Sports Updates

[Edoman]

[b]Lewandowski Scores Against EVERY Current Bundesliga Club Hitting Personal Best[/b]


With his goal against Dusseldorf, Robert Lewandowski has now in fact scored against every single current Bundesliga club.

Robert Lewandowski was back among the goals for Bayern Munich in their meeting with Fortuna Dusseldorf and has now netted against all of the teams that make up the 2019-20 Bundesliga table.

The Bayern killer has now scored 43 goals across all competitions for Bayern Munich this season.

He's now equalled his best personal best.

Source: https://twitter.com/Bundesliga_EN/status/1266779830386900998?s=19

[Edoman]

French champions, PSG confirm £52m signing of  Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan following successful loan spell







French champions, Paris St-Germain have confirmed the signing of striker Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan following his successful loan spell.
 
The Argentina international, 27, signed a four-year deal with PSG which runs until June 30, 2024, after the French club agreed to pay a fee of €50m (£45m) with €7m (£6.2m) in add-ons for Icardi, who first joined them on loan from Inter on September 2.

Icardi scored 20 goals in 31 matches in all competitions before the French season was officially ended on 30 April because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
 
A statement issued by the Inter Milan club on Sunday, read: 'The statement read: 'FC Internazionale Milano announces the transfer of Mauro Icardi to Paris Saint-Germain FC: the striker, born in 1993, has permanently moved to the French club.

'The Club thanks the player for the six seasons he spent with us and wishes him the best for his future professional career.'
 
PSG also released a statement, saying: 'Paris Saint-Germain are delighted to announce the signing of Mauro Icardi on a permanent deal, following the striker’s loan from Inter Milan during the 2019-2020 season.'
 
'The 27-year-old Argentina international (8 caps), who also holds an Italian passport, has signed a four-year deal with the capital club until 30 June 2024.'
 
'The Rosario-born player is the 16th Argentinian player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain, and has made 31 appearances for the Rouge et Bleu in the 2019-2020 season, picking up a Ligue 1 winner’s medal, scoring 20 goals and providing 4 assists.'

[Edoman]

Man United now want Odion Ighalo to stay till December as they negotiate 6 months loan extension






Manchester United Football club of England are in die-minute negotiations with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua over a loan extension for Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, according to new reports.
 
Ighalo arrived at United on loan on the final day of the January transfer window in a deal that lasts till May 31, but the Coronavirus pandemic postponed football. Now with the league set to resume this month, reports in England say Manchester United executive chairman Ed Woodward is in frantic talks with Shanghai Shenhua hoping a deal can be agreed to keep Ighalo at Old Trafford until the end of the year.
 
According to the reports that emanated Sunday, Ighalo's parent club Shanghai Shenhua are interested in negotiating a new loan contract with Manchester United after being paid £3m for his initial loan deal. Negotiations are now centred around an extension until the new year, rather than just until the end of the current campaign.
 
Acording to goal.com ''while sources say there is hope and confidence a deal can be found between all parties, the extension has yet to be fully agreed upon as the deadline ticks closer.''
 
Ighalo's current deal is set to expire on Sunday, and the striker has reportedly told Manchester United officials he is interested in staying back at the club even if he will be paid less money.

[Edoman]

[b]Paderborn 1-6 Dortmund: Sancho Scores Hat-trick And Pays Tribute To George Floyd[/b]


Borussia Dortmund were grateful for Jadon Sancho's return to full fitness as they defeated strugglers Paderborn.

Borussia Dortmund were grateful for Jadon Sancho's return to full fitness as they defeated strugglers Paderborn.

Jadon Sancho marked his return to the Borussia Dortmund XI with a hat-trick and a political message as they thumped Bundesliga strugglers Paderborn 6-1 on Sunday.

Sancho was restored to the line-up for the first time since the coronavirus-enforced break after a disappointing midweek defeat to Bayern Munich saw the defending champions move seven points clear at the summit.

That reverse prompted fresh speculation regarding head coach Lucien Favre's future, but Sancho helped his second-placed side get back on track as they look to secure Champions League qualification.

