Sports

FIFA has confirmed it will not allow Michel Platini to stand in the presidential election while his ban from football-related activity remains in force. The deadline for presidential nominations is on Monday and UEFA president Platini has already submitted his candidacy for the vote on February 26. The Frenchman, however, was handed a provisional 90-day suspension together with FIFA president Sepp Blatter two weeks ago. Both men are being investigated over a €1.8m payment Platini received from Blatter in 2011, which they say related to consultancy work Platini completed nine years earlier. A FIFA statement read: "Domenico Scala, in his capacity as chairman of the FIFA Ad-hoc Electoral Committee, provided information to the Executive Committee regarding the ongoing process for the FIFA presidential election. "He explained that candidacies for the FIFA Presidency that are submitted in due time and form, but which relate to candidates who are subject to a (provisional or definite) ban from taking part in any football-related activity, will not be processed by the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee as long as such ban is valid and in force."

Platini denies any wrongdoing and is awaiting the verdict of the FIFA appeals committee after challenging his suspension. If Platini's suspension is lifted before the election on February 26, he may be able to re-enter the race. FIFA's statement continued: "The chairman also told the Executive Committee that, should such a ban be lifted or expire before the FIFA presidential election, scheduled for 26 February 2016, the Ad-hoc Electoral Committee would decide, depending on the respective exact point in time, on how to proceed with the candidacy concerned." There had also been uncertainty surrounding the timing of the election and whether it might be postponed in light of the investigations into Blatter and Platini. FIFA's executive committee, however, confirmed at an emergency meeting in Zurich on Tuesday that the vote will go ahead as planned. The statement read: "FIFA ExCo reconfirms 26 February 2016 as the date of the extraordinary elective congress in Zurich." In addition to Platini, former Fifa vice-president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, former Trinidad and Tobago player David Nakhid, and Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa are expected to stand.

The election will decide the successor to Blatter, who has been president since 1998 but announced his decision to stand down in June following the arrest of seven FIFA officials on corruption charges. Swiss prosecutors then opened criminal proceedings against Blatter in September for criminal mismanagement and the "disloyal payment" to Platini. FIFA's ethics committee has previously been prevented from making public details of its investigations and decisions but the body said it had agreed on Tuesday to a change in the ruling. "The committee agreed to an important change to the rules governing investigations and decisions made by the independent Ethics Committee," a statement read. "Article 36 of FIFA's Code of Ethics will be amended to allow the Ethics Committee, at its discretion, to publish more information about its ongoing proceedings. "The independent chairmen of the committee's two chambers, Hans-Joachim Eckert and Cornel Borbely, had strongly advocated such an amendment, which will increase the transparency and understanding of their work." 

FIFA's reform committee also presented its recommendations to the executive committee on how the organisation can become more transparent. Former International Olympic Committee director-general Francois Carrard was picked by FIFA in August to lead the 12-person panel, which includes officials from the six continental confederations. The reform committee called for FIFA presidents to be subject to an age limit of 74 and a maximum term of 12 years, with salaries of the president and other senior officials to be made public. It also recommended the executive committee be changed to the 'FIFA Council', which would oversee strategic matters but not have executive powers over policies. The report read: "In order to restore confidence in FIFA, significant changes to FIFA's institutional structure and operational processes are necessary to make them more transparent and accountable. "Essential changes to the culture of FIFA are necessary to effect lasting change on the organization and to restore FIFA's reputation so that it can focus on its mission: to promote football throughout the world."

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

20.Oct.2015

Hits: 1548

As 2016 and 2019 approach, the government of Cameroon says it is working tooth and nail to live up to expectation with the exigencies of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the female and male categories. Having requested and got the blessings of the Confederation of African Football to push the competition in the female category from October 8-22, 2016 to November 19- December 3, 2016, there seem to be concerted efforts to beat out laxity as well as pre-empt overdose of confidence which could all be prejudicial to the effective hosting of the continental fiesta. A presidential decree of October 3, 2014 created an inter-ministerial Preparatory Committee headed by the Prime Minister, Head of Government to oversee an optimal preparation of the 2016 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

The COMIP-CAN, has as mission to set out strategic orientations and the plan of action for the success of the two competitions. Specifically, the committee was charged with coming up with infrastructure projects for the two continental competitions, a detail calendar on how and when each of the projects is to be carried out, where financing could be sourced and their follow up. For efficiency, the committee was assigned with an operational organ, the Technical Secretariat. As a follow up to the Presidential decree, the Prime Minister on December 10, 2014 signed an arrêté spelling out the modalities for the functioning of the Technical Secretariat for preparing the two AFCONS. Sources say members long got to work to surmount the challenges. 

