GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS

A Swiss regulator says FIFA made false statements about the reduced environmental impact of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Football’s world governing body claimed the tournament would be the first “fully carbon-neutral World Cup”.

Advertising regulator, the Swiss Fairness Commission has upheld complaints from five European nations.

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NIGERIA

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Bendel Insurance has extended their unbeaten streak in the Nigeria Premier League to twenty-one games after they held Enyimba to a one-all draw in their Super Six playoffs tie on Wednesday.

Enyimba took the lead on twenty-three minutes through Sadiq Abubakar.

Bendel Insurance rallied back with Divine Nwachukwu netting the equaliser eight minutes before the break.

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The final matches of the 2023 Federation Cup Competition in both the male and female categories will take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba fifteenth June.

The day will begin with the women’s final match between defending champions Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels from two in the afternoon.

The men’s final match, between 1978 champions Bendel Insurance of Benin and Rangers International of Enugu, will kick off at five in the evening.

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The Proprietor of Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne, Kunle Soname, has resigned his appointment with the Interim Management Committee, of the Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL.

Soname, in a letter to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, said his official resignation should be considered with immediate effect.

Gusau accepted the resignation and also thanked Soname for his robust efforts in the Committee and his continuing contributions to the growth of football in Nigeria.

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Napoli is not willing to lose Nigerian interantional Victor Osimhen this summer and will meet his agent to discuss a new contract.

Osimhen played a vital role in the Partenopei’s Scudetto success in the just concluded season.

The Super Eagles forward scored twenty-six goals and provided five assists in thirty-two league appearances.

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ENGLAND

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has given a tactical breakdown into how his team can defeat Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Guardiola who is confident that his team will beat Inter Milan, said he can not deny the qualities of the opponents, especially in the final of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Guardiola has hailed Inter Milan goalkeeper, Andre Onana, as “one of the best in the world”.

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The Qatari Sheikh who wants to buy Manchester United has submitted a further bid and has set a deadline of Friday.

In a major power move to seize control of the Premier League giants, Sheikh Jassim al-Thani has submitted the offer directly to the club’s owners, the Glazer family, and Raine Group, the American bankers managing the long-running saga.

The Sheikh has also told those involved that he will engage up until Friday.

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Leeds United have been charged with misconduct in relation to crowd control in their Premier League game against Newcastle United in May.

A Leeds fan was given a lifetime ban after he appeared to push Newcastle boss, Eddie Howe in his technical area before being dragged away by security.

Leeds have until fourteenth June to respond to the charge.

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Chelsea have opened talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a possible deal for Neymar.

Neymar could be on the verge of leaving the Ligue 1 champions, following Lionel Messi out of the door.

The Brazilian’s season ended early due to an ankle injury in February.

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has completed a medical in London ahead of his expected move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.

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Alexis Mac Allister’s transfer to Liverpool will cost the Merseyside club a mere thirty-five million pounds due to an unusual clause in the midfielder’s contract.

The Argentina World Cup winner has been top of Jurgen Klopp’s summer wish list and the German manager is said to be delighted about the discounted price.

Mac Allister was initially set to cost Liverpool sixty million pounds.

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Nottingham Forest are targeting Monza’s attacking left-back Carlos Augusto.

Manager Steve Cooper and chief football officer, Ross Wilson are keen to get fresh signings in early to prepare for the new season.

They have a deal in place for Manchester United goalkeeper, Dean Henderson and are also keen on Leeds United midfielder, Tyler Adams and Wolves defender, Conor Coady.

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Fulham defender, Tosin Adarabioyo is drawing interest from Ligue 1 clubs, Monaco and Stade Rennes.

The two clubs have opened talks with Fulham to sign the player.

Fulham are looking to sell the centre-back for between ten million euros and fifteen million euros.

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Crystal Palace star, Wilfried Zaha has received a huge offer to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Zaha is set to join Al-Nassr to partner Ronaldo in the team’s attack next season after being offered a three-year deal by the Saudi Arabian club worth forty-five million pounds.

The Ivorian current contract with Crystal Palace will expire at the end of June.

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OTHER SPORTS

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In Rugby, London Irish have filed for administration after being suspended from the Premiership.