Although Dortmund were frustrated until the 54th minute at the Benteler-Arena, Thorgan Hazard's opener was swiftly followed by a second from Sancho, who would later net again after Uwe Hunemeier brought Paderborn back into the contest, with Achraf Hakimi and Marcel Schmelzer adding gloss to the scoreline.

The England international rounded off his treble in the 92nd minute by capping a rapid Dortmund counter-attack.

Sancho celebrated his first by revealing a T-shirt bearing the message "Justice for George Floyd" in reference to the black American who died in an incident involving a police officer in Minnesota this week, prompting protests across the United States.

Bundesliga colleagues Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram had similar tributes earlier in a weekend that concluded with Dortmund's return to winning ways.

Source: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/paderborn-1-6-dortmund-sancho-175718979.html




 

[Edoman]

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp picks Okocha’s goal as most spectacular in German football history; Praises mentality of African players






Liverpool head coach, Jurgen Klopp has praised Nigerian football legend, Jay Jay Okocha's goal in the 1992/1993 season as the best goal in the history of German football, while also praising the mentality of African footballers.
 

 
Okocha, 46, scored the goal when he played for Eintracht Frankfurt against Karlsruher during the 1992-93 Bundesliga season as he dribbled past a number of defenders, before calmly slotting home past legendary German goal keeper Oliver Kahn.
 

 
Okocha's goal was voted as Goal of the Season by many football magazines.
 

Popular German TV sports programme Sportschau and Klopp a German himself with three African players at Liverpool - Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Guinea’s Naby Keita, has now praised Okocha while also praising African footballers.


“Okocha scored the most spectacular goal in the history of German football. It took like five minutes of Kahn and his defenders diving on the floor before he put the ball in the net," Klopp told the Guardian.


“Some of the world’s best players have been from Africa; George Weah, Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. In their generation they were some of the best players so why should we not sign them? It’s great.”
 

Klopp whose wife lived in Kenya for three years, cited star player Mo Salah, who drives more than four hours to training every day as a classic case of why African players are successful. 


“In Europe, it’s difficult to find that [special story] – maybe in London it’s possible, I’m not too sure. All the African players have this story. It means they are motivated through the roof. It’s about the story that is behind them,” he continued.  


“If you look at Sadio Mane: running away from home. Mo Salah: driving four and a half hours every day to training. You have these stories there. You don’t have these stories here. I read an article about the influence of Mo Salah at this moment in the Arabic world – it’s unbelievable!”


“I love the fact that we have so many African players, until the Africa Cup of Nations starts. Then it’s: ‘Oh my God!’” he added.


“It’s still better than it used to be because before they were out in the middle of the season. In the past, because the Africa Cup of Nations was in the winter it was really a reason not to sign a player because you would lose him for four weeks in the middle of the season. That was really something we had in our minds always.”

[Edoman]

Liverpool Squad Knelt In Honour Of George Floyd


Liverpool Football Club players tweeted a photo today showing their support, following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. The 29 Reds players took a knee around the centre circle at Anfield stadium after reportedly requesting the picture during training on Monday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5RYvQF5FP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link


 

[Edoman]

Five Barcelona players and two members of the team’s coaching staff 'tested positive for Coronavirus' but the club kept the results 'hidden'







Five Barcelona players two coaches and two members of the team’s coaching staff allegedly tested positive for Coronavirus but the results were kept hidden from the media. 
 
According to Catalan radio RAC1 programme Tú Diràs, five Barcelona players and two members of the coaching staff tested positive for coronavirus after the squad was subjected to tests right at the start of the pandemic. 
 
RAC1 claim that members of the first team squad underwent blood tests and those that tested positive for the virus were asymptomatic.
 
All five players who were affected have recovered from the virus and are now believed to be back in full training.
However, local media have suggested that club officials are concerned that the quintet could be more susceptible to injury as a result.
 
The Spanish champions did not disclose the information to the public and are yet to comment on RAC1's report.
But AS report that Barca believe it would have been the reponsibility of LaLiga to decide whether to make the test results known. 
 

