We are therefore confident that he will bring our team greater offensive variability thanks to his abilities.”
Sports
AC Milan appoints Sergio Conceicao as new coach
Sergio Conceicao was named the new coach of AC Milan replacing his fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca who was sacked earlier on Monday, the Serie A club announced.
“AC Milan announces that Sergio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceicao has been appointed as the Head Coach of the men’s first team until June 30, 2026,” Milan said in a statement.
Conceicao takes over a Milan side that lies eighth in Serie A, eight points off the Champions League places.
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