Nigeria Premier League

World Cup Kiss: FIFA Opens Investigation Against Spanish FA Boss, Rubiales

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has 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 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ on 20 August 2023.

The events may constitute violations of Article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will only provide further information on these disciplinary proceedings once it has issued a final decision on the matter.

FIFA says reiterates its unwavering commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behaviour to the contrary.

Rubiales was pictured grabbing Hermoso and kissing the striker on the lips during Spain’s celebrations after beating England 1-0 in the Women’s World Cup final a few days ago.

Rubiales’ actions have been widely condemned with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez describing the incident as ‘unacceptable’.

He has since apologised for his actions after Hermoso came out and said that she ‘didn’t like’ the kiss.

Meanwhile, United States winger, Megan Rapinoe has hit out at Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales for ‘physically assaulting’ Jenni Hermoso at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Rapinoe, who helped her country win back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019, has now offered her views on the development.

“It made me think about how much we are required to endure,” Rapinoe told American outlet The Atlantic.

“Think how much that Spanish team had to shoulder: Some of the players who stood up way back last year [to protest poor treatment by their coach and federation] still are not on the team.

“Maybe that was something that galvanized them, but you should not have to have that.

“There was another picture that signals such a deep level of misogyny and sexism in that federation and in that man [Rubiales] at the final whistle, just grabbing his crotch.

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

Jenni Hermoso and the world players’ union FIFPRO have also called for action to be taken against Rubiales.

The 33-year-old said in a joint statement on Wednesday released by her union and her agency: “My union FUTPRO, in coordination with my agency TMJ, are taking care of defending my interests and being the interlocutors on this matter.

“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.”

FIFPRO later came out in support of Hermoso and requested FIFA open an investigation into Rubiales.

“We reiterate that it was deeply lamentable that such a special moment for the players of the Spain national team taking place before a global television audience should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility,” the union’s statement read.

“Uninitiated and uninvited physical approaches towards players are not appropriate or acceptable in any context, and especially when they are put in a position of vulnerability by a person who holds a position of power over them in their workplace.”

FUTPRO will meet next Monday with Spain’s second deputy leader Yolanda Diaz to ensure the actions of Rubiales are “duly sanctioned”.

The Spanish federation (RFEF) announced on Tuesday night it had called an extraordinary meeting of its general assembly for Friday, and that “internal proceedings” were open in relation to integrity issues arising from the trophy ceremony.

Spain’s women’s football league, Liga F, called for Rubiales to be dismissed and said it had lodged a complaint with the president of the National Sports Council (CSD) over his “very serious actions and behaviour”.

“For a boss to grab his employee by the head and kiss her on the mouth simply cannot be tolerated,” it said. “The subsequent justifications are, as the prime minister described it, ‘inadequate’.”

Nigeria Premier League

Akwa Ibom Commissioner Dissolves State Football Club Boards

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, has announced the immediate dissolution of the management teams of the four state-owned football clubs following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Nigeria Football League season.

The affected clubs are Akwa United FC, Dakkada FC, Ibom Angels FC, and Ibom Youth FC—all fully funded by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

Elder Bassey made the announcement during a meeting held in Uyo with representatives of the four clubs.

He directed the chairmen and secretaries of each club to submit their handover notes to the Ministry of Sports within two weeks.

According to the commissioner, the decision is in line with the state’s broader plan to reposition sports and elevate performance levels across all sporting fronts, in alignment with Governor Umo Eno’s Arise Agenda.

“A new management structure will be announced soon to commence preparations for the upcoming football season,” Bassey stated, adding that the dissolution marks the beginning of a renewed vision for sports excellence in the state.

He expressed appreciation to the outgoing officials for their service and contributions to the growth of football in the state, wishing them well in their future endeavours.

In his reaction, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh, acknowledged that the just concluded football season was challenging for all four teams. He applauded the commissioner’s decision as a timely move to reposition the clubs for future success.

Representatives of the clubs—Elder Omon Bassey (Akwa United), Coach Aniedi Dickson (Dakkada), Coach Edwin Okon (Ibom Angels), and Coach Lawrence Iquaibom (Ibom Youth)—thanked the commissioner for the opportunity to serve and pledged their continued support for football and sports development in Akwa Ibom State.