Irish, who will not be able to play in any league next season, were punished after missing a deadline to pay players and staff or complete a takeover.

Owner Mick Crossan and a US consortium have been unable to reach a deal.

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In Tennis, Defending champion Iga Swiatek has maintained her dominance over American teenager Coco Gauff to set up a French Open semi-final against Brazilian fourteenth seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.

World number one Swiatek, who beat Gauff in the 2022 final, won 6-4, 6-2.

The contest was much closer than last year but Swiatek’s quality showed in a seventh straight win over Gauff.

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Great Britain’s Andy Murray is through to the quarter-finals of the Surbiton Trophy Challenger event after a straight-set win over Bu Yunchaokete.

The former world number one won 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 against the Chinese qualifier, who is 173rd in the rankings.

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In Cricket; The Blaze maintained their unbeaten run in the Charlotte Edwards Cup with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Western Storm in Cardiff.

Storm posted 134-7 from their 20 overs after an economical bowling performance from the visitors.

Kathryn Bryce took 2-17 and Grace Ballinger 2-24.

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The International Olympic Committee executive board has recommended withdrawing recognition of the International Boxing Association.

It means the sport could now be part of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, after being left off the initial programme.

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In Golf, Irish professional golfer, Rory McIlroy says The PGA Tour and DP World Tour’s shock merger with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund PIF, will ultimately be “good for golf”.

The world number three had been a firm defender of the PGA Tour as rivals accepted lucrative deals to join the LIV Golf series, funded by the PIF.

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The International Hockey Federation has amended its rules to give female players more choice with their kit.

Players can now choose between a skirt, a skort, a skirt with shorts attached underneath and shorts, as long as they are the same colour and design.

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OTHER LEAGUES

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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is the world’s most expensive player and valued at 245.1m euros.

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka are ranked second and third respectively in the CIES Football Observatory’s latest report.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham came in at number four.

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Jarrod Bowen’s dramatic 90th-minute goal secured West Ham their first major European trophy since 1965 with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

It is the second European trophy for West Ham after they won the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup 58 years ago with a team including England World Cup heroes Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.

Bowen picked up a superb through ball from Lucas Paqueta, before sending a low shot past a helpless Pietro Terracciano in the Fiorentina goal.

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Argentina legend Lionel Messi will join American side Inter Miami after his exit from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Barcelona player is set to reject a more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

The Miami deal includes collaboration from brands like Adidas and Apple.

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Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign England midfielder Jude Bellingham for eighty-eight point five million pounds.

The England star, who joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in July 2020, was one of England’s top performers at last year’s World Cup.

The midfielder, who has been linked with some of Europe’s top sides, will sign a six-year deal.

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Sadio Mane is leading Bayern Munich’s seven-man transfer list ahead of the summer window.

Thomas Tuchel, who narrowly guided the team to an eleventh consecutive Bundesliga title on the final day of the season, wants a major rebuild at the Allianz Arena after what has been an uncharacteristically turbulent campaign for the German giants.

Bayern’s wingers appear to be first on the chopping block, with Mane, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry all heading for the exit door.

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Former Tottenham and West Ham striker, Serhiy Rebrov has been named Ukraine head coach.

Rebrov, who scored fifteen goals in seventy-five games for Ukraine between 1992 and 2006, has signed a three-year contract.

He replaces Ruslan Rotan, who was appointed interim boss after Oleksandr Petrakov’s departure in January.

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Steven Naismith has been named Heart of Midlothian’s technical director due to his lack of a UEFA Pro Licence means he cannot be appointed manager.

Naismith cannot begin to obtain the licence until next year, so Frank McAvoy has been named head coach.

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Cremonese have placed a £7m price tag on Rangers target Cyriel Dessers.

It was revealed last week that Dessers was on a list of strikers under consideration at Ibrox, alongside Atalanta’s Sam Lammers.

Rangers who are poised to confirm the addition of goalkeeper Jack Butland are understood to have made a significant opening offer.

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TODAY’S FIXTURE

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FIFA UNDER-TWENTY WORLD CUP – SEMI-FINALS

Uruguay vs Israel

Italy vs Korea Republic