It is expected that a stadium for the competition and five training grounds complying with the standards of the Confederation of African Football as well as appropriate hosting facilities will be made available in each of the selected towns. In this case, Limbe and Yaounde for 2016 and Yaounde, Bafoussam, Garoua and Douala-Limbe for 2019. The 17 ministries are therefore working in synergy to ensure that all is in order for the success of the competitions. Yaounde and Limbe have been selected to play host to the competition. The 20, 000 capacity Omnisports Stadium in the Ngeme neigbourhood of Limbe has been completed by a Chinese firm, China Machinery Engineering Corporation, and works accepted since September 2014. The 90x120m turf is fully ready to host matches of international magnitude. However, what is still left are indispensable outer works on surrounding facilities such as accesses, bypass roads and parking space.

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Public Contracts, Abba Sadou recently contracted the outer works of the Limbe Stadium to three firms to accelerate work so as to get all done in maximum eight months. While MAG Sarl firm will be constructing the main access road into the west end of the stadium to the tune of FCFA 3.8 billion, BUNS will be in charge of bypass roads to be constructed at FCFA 7.66 billion. Meanwhile, Groupement Croisière BTP-Route d’Af will be given FCFA 5.4 billion to develop the parking space. The Yaounde Omnisports Stadium in its current state, experts say, requires in-depth works to live up to the standards of an Africa Cup of Nations. This entails an intense renovation and the rehabilitation of three training grounds including the two annex stadia of the Omnisports stadium and the Yaounde Military Stadium. Already, the contracts related to the fitting of seats, the rehabilitation of the playground and the athletics tracks of the Omnisports Stadium have already been awarded to two contractors.

Alcor Equipements will be given FCFA 3 billion to refurbish the seating space and China Shanxi Construction Engineering with FCFA 1.2 billion will be required to rehabilitate the turf and the athletics tracks of the stadium. Sinohydro Corporation Limited, another Chinese firm has been awarded the contract to carry out civil engineering works at the annex 1 and 2 Military Stadium in Ngoa-Ekelle to serve as training ground. This will cost FCFA 3.2 billion. Infrastructure development for the 2019 Nations Cup in the male category has already begun. A 20,000 capacity stadium in Kouekong, some 16 km from Bafoussam is already over 92 per cent complete. China Machinery Engineering Corporation, the Chinese firm constructing the Stadium is rounding off. Already, the contractor has already finished with the main construction works. The main structure, the seats, the stand, the lamps, the functional and equipment rooms as well as the football field are visible. The seeds for green grass to grow on the turf have been planted and in the weeks ahead, the green turf will be in place likewise the runway. Outer works as well as electricity and potable water supply are still to be contracted to get the edifice fully ready.

Rehabilitation works will be done in the Garoua Roumde Adja Omnisports Stadium, the Douala Reunification Stadium and the fifteen training grounds selected in Douala, Bafoussam and Garoua corresponding to five per city. A 60,000 capacity stadium is earmarked for Olembe in Yaounde with two annex playgrounds and a 50, 000-seat stadium in Douala at the Japoma neighbourhood also with two annex playgrounds. Stakeholders in the tourism sector are working to meet up with the requirement that each host town of the competitions be provided with at least three four-star hotels so that the competing teams can lodge in two while the officials occupy one. The Minister of Tourism and Leisure already came up with an emergency programme to this effect involving both the public and private sectors. Speaking to the press after last Thursday’s Council of Ministers meeting at Unity Palace, Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang said, “we will begin very serious negotiations to get the money we need to build what we need to build.”

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

19.Oct.2015

Hits: 2824

After winning the "Golden Foot Award 2015" recently, Cameroon football legend has been honored again this time around by the House of Representatives from the State of Ohio in the US. The Cameroonian is now Ohio State goodwill ambassador. 

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

18.Oct.2015

Hits: 1974

Issa Hayatou arrived in Zurich on Thursday to take office as President of FIFA. He now will ensure the smooth running of the football world governing body as interim president following the suspension of Joseph Sepp Blatter for 90 days.

Issa Hayatou said the recent happenings at Zurich are certainly an unprecedented situation for FIFA. "We remain focused on the necessary reform process, the presidential election and support for ongoing investigations. Regaining public confidence is a crucial objective. It is essential that FIFA continues its mission to develop the game and organization of international tournaments." 

Acting President Issa Hayatou will remain in Zurich until next week, where he is expected to chair the extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday, October 20.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

16.Oct.2015

Hits: 1575