[Edoman]

I will never beg any player to play for the Super Eagles’ – Gernot Rohr says after Bournemouth player Billing rejected Nigeria






Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has stated that he will never beg any player to play for the national team, after Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing said in a recent interview that he doesn't want to play for Nigeria.
 
23-year-old Billing was born to a Nigerian father and Danish mother and has represented the Denmark's youth team, but is still eligible to feature for the Super Eagles having not played for Denmark's senior team.
 

 
Last month, Billing denied reports he had agreed to play for Nigeria saying he felt more like a Dane than a Nigerian, and Rohr has now accused Billing of using him to get the attention of the Danish national team manager.

"Billing's agent called me and he said that he is interested to come to Nigeria because he is not playing so much in Denmark,” Rohr told ESPN.

"So he wanted me to call [Billing]. I said I don't have his number, so he gave me his number. [When I called Billing] he asked me some questions about the Nigerian team.
"And he said, 'I am very, very interested to come with you, but give me some time. I think the agent is using this interest to give him more importance or more chances to play in Denmark.

"We never beg anybody. But if they want to come, if they are good players, yes. Some players sometimes want to come but we have already better players in these positions."
 
Besides Ola Aina, Leon Balogun and Alex Iwobi, who have switched allegiances to play for the Super Eagles in the past, Rohr is also hoping Queens Park Rangers midfielder Eberechi Eze, who has been in top form in the Championship this season, will switch to the Super Eagles.

"We hope Eze will come but you know there is a process to follow. If they play already for the youth team in England or other countries, there is a process, write a letter, go to the Fifa commission, and so on," Rohr added.

[Edoman]

[b]Nedum Onuoha: I Don't Feel Safe In The US


Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha says he does not feel "100% safe" in the USA.[/b]

Onuoha plays for Utah-based Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer after spending six years at QPR.

"I am always very wary of how I behave and how it could be viewed by people who have power," Onuoha, 33, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"For me personally, overall I don't like to say it but I have a fear and distrust towards police."

Widespread protests have taken place across 75 US cities since George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after being pinned down by a white police officer.

Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on Floyd's neck, has been charged with his murder. He and three other police officers have been sacked.

Sports stars have added their voices on social media with a 'blackout' - uploading a black image alongside a message of support.

Onuoha backed the protestors by saying: "It is emotional; it is something that is overdue to be honest. There has been a big wave of energy towards this, there has been a lot of talk about George Floyd - these issues have been around for decades.

"People have been trying to make noise. I have been trying to say things but it gets pushed away for too long. Enough is enough; what gives me strength is that it's not just black people who are protesting now.

"The change will come but within that, there are so many nuanced things within the protest - for example, a lot of black people are scared to do what some of the white people are doing to the police.

"It's crazy to see but it is very necessary. I am not going to say to them that they shouldn't do anything because they haven't been heard for this long so let them be heard now."

'If police read me wrong, they could take my life'
President Donald Trump has threatened to send in the military to quell growing civil unrest in the US, as dozens of people have been injured with authorities using tear gas and force to disperse protests.

Four officers were shot and injured on Monday night during unrest in St Louis, Missouri.

Onuoha added that the gun laws in the USA added to his sense of unease.

He said: "I have loved living in this country but there is [another] side of it.

"In the UK, I am more comfortable because if something happens it probably will not be deadly - but over here because of their rights it is more common that altercations become deadly. I am always very aware of that whenever I go around anywhere.

"I am comfortable but when it comes to any kind of brutality, if it's from the police, if they read me the wrong way then my life could be taken. I feel that every single day. It is not just me but everybody else as well.

"I am not trying to be overly critical to the police, there are plenty of good police officers out there, but sometimes I feel like people put police on a pedestal and make them seem superhuman.

"But the fact is over here they are just people from society with a badge and a gun and a lot more power.

"If you worry about the man next door, why would you not worry about the person patrolling the streets who now has more power, more guns but the same views?

"I never go out and feel 100% safe".

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52898280

[Edoman]

Ex-Chelsea striker, Diego Costa handed 6-month prison sentence and slapped with £482k fine by Spanish authorities in tax fraud case (photos)






Former Chelsea striker, Diego Costa made an appearance at a Madrid court on Thursday to ratify a deal he made with Spanish prosecutors to resolve a tax fraud case against him.
 
According to AS, Costa was handed a six-month prison sentence, which he will not serve, and a total fine of €543,000 (£482,000) after the Atletico Madrid striker defrauded the Spanish state of more than €1m (£900,000) in 2014.
 

 
In a court filing published last month, the 31-year-old did not declare payments of just over €5m (£4.4m) from his 2014 transfer from Atletico to Chelsea in his tax return, as well as more than €1m (£900,000) in image rights. 
 
Due to the fact that Spanish law allows penal sentences below two years for non-violent crimes to be exchanged for a financial penalty, Costa agreed to pay an additional fine of €36,500 (£32,000) on top of the €507,000 (£450,000) to avoid prison time.
 

 
'Diego Costa reached an agreement a few months ago with the prosecutor and has already paid the corresponding fine plus interest and the request for a prison sentence was withdrawn,' an Atletico spokesman said on Wednesday.
 
'This week it is expected that agreement will be ratified in court, as is mandatory.'
 
Diego Costa joins the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and ex-Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who all have been involved in tax fraud. None of them served prison time but did pay hefty fines. 

b

[Edoman]

Cristiano Ronaldo Is Football 1st Billionaire - Forbes


Add another zero to soccer’s most expensive rivalry.

Cristiano Ronaldo earned $105 million after taxes and fees in the past year despite taking a pay-cut at Juventus, landing him at No. 4 on the 2020 Forbes Celebrity 100, one spot above his top rival in the sport, Lionel Messi, and making him the first soccer player in history to earn $1 billion in salary across his playing career.

The 35-year-old striker is only the third athlete to hit the mark while still playing, following Tiger Woods, who did it in 2009 on the back of his long-term endorsement deal with Nike and Floyd Mayweather, who did it in 2017 and has made most of his income from a cut of pay-per-view sales for his boxing matches.

Ronaldo, the first to reach the earnings milestone in a team sport, has made $650 million on the pitch during his 17 years as a pro and is expected to reach $765 million in career salary with his current contract, which ends in June 2022. Messi, who began playing at the senior level three years after Ronaldo, has earned a total of $605 million in salary since 2005.

The only team athlete to even come within striking distance of those figures was former New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, who retired in 2016 after 22 years in Major League Baseball having earned $450 million in salary. Not even soccer legend David Beckham came close, ending his career with total earnings of $500 million, half of which came from off-the-pitch endorsements.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, in the world’s most popular sport, in an era when football has never been so rich,” said Sporting Intelligence’s Nick Harris, whose Global Sports Salaries Survey ranks teams worldwide based on total salary expense. “He’s box office.”

Ronaldo and Messi’s head-to-heads heated up in 2009 in Spain’s La Liga, where Ronaldo played for Real Madrid and Messi for Barcelona.

Their faceoffs on the pitch ignited a nine-year battle for bragging rights as the best—and top-paid—in the sport, a highly personal tit-for-tat that had them re-negotiating contracts in lockstep and monopolizing the game’s highlight reel.

The rivalry was as entertaining as it was profitable, coming just as clubs around the world were seeing soaring attendance and an influx of television money. The two were perfectly matched for battle, on and off the pitch: Ronaldo perfected a shirtless, stylized showmanship while Messi played the quiet game, always a tad unkempt and as prolific a scorer as he was a wingman. Ronaldo strutted after every goal. Messi was a master at thanking his teammates.

Both backed it up. Barcelona won La Liga’s title six times and two Champions Leagues trophies with Messi on the squad. Real Madrid won the Spanish title twice and the Champions League four times with Ronaldo. During their years in the league, each player nabbed the Ballon d’Or (soccer’s MVP award) four times, and El Clásico, the nickname for their clubs’ fierce clashes, was a record-setting television event worldwide.

