In a press conference ahead of Manchester United’s game with Arsenal, Jose Mourinho, aimed another dig at his rival, Arsene Wenger claiming he is not shown the same respect as his Arsenal counterpart.
Portuguese club, Boavista FC accused of treating Nigerian footballers like slaves.
Portuguese club, Boavista FC are allegedly owing Nigerian footballers, Uche Nwofor and Micheal Uchebo arrears of salaries and treating them as slaves, BBC Journalist, Shina Okeleji has learnt. Okeleji made the revelation in a series of tweets via his personal accounts (twitter.com/oluwashina). His tweets below:
The players refused a pay cut at the start of 2016/17 season. Boavista president then gave instruction for them to be COMPLETELY ISOLATED.. To add insult to injury, they’re barred from the club’s training ground, shunned at team gatherings – & isolated from the rest of the squad. Fifa rules states that a player must NOT train in isolation. But Boavista made them train without a trainer, doctor & a Physio. When Uchebo and Nwofor attempted to use the club facilities, securities acting on the order of the Boavista president pushed them out.
Uchebo has gone unpaid for months & banished from the training facilities since July. Him: “I asked Boavista why? They won’t say a word.” To save his career Nwofor agreed to terminate his contract in Sept but Boavista boss Alvaro Braga has failed to pay his €110k compensation.
Nwofor’s handlers & Fifpro discovered that Boavista misled the league body by registering the termination but without the compensation. Deadline for payment of €110k has elapsed & Boavista have refused to pay. Nwofor has since tried to contact them but they’ve ignored his phone calls. In a video recording from the facilities. Uchebo can be heard in that video asking why he’s being thrown out by Boavista security. One of the players reps Kobe Benson told me: The club Boavista is a notoriously dishonest side with no respect for FIFA rules/regulations. Benson: “No options but to report them to the authorities. With the amount of evidence, I have no doubt that they will be punished severely”
Benson also added that the club will be made to pay the full value of Uchebo’s remaining contract and Nwofor’s agreed compensation. Nwofor on Boavista: “They are gangsters. They force you to reduce salary or force you out. In france & Germany this cruel things don’t happen.”
Spare a thot for Uchebo, Boavista fail to pay his house rent, electricity & tax bills. Landlord threatens eviction & stopped from training.
Nwofor: “A crazy situation we had to start keeping evidence. You’re working, they don’t pay U & use security to harass U. This is slavery.”
Portuguese league body allows Boavista to get away with such deplorable acts & allow them sign players even though they owe Nwofor & Uchebo
The club was punished & relegated in 2008 by the league body for gross misconduct. It appears that punishment did nothing to change them.
I spoke to club administrator Diogo Braga about this situation few months back. He requested I sent an email. He never replied or text back.
Boavista security officer to Uchebo in Portuguese “I know he is recording but I am going to hit this guy. I want to put this guy to sleep”
‘Living in fear’ Boavista security officer can be heard on video threatening to punch Nigeria striker Michael Uchebo and put him to sleep.
This is a very serious threat & a criminal offence in most parts of Europe. A big case for Portuguese football. Deplorable act by Boavista
Brave Uchebo admits he lives in fear for his life in Boavista but prays about it. Compatriot Nwofor: “I was very scared in Boavista.” Nwofor: “I was intimidated & threatened by Boavista security instructed by Alvaro Braga the president. How do these people sleep at night.” “I’m happy that me & my family managed to terminate & leave safely. Thou they refuse to give me my money, my life is more important”
Boavista security to Nwofor: “Last night after training, the president told me you and Uchebo shouldn’t come in here.
“Summary: Nwofor terminated his contract and joined Slovak side Trencin in September, but Boavista have not paid his €110k compensation fee. Barred from training and unpaid, Uchebo still has a contract with Boavista as Portugal Players’ Union steps in. Case now with Fifpro& FIFA.
There are more damning videos detailing several atrocious behaviour by Boavista in breach of FIFA rules. I’ll share when I get ’em.
Antonio Conte, Eden hazard pick October Premier League awards
It is raining honours at Stamford Bridge.
For leading the team to 5 straight victories without conceding a goal, Chelsea coach, Antonio Conte has been named the Premier League manager of the month of October award. The Italian who has had an impressive run so far and is very deserving of the honour beat colleagues Jurgen Klopp, Arsener Wenger and Mark Hughes to clinch the prize.
“It is a great honour to receive this award and I want to share this with my players and the club.” Conte stated.
Balotelli was right to call me his worst coach – Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers has responded to claims made by his former player, Mario Balotelli that he is his “worst ever coach. The Nice forward who joined Liverpool in 2014 and left in 2016 after scoring just one goal was asked by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport to name his worst coach of his career. He described his relationship with Rodgers as ‘a disaster’ & ‘the biggest disappointment’ of any coach he has worked under. The Irish football coach has however affirmed that his statement isn’t far from the truth.