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Nigeria Premier League

Commissioner Inspects Lafia Stadium, Assures NPFL Standards

In a decisive move to ensure compliance with Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) requirements ahead of the 2025/26 season, the Nasarawa State Government, on Monday, commenced a comprehensive inspection and evaluation of facilities at the Lafia City Stadium.

Led by the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, a high-powered delegation comprising government officials, engineers, and stadium experts assessed the readiness of the stadium, which serves as home ground to Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons.

The inspection comes on the heels of the NPFL Board’s June 3rd directive mandating all participating clubs to upgrade stadium facilities to meet modern football standards. Among the key requirements are the installation of standard LED floodlights for night matches, a functional backup generator, perimeter fencing, improved changing rooms, emergency exit routes, and a quality-approved playing turf.

Speaking after the facility tour, Hon. Yakubu reiterated the commitment of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to meeting the NPFL’s expectations before the new season kicks off on August 22, 2025.

> “We’ve identified key areas for immediate improvement,” said Yakubu. “We’ll begin installing new floodlights, refurbishing changing rooms, replacing damaged turf, and improving emergency response infrastructure. Governor Sule’s passion for sports is unwavering, and we won’t let our teams play home matches away from Lafia again.”

Nasarawa United FC Chairman, Solomon Babanjah, lauded the state government’s swift response, describing the move as a significant morale booster for both Nasarawa United and the Nasarawa Amazons.

> “This will change the psychology of our teams,” Babanjah said. “Playing at home, in front of our fans, on a well-equipped pitch, gives us the confidence and environment we need to compete at the highest level.”

The inspection also holds strategic importance as Lafia is set to host the prestigious Gusau/Ahlan Cup Preseason Tournament, a major curtain-raiser for the Nigerian football calendar.

Key stakeholders on the inspection team included Permanent Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, Director of Facilities Ahmad Yusuf, and Nasarawa FA Chairman Salisu Galadima ‘Basira’.

With the 2025/26 season fast approaching, and Nasarawa United aiming to build on their 12th-place finish in the just-concluded season—highlighted by striker Anas Yusuf finishing as league top scorer with 18 goals—the state’s infrastructural push may well be the game-changer the club needs.

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Nigeria Premier League

Remo Stars Can Conquer Africa With Better Pitch – Egbe

Winners of this season’s contest in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), Remo Stars FC of Ikenne have been tipped as credible contenders to become Africa’s next club champions, once their home stadium’s pitch is upgraded to continental standards.

This verdict was passed by the chief executive of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited, Ebi Egbe, who told Sports247 that his own contribution to ensure that the Ogun State-based outfit owned by Honourable Kunle Soname win the next CAF Champions League is to help them upgrade their home ground in Ikenne.

While many Nigerian football fans already adjudge Remo Stars Stadium as best in the country at present, Egbe pointed out that some upgrades have to be made at the arena in order to make it meet up to both African and global standards.

Egbe added duting an exclusive interview with Sports247 in Abuja: “We are trying to upgrade the Remo Stadium pitch to meet CAF standard, because we all know they have a continental run coming up; and we have just few months to get it ready for them.

“So, we are already discussing and looking at the World Cup standards in Abuja; to see how we can work on the floodlights and stuff like that.”

Egbe then pointed at some high standards that have already been set in the NPFL and gave applause to the league board’s chairman, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, for ensuring that most clubs now have television friendly venues.

He added, “Let me thank Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye. He’s a great guy who’s setting standards. One of them is that if you do not have a good playing surface, they’ll move your team to a different venue.

“It’s all about TV friendly pitches; but facility owners have to understand that Gbenga cannot do it alone. They, too, have a part to play.

“It’s also important for them to understand that the playing surface is the most important part of a stadium … followed by the ancillary facilities.

“If we want to talk about growing our league, let facilities owners support Gbenga Elegbeleye by making sure all venues meet the correct standard for our local league.”

He concluded by stating that another factor which should propel Remo Stars far in the CAF Champions League is because they emerged as credible winners of a well-organised and highly competitive domestic contest in the NPFL’s immediate past term.

Egbe posited: “The league management board is doing a great job. Big thanks too to GTI for all their support to the league. That’s why this last season’s run was very good.

“We were all excited, and we saw the real champions emerge. That’s why I can tell you that Remo Stars is going to go far in the Champions League. They have all the facilities and they have all the boys to make it happen.”

The pitch installation expert equally predicted that the new wave of upgrade for sports facilities across Nigeria will help the country get better performances from the national teams in all their forthcoming international engagements.

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