But when it comes to leveraging celebrity, it has been no contest. Guided by Jorge Mendes of Gestifute, one of the world’s most powerful agents, Ronaldo has amassed an ever-growing following of fans and consumers drawn to his poster-boy good looks, his trend-setting hair styles, his impeccable fashion sense and, lately, his softer side as a family man whose toddlers pop up on his social media posts.

In January, he became the first person with 200 million followers on Instagram, part of a social media army of 427 million across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter that makes him the most popular athlete on the planet.

Nike pays him upwards of $20 million annually and signed him to a lifetime deal in 2016, making him just the third athlete, after Michael Jordan and LeBron James, hitched to the Swoosh for eternity.

In May, the footwear maker announced the release of a ten-year-anniversary edition of his first signature Mercurial Superfly and a child’s version to celebrate his son’s 10th birthday, complete with his famous celebration stance, signature and logo.

Pitches for Clear shampoo, Herbalife and pharmaceutical maker Abbott help raise his endorsement tally to $45 million.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2020/06/04/ronaldos-105-million-year-tops-messi-and-crowns-him-soccers-first-billion-dollar-man/amp/?espv=1

[Edoman]

LA Galaxy release player Aleksandar Katai after wife's comments calling protesters 'cattle' and urging police to 'kill protesters'






LA Galaxy player Aleksandar Katai has been released by the Los Angeles based football club two days after the club was made aware of racist comments posted by his wife on her social media page amid the Black Lives Matter protests that has been happening in the US and all over the world after the police killing of George Floyd.
 
Tea Katai, Katai's wife posted on Instagram a photo with a caption written in Serbian urging police to kill protesters. In another post, she referred to protesters as disgusting cattle and in a third post she shared a racist meme.
 

On Wednesday, Galaxy condemned the comments made by Katai's wife and then the player himself distanced himself from his wife's posts late Wednesday night before a meeting with the club's officials on Thursday to explain the situation.
 
Katai in a social media post said he did not share his wife's views and they were not tolerated by his family.
 
On Thursday, a handful of club fans then gathered by the David Beckham statue outside the club's stadium holding a banner reading 'No Racists in Our Club' along with a circle and a red line through Katai's squad number.
 
Coupled with online calls for Katai's dismissal the club had to wield the axe.
 
In a one-sentence news release posted by the club on it's Twitter handle on Friday, the MLS franchise announced their decision to mutually part ways with the Serbian winger who they recently purchased.
 
Katai joined MLS with the Chicago Fire in 2018 after a career in Europe, including time with Serbian's 1991 Champions League winners, Red Star Belgrade.

He was signed by LA Galaxy as a free agent on December 31 and was expected to link up with former Manchester United striker Chicharito to devastating effect in the attack line this season.

[Edoman]

Cristiano Ronaldo was ‘on verge of tears’ after Mourinho exploded at him and players ‘had to stop them from fighting' - Luka Modric reveals







Football star, Cristiano Ronaldo and his then manager at Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho, nearly came to blows after Mourinho criticized him at half time.
 
The stunning revelations were made by Croatia captain and Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric in his new autobiography, as serialized by Corriere dello Sport.
 

 
Mourinho and Ronaldo enjoyed success together while at Madrid but did not always see eye to eye during their three years together.
 
Despite Ronaldo winning five Ballon d'Or crowns and scoring 725 goals in his career - including 450 in just 438 Real games - Mourinho snubbed Cristiano as the Greatest of all Time by picking his Brazilian namesake, Ronaldo.
 
Mourinho said: "Ronaldo, El Fenomeno, Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, they have remained at the top every day for 15 years.
"However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario].
"When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field."
 
Modric, who Mourinho signed for Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2012,  has now told the story of how Mourinho and Ronaldo, both Portuguese, almost came to blows back in 2013 when they were both at the club.
He wrote: "I was surprised by Mourinho's reaction. We were winning 2-0 in the Copa del Rey.
"Ronaldo did not chase the rivals on his throw-in and Jose was furious with Cristiano.
"The two fought for a long time on the field. After returning to the locker room at half-time, I saw Ronaldo desperate, on the verge of tears.
"He said, 'I do my best and he continues to criticise me.'
"Mourinho came in and began to criticise the Portuguese for his responsibility during the game.
"They became so hot that only the intervention of the team-mates avoided a real fight between them."
 
