Who should win FIFA goal of the year award? RVP, Diego Costa or Ibrahimovic? Check out the nominees.

Robin Van Persie, Diego Costa, James Rodriguez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and four other players’ brilliant overhead, volleyed, long-range etc goals scored during the 2013/2014 season have been found worthy of FIFA goal of the year nomination.

 The FIFA Puskás Award, created in honour of Ferenc Puskás, the captain and star of the Hungarian national team during the 1950s, will be presented for the sixth year in a row at the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014, which will be held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich.
Fans from across the world will decide which of the ten goals chosen by FIFA and selected Football Committee members will be the winner of this award. The vote will be an online poll with the winning goal and top three to be announced on January 12 at the ceremony for the Ballon d’Or.
Nominees for the Top 10 goals:
(1) Tim Cahill: Australia v Netherlands, World Cup (June, 2014)
(2) Diego Costa: A Madrid v Getafe, La Liga (Nov 2013)
(3) Marco Fabian: Cruz Azul v Puebla, Mexican Championship (Feb
2014)
(4) Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Paris SG v Bastia, Ligue 1 (Oct 2013)
(5) Pajtim Kasami: Crystal Palace v Fulham, Premier League (Oct
2013)
(6) Stephanie Roche: Peamount United v Wexford Youths, Irish Women’s
Championship (Oct 2013)
(7) James Rodriguez: Colombia v Uruguay, World Cup (June 2014)
(8) Camilo Sanvezzo: Vancouver v Portland, MLS (Oct 2013)
(9)Hisato Sato: Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Kawasaki Frontale, J-League (Mar
2014)
(10) Robin van Persie: Spain v Netherlands, World Cup (June 2014)
Past winners:
2013: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
2012: Miroslav Stoch
2011: Neymar
2010: Hamit Altintop
2009: Cristiano Ronaldo
2012: Miroslav Stoch
2011: Neymar
2010: Hamit Altintop
2009: Cristiano Ronaldo

Nigeria escapes FIFA wrath

The warring parties have decided to sheath their swords. Nigeria today escaped FIFA ban as the suit filed against the Nigeria Football Federation by the board by ex-menbers of the board was withdrawn by Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Jos Plateau State.
The suit is hereby dismissed as the plaintiffs have announced their intention to withdraw the case from the court.”‎ The judge added.
This is coming few days after world football governing body, FIFA gave the country few  days to sort out the crisis in the Glass house or be banned for 7 months.

FIFA to introduce TV monitor that'll allow managers to challenge refereeing decisions

I hope it doesn’t stop few months after it is introduced trust me cos whether the referees are right or wrong coaches would always challenge their decisions. Goal.com reports that FIFA President, Sepp Blatter is planning to introduce a TV monitor that will allow managers to challenge refereeing decisions.

“The next step I will propose to the international board is to try to bring this so-called ‘call’ that the coaches or team managers have the right in a half, twice or once, to challenge a refereeing decision but only when the game is stopped. Then there must be a television monitor [provided] by the television company, then the referee and coach look at it and the referee may then change his mind as is the case in tennis for instance.” Blatter said at the 2014 Soccerex convention in Manchester, England.

"Those involved in NFF crisis should be ashamed"- Kanu Nwankwo

Former Super Eagles forward, Kanu Nwankwo has lashed out at those causing commotion at NFF’s glass house. You would recall that FIFA threatened to suspend Nigeria from international competitions if the incumbent NFF President, Chris Giwa doesn’t step down.

africanFootball.com however quotes the former Arsenal player as saying those behind the crisis should be ashamed of themselves.

“All those involved in this crisis have to be ashamed of themselves because they are really killing football in Nigeria. There is no peace. Nobody understands what’s going on and the earlier this problem is solved, the better.” kanu added.

FIFA upholds Barcelona's transfer ban, no signing of players till 2016.

FIFA has upheld Barcelona’s transfer ban till January 2016. Recall that the Spanish club was banned few months back for breaching transfer regulations on underage players. It was temporarily lifted during the current transfer window. Its appeal against a fine of 500,000 Swiss francs ($565,500) was also rejected.
FIFA said the club will be banned from the national and international market for two consecutive transfer windows, starting in January 2015.
Barcelona immediately announced that the case would be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A statement from the club reads thus, “FC Barcelona announces that it shall continue defending its interests before the highest sporting authority, in this case the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

NFF President, Aminu Maigari Impeached

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari has been impeached by members of the executive committee of the football federation for “financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration.”.

This is coming few days after the administrator resumed his office following FIFA intervention in Nigeria soccer-related activities. The impeachment notice was signed by 8 out of 13 members of the committee.

Brazil 2014: Maradona disagrees with Messi's award, says it was a marketing strategy

Who’s surprised by this statement? Argentine legend Diego Maradona, while speaking during a TV programme affirmed that Lionel Messi didn’t deserve the Golden Ball award at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He said the prize should have gone to Colombia’s James Rodriguez.

“I would give heaven and earth to Leo, but when marketing people want him to win something he didn’t deserve to win, it is unfair. I could see that he didn’t want to go up and collect it. We raised our flag high, there’s no doubt about that. Germany won due to a misunderstanding in the defence but at no point were they better than us. They showed us a lot of respect, and our lads earned that out on the pitch.”

Brazil 2014: FIFA ranking of all 32 teams.

FIFA has released its ranking of all 32 teams who participated at the just-concluded World Cup 2014. Nigeria finished in the 16th position and 2nd

among the five African countries at the competition. Algeria is first, Cote d’Ivoire third, Ghana and Cameroon, Fourth and fifth respectively.

Full World Cup ranking:

1.  Germany

2.  Argentina

3.  Netherlands

4.  Brazil

5.  Colombia

6.  Belgium

7.  France

8.  Costa Rica

9.  Chile

10. Mexico

11. Switzerland

12. Uruguay

13. Greece

14. Algeria

15. USA

16. Nigeria

17. Ecuador

18. Portugal

19. Croatia

20. Bosnia Herzegovina

21. Cote d’Ivoire

22. Italy

23. Spain

24. Russia

25. Ghana

26. England

27. South Korea

28. Iran

29. Japan

30. Australia

31. Honduras

32. Cameroon

Biting incident: Luis Suarez fined £66,000, banned for 4months and from entering any stadium

Luis Suárez was doing exceedingