Sports
Ex FIFA boss Blatter faces fresh inquiry
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the target of a criminal investigation in Switzerland for suspected mismanagement of a $1 million payment from football funds.
Blatter has been notified by Swiss federal prosecutors he is an “accused person” over a loan FIFA gave in 2010 to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association, according to a document seen by The Associated Press.
Blatter, 84, has denied any wrongdoing during decades of financial scandals linked to football’s world governing body, though he was banned from the presidency and risks being brought to trial in his home country.
The payment now publicly revealed came from a FIFA account on April 13, 2010, and was interest-free, unsecured and later waived as a kind of gift, the document detailed.
It is the latest allegation in Swiss and American federal investigations tying FIFA to irregular payments benefiting Jack Warner, its former vice president from Trinidad who is fighting extradition to the United States.
Warner long controlled a key bloc in FIFA elections until he left football after being implicated in bribing voters to oppose Blatter in 2011. He was also an elected lawmaker in the Caribbean nation and became a government minister after a general election held in May 2010.
Two former senior FIFA officials — Jerome Valcke as Secretary General and Markus Kattner as Finance Director — are also named as accused persons.
The Swiss federal prosecution office said in a statement on Saturday that criminal proceedings against Blatter were extended last month to include Valcke and Kattner. The office said both men, who were fired by FIFA in 2016, have the presumption of innocence.
The investigation document is dated May 13, 2020 — several weeks after the office said it was closing one of two criminal proceedings opened against Blatter five years earlier.
The allegation to be dropped was that Blatter mismanaged a World Cup broadcast deal for the Caribbean that let Warner personally profit by millions of dollars.
That prosecution decision revealed in April suggested Blatter could be cleared by Swiss justice after years under suspicion and while serving a six-year ban by FIFA’s ethics committee. It expires in October 2021.
A Swiss criminal proceeding has also been open against Blatter since September 2015 related to FIFA payments to former UEFA president Michel Platini. That allegation led to FIFA’s ethics committee banning both men from football. –AP
Sports
Premier League:Gold Stars FC storm to top; Kotoko smash Vison; Hearts of Lions shocked at home
Gold Stars FC stormed to the top of the Premier League with a sensational 3-0 win at Accra Lions on Sunday January 19, 2025.
The visitors were at their very best as they run riot against the struggling Premier League side to leapfrog Heart of Lions at the top of the table.
Samuel Attah Kumi bagged a remarkable hat-trick to hand the Miners their biggest away win of the season and their 9th in total so far this term. He scored in the 14th, 44th and 46th minute as the visitors recorded the heavy win at the WAF Park in Sogakope.
Kwame Opoku bagged a brace for Asante Kotoko as they thumped Vision FC 4-1 to move within touching distance of leaders Gold Stars FC.
Opoku opened the scoring as early as the 6th minute before Nana Akwesi Amoah pulled parity for the visitors in the 22nd minute.
Peter Amidu restored Kotoko’s lead with the second goal before Kwame Opoku added the third in the 37th minute. Saaka Dauda completed the rout with the fourth goal in the 44th minute.
Kotoko are now third with 31 points, just two adrift of leaders Bibiani Gold Stars FC. Vision FC lie 11th in the table with 19 points.
Defending champions FC Samartex 1996 drew goalless with Hearts of Oak at home on Sunday.
The two teams failed to break each other down as they shared the points at the Nsenkyire Arena.
Hearts have dropped to 5th while Samartex find themselves in mid-table.
Nations FC dented Heart of Lions’ Premier League title charge after recording a 1-0 win at the Kpando Stadium.
Di Boris Djangone scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute to separate the two teams. This is Lions’ first defeat at home this season as they are leapfrogged at the top by Gold Stars FC.
Heart of Lions have slipped to fourth while Nations jump to second in the Premier League table.
Eric Osei Bonsu scored from the spot to give Nsoatreman FC a vital 1-0 win over Karela United at home on Sunday.
Osei Bonsu scored the decisive goal in the 52nd minute to give Yaw Preko’s side a respite after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign.
Karela United have dropped into the bottom three while Nsoatreman have jumped to 12th in the league table.
Berekum Chelsea left it late to record a 2-1 win over Medeama SC in a dramatic Premier League game on Sunday.
Stephen Amankona opened the scoring for the home side in the first half before Yussif Mubarik pulled parity for the visitors through the spot kick six minute into injury time.
However, captain Zackaria Fuseini stole the headlines when he scored the winner with the last kick of the ball.
Basake Holy Stars shared the spoils with Aduana FC in an entertaining 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Fire Club went ahead in the first half before Bismark Teye pulled parity in the 86th minute at the Ampain AAK Arena.
Legon Cities thrashed Dreams FC 3-0 at home on Sunday to continue their push for survival.
Goals from Fredrick Akatuk, Frank Akoto and Kabu Agyemang Raymond condemned Dreams to their 7th defeat of the season.
The Royals remain in the bottom three while Dreams FC are just above the drop zone.
Bechem United continued their fine performances in the Premier League with a solid 0-0 stalemate at Young Apostles in the Bono derby on Sunday.
Sports
New Black Stars Management Committee
The Football Association is pleased to announce the formation of a new Management Committee for the Senior Male National Team, the Black Stars.
The Committee, which is tasked with overseeing the administrative and logistical aspects of the team, will be chaired by Dr. Randy Abbey, an Executive Council member of the GFA. In addition to chairing the Committee, Dr. Abbey shall lead engagement with Government and other stakeholders. Mr. Stephen Appiah, a former Captain of the Black Stars, will serve as Vice-Chairman, supporting Dr. Abbey, while also focusing on Player Relations.
Other members of the Committee include Mr. Samuel Aboabire, Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association and an Executive Council member of the GFA and Mr. Moses Armah, President of Medeama Sporting Club.
Both Messrs Aboabire and Armah shall be responsible for Operations and Matchday activities while ensuring that the interests of Sponsors, Partners and other Collaborators are well taken care of. Mr. Richard Nsenkyire, President of FC Samartex 1996, the 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League Champions is Member responsible for Special Duties.
The Management Committee’s duties will include the overall effective management and setting the strategic plan and activities of the team, serving as a link between the Technical Team and the GFA, ensuring adequate camping arrangements, providing logistical support, and paying regular visits to the team in camp.
The Committee shall, in consultation with the Head Coach and Technical team, prepare and ensure the team’s adherence to Activity Schedules for all matches and tournaments.
Additionally, the Committee will be responsible for following up on the release of funds for team operations from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, ensuring the best travelling arrangements are in place, and that members of the team act in a manner worthy of Ambassadors of Ghana. Furthermore, the Management Committee shall ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are put in place for the effective management and support of the playing body and officials of the team; as well as for the maintenance of a cordial relationship between the Committee, the Technical team and the playing body.
The Committee shall also interface with the Marketing and Communications Departments of the GFA to ensure effective and efficient delivery of all commitments to Sponsors and Partners and seamless communication about the team respectively.
The GFA is confident that the new Management Committee will bring the necessary expertise and experience to support the Black Stars in their quest for success.
“We are excited to announce the formation of this new Management Committee, which brings together a team of experienced and dedicated individuals who are passionate about Ghana football,” GFA President, Kurt E.S. Okraku.
He added, “We are confident that they will work tirelessly to support the Black Stars and ensure their success.”
