Sports
Trump won’t watch NFL, US soccer … if players kneel during national anthem
US President Donald Trump says he will not watch the US Soccer national teams or the NFL if players are allowed to kneel during the national anthem.
The United States Soccer Federation repealed its requirement that players stand during the national anthem on Wednesday, saying the policy was wrong and detracted from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Last weekend, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league made mistakes in not listening to players in a video on Friday, denouncing racism in the United States amid widespread protests over police brutality against black people.
On Thursday, Republican congressman Matt Gaetz criticised the outcome of the US Soccer vote, posting on Twitter: “I’d rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won’t stand for the National Anthem.”
On Saturday, President Trump quote-tweeted Gaetz twice, first posting: “I won’t be watching much anymore!” Then added: “And it looks like the NFL is heading in that direction also, but not with me watching!”
Houston Texans star JJ Watt was one of a number of athletes to criticise the stance taken by Gaetz and Trump, saying: “If you still think it’s about disrespecting the flag or our military, you clearly haven’t been listening.”
Major League Soccer is set to return on July 8 at Walt Disney World following delays due to COVID-19, while the new NFL season is set to begin on September 10.
US Soccer’s ban on kneeling during the anthem came into effect after USWNT player Megan Rapinoe kneeled in 2017 in support of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick first kneeled during the anthem in 2016 in protest against police brutality and racial inequality. – Eurosport
Sports
Kurt E.S Okraku elected CAF Executive Committee member
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has been successfully elected as a member of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The four-year term runs from 2025-2029.
The President, who was elected uncontested, joins the 24-member committee of the powerful body of the continent’s governing body.
Kurt Okraku’s election to the CAF Executive Committee comes as recognition of his remarkable leadership at the Football Association, where he has worked to rejuvenate Ghanaian football since taking office in 2019.
His efforts to enhance transparency, promote grassroots football, women’s football and focus on youth development have been well noted within the African football community.
With Ghana’s strong footballing tradition and legacy, the presence of the GFA boss on the CAF EXCO is seen as an opportunity to advance the interests of the country and help promote football development across Africa.
Mr. Okraku’s role will give Ghana a stronger voice in the decision-making processes that shape the future of football on the continent.
President Simeon-Okraku becomes the sixth Ghanaian to serve on the CAF Executive Committee in a list that includes Ohene Djan, Kobina Hagan, Nana Fredua Mensah, Samuel Okyere, and Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Sports
GFA concludes training of Club Safety and Security Officers and Regional Sports Security Officers
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has successfully concluded its training program for Club Safety and Security Officers (CSSOs) and Regional Sports Security Officers (RSSOs).
This comprehensive training, which took place from March 7 to March 10, 2025, aimed to throw more light on the enhance safety and security measures across Ghanaian football.
The training was conducted zonally, covering all 86 elite clubs and 16 regions. Participants were divided into three zones, with Zone 2 covering the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Central Regions, and Zones 1 and 3 covering the remaining regions.
The training modules included:
Challenges of Safety and Security in Ghana: Identifying and addressing key safety and security concerns in Ghanaian football.
Roles of the Club Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) and collaboration with Regional Safety and Security Officers (RSSO): Defining the roles and responsibilities of CSSOs and RSSOs, and promoting effective collaboration between them.
Club Safety and Security Officer Checklist: Providing a comprehensive checklist for CSSOs to ensure that all safety and security protocols are in place.
Introduction to the Enhanced Safety and Security Protocols 2025: Introducing new safety and security protocols aimed at improving safety and security at match venues.
Practicum and scenario session: Providing hands-on training and scenario-based exercises to prepare participants for real-world safety and security challenges.
The training workshop was led by DCOP Lydia Donkor, Chairperson of the Security Committee. Others included Capt (Rtd) Nick Owusu, Vice Chairman of the Safety Committee, Julius Ben Emunah, Head of Competitions, John Ansah, Felix Bewu and Emmanuel Osei, members of the Safety and Security Committee.
This training is part of the GFA’s enhanced approach to ensuring improved safety and security at match venues across all competitions.