Ronaldo is now at Juventus while Mourinho coaches Tottenham and both share the same agent Jorge Mendes.

[Edoman]

EPL: 7 players Lampard wants to leave Chelsea revealed


 June 6, 2020




Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard, is reportedly ready to sell seven (7) players, to help fund a summer rebuild, according to Mirror UK.

The players are Pedro, Willian, Marcos Alonso, Jorginho, Kurt Zouma, Ross Barkley, and Michy Batshuayi.


Chelsea are keen to fund a move for RB Leipzig striker, Timo Werner transfer and two more signings this summer’s transfer window.

The Blues are already favourite to land Werner at the end of the season.
The West London club is also interested in Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, and Sassuolo’s Jeremie Boga as Lampard looks to strengthen his squad ahead of next season.


However, Pedro is keen to leave Stamford Bridge. AS Roma are in pole position to sign the former Barcelona winger.


Willian is also set to part company with Chelsea after failing to agree on a new three-contract with the club.
Alonso is keen to leave Lampard’s side with Chilwell being targeted as his replacement.


Jorginho is also keen to work again with Juventus manager, Maurizio Sarri who coached him at Napoli.

Zouma has drawn the interest of former Chelsea coach, Jose Mourinho, who is now the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Mourinho wants to bolster his defense with Jan Vertonghen set to leave Spurs on a free transfer this summer.

Barkley has drawn the interest of West Ham coach, David Moyes.
West Ham is also interested in Batshuayi.

[Edoman]

Ighalo reveals racial attack, vows to walk off pitch


 June 6, 2020




Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo, has said he would walk off the pitch if he is racially abused again in his career.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Ighalo revealed he was called “all sorts of names” by an opposition player while playing in China.


According to the 30-year-old who is on loan from Shanghai Shenhua, he reported the abuse to the Chinese FA, but no action was taken.

Ighalo, who called for “justice to be done” following George Floyd’s death in the US, has said he would be ready to take further action should he be subjected to racist abuse while playing.

“If it happens to me I would report it to the referee and see what they do, but if they don’t take action about it then I’m going to walk off because it should not be done to any player or anyone in the world.


“In one game in China I got called all sorts of names and after the game, I didn’t shake his hand. I walked straight into the dressing room, I was angry, I reported it to the FA,” he said.

[Edoman]

Mario Balotelli ‘sacked' by his club Brescia after skipping training for 10 days













Italian football striker, Mario Balotelli has reportedly been sacked by his club Brescia after he skipped training for ten days. 

 

Reports in Italy on Saturday morning claimed Brescia owner Massimo Cellino sent the controversial footballer a letter requesting the termination of his three-year contract at the club after he failed to show up for training when lockdown restrictions were eased.

 

The 29-year-old former Manchester City and Liverpool player was contracted to Brescia until 2022, following the £160,000-per-week deal he signed with his hometown club back in August 2019.

 



 

It was reported that his contract with Brescia was set to be terminated at the end of the 2019/20 campaign. But according to Football Italia and Gazzetta dello Sport, his contract  with the club has now been terminated. 

 

Newspaper Repubblica also claimed that both Cellino and Balotelli, who earns £877,000-a-year at Brescia have also reached a financial settlement.

 

Speaking in a recent interview with BBC, Cellino admitted his regret at signing Balotelli who scored five goals in 19 games for the club. 

 



 

He said: 'I think we both made a mistake,' Cellino told the BBC's World Football programme.

 

'I thought that coming to Brescia, which is his town, would commit him very much.

 

'At the same time, I think he was handled the wrong way by my previous coach [Eugenio Corini].

 

'He doesn't show up to training, he doesn't look very committed let's say, for the future of the club. That's the problem.

 

'Balotelli's got a contract in Serie A, but he doesn't have a contract in Serie B. So if we're relegated, Balotelli won't have a contract any more.