The Celtic manager told talkSPORT, “He was probably absolutely spot on. I just couldn’t really connect with Mario. He was one that came in very late in the window. It was a gamble taken from a club perspective. It was one where, he’s a big talent, he’ll come in and develop, he’s got all the tools.
“In all fairness, I just find it very difficult to connect with Mario. On the field, he tried his best. But yeah, it certainly wasn’t something that worked out as everyone would like. If you sit with him in the office, the guy’s a good fella, a good guy. If he could ever match that intensity with his talent, then he’d be one of the best players in the world.
“On the field, it was something that never worked out. That season was difficult for us. But now I hope he’s got a club, that might be a final chance over in France. But hopefully it can work out for him.”
Barcelona announce one of the biggest shirt sponsorship deals in football history
Barcelona have announced Rakuten; a Japanese online retailer as their next shirt sponsor the next four years. The new deal which is valued at £200m ($59 million) a year is arguably one of the biggest shirt sponsorship deals in football history. Rakuten will replace Qatar Airways, who have been their main sponsor since 2013.
Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu told a news conference at the club’s Camp Nou stadium “I have the pleasure and honour to announce that the board of directors has approved that RAKUTEN be the new main and global sponsor of the club for the next four years.” .
Messi leads media boycott over false accusations.
Following their 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Columbia yesterday, All 26 players of Argentina National Team led by Lionel Messi declared that the team will no longer be speaking to the press.
The decision was made after a radio station accused one of the players, Ezequiel Lavezzi of smoking marijuana after a training session, a report which turned out to be completely false.
Addressing a team of reporters who converged after the game, the Barcelona helmsman said,
“We have decided not to speak anymore with the press. We’ve received many accusations, a lot of lack of respect and we never said anything. We know there are lots of you who are not in the game of not showing us respect, but getting into one’s personal life is very grave.”
Having made this clear, the team walked out on the reporters.
Lavezzi is reportedly suing the radio journalist who reported the false story.
Paul Pogba's dab used to teach maths.
The dab movement just got more popular.
A teacher has used a picture of Paul Pogba’s dab celebration to solve a pythagoras theorem in a French school and the post has gone viral and has more than 5000 shares across many social media platforms.
The teacher printed the photo of the Manchester United player and asked: “Is it perfect dab?”
The former Juventus star has seen the picture and we are certain he is happy with the fact that his image has been adopted as a learning tool.
Credit: 101 Great Goals
Yaya Toure, Aubameyang, 3 others nominated for BBC African Footballer of the Year 2016 award.
Algeria forward Riyad Mahrez, Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Senegal international, Sadio Mane, Ghana’s Andre Ayew, and Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast are the five-man shortlist for this year’s BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
Mahrez scored 17 goals and delivered 11 assists for current title holder, Leicester last season and also scored two goals to help Algeria reach the African Nations Cup. Aubameyang who won the award in January, scored 25 goals for Dortmund last season and has 11 on the score sheet this season. Mane netted 11 goals for Southampton last season and now has 6 goals for Liverpool this season. Ayew, scored 12 Premier League goals for Swansea last season, and netted 3 goals as Ghana cruised to the African Nations Cup,. Yaya Toure’s nomination for this year’s prize has been nothing short of shocking. The Ivorian who has won it four consecutive times scored 3 goals last season and provided 1 assist. He hasn’t also featured in the Guardiola-led team this season.
Fans have until 18.00 GMT on Nov. 28 to vote. The winner will be unveiled on Dec 12.
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are leaving the MLS.
Premier League return?
Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are leaving the MLS.
Lampard who joined NYCFC from Manchester City in 2015 and netted 15 goals in 31 appearances made the confirmation on his instagram account.
“As my time at NYCFC comes to an end I would like to thank so many people for the kindness and support that they have shown me over the last two years,” Lampard wrote in a statement on his instagram account. My teammates have been a pleasure to play alongside. The amazing fans have given me incredible support and backing. All the people that work behind the scenes at NYCFC have made it so easy for me to work and settle here. I have very much enjoyed my time, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a great club and in such an incredible city. I leave with many great memories as I embark on the next stage of my career and I’ll be making an announcement very soon.” He wrote
Gerrard’s spell might also be over at the US club. The Liverpool legend who signed an 18-month deal with the MLS side in January 2015 gave a hint on his instagram page. He captioned a picture on his instagram account: “Special place incredible view I will miss you LA.”
Both Lampard and Gerrard scored 20 goals in 67 games between them.
Reports: Messi will not renew his contract with Barcelona
According to spanish media outfit, Marca, Lionel Messi won’t renew with Barcelona mainly due to tax problems in Spain and will see out current his deal before deciding his future. The newspaper claimed the 29 year-old whose current contract with the Catalans ends on June 30, 2018 made the decision in July 2016 during a family vacation in Ibiza. Messi’s representatives and Barcelona have reportedly not made any official contacts since July.