 

'Balotelli apparently doesn't like to stay in Italy anymore because he's not acting that way.'

 

[Edoman]

Anthony Joshua hobbles on crutches as he joins Black Lives Matter protest in Watford






Anthony Joshua joined protesters in Watford, north London, during a demonstration to call for an end to racial injustice.
 
The professional boxer was seen attending the protest while hobbling on crutches. He wore a black jumper emblazoned with the words "Black Lives Matter". He also had on a leg brace.
 
See photos below.
 

[Edoman]

FIFA confirms paying $700,000 owed to Super Falcons for World Cup participation






World football governing body, FIFA, has confirmed it has paid Nigerian Football Federation the outstanding $700,000 owed to the Super Falcons for participation in the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
 
Nigeria's women's team, the Super Falcons participated in the Women's World cup in June 2019 and as at February 2020 had not received payment of $1m for participation.
 
The NFF were  due to receive $1m for reaching the Round of 16 in France, but $240,000 was deducted for the Super Falcon's extended stay in France and rescheduled flight after their sit-in protest. 
 
In February, FIFA explained the payment delays.
"Regarding your request, as part of our long-term vision to invest into the development of women’s football at all levels, prior to last year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in France, Fifa announced that it would more than triple the financial contribution for participating Member Associations in the tournament to USD 50 million," Will Shand, a Fifa spokesperson, wrote to Goal.
 
FIFA also revealed the money was also being processed.
 
In an interview this week, Amaju Pinnick,  the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president said the NFF had not received its prize money. 

"I have always said that we have a special love for the Super Falcons," Pinnick told media in a virtual press briefing on Monday. 
"That is the team that has won the most laurels for this country and we appreciate and adore them.

"I will be in contact with Fifa during the week to know when we will receive the appearance fee from the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup. 
 
Pinnick also revealed the team is meant to share 30 percent of the prize money.
"That money is the sum of $760,000, and 30 percent of that money is for the team to share."
 
However, FIFA Fifa has confirmed it has paid Nigeria the outstanding 2019 Women’s World Cup prize money in full.

"We can confirm that the full amount due to NFF related to the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019, including prize money and preparation money, has been paid," FIFA official Shand wrote to Goal .
 
Meanwhile the NFF says they haven't received the payment.

"They told us they have paid the money but you know it takes time to hit CBN as it’s not a conventional bank," an NFF official reportedly told Goal.

"It takes a little while before we can get the money from CBN. The process is not that smooth. The money from Fifa will have to go through the Citibank in New York to Citibank in London before it gets to the CBN in Nigeria.

"However, we have discussed with the players on the mode of payment and hoping to do that as soon as we can assess the money."

[Edoman]

Pedro agrees two-year Roma deal

 June 6, 2020

[/url]







 [url=https://theeagleonline.com.ng/pedro-agrees-two-year-roma-deal/#]
Pedro is close to ending his five-year stay with Chelsea after agreeing personal terms with Roma, according to a report.


The Spanish forward is out of contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer and has been told that he is free to find a new club.

Football.London claimed that the 32-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Barcelona in a £21 million deal in 2015, is close to officially sealing a switch to Roma.


Pedro is said to have held talks with the Serie A side in April and an agreement was struck on a two-year deal, which will go through at the end of the season.


Major League Soccer side Inter Miami have previously been linked with the Barca academy product, as have La Liga pair Sevilla and Real Betis.

[Edoman]

Arsenal whip Charlton Athletic in friendly

 June 7, 2020


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Arsenal returned to action for the first time on Saturday since the 2019/2020 English Premier League was stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.


They beat Charlton Athletic 6-0 in a friendly at an empty Emirates Stadium.


Premier League clubs were this week given the all-clear to play friendlies ahead of the scheduled restart on June 17, following a three-month stoppage.


Arsenal hosted second tier Charlton Athletic behind closed doors and with officiating roles carried out by club staff.


Alex Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored before halftime while academy graduate Eddie Nketiah grabbed a second half hat-trick.


Joe Willock was also on target.
Arsenal, who are ninth in the league standings, are away to Manchester City on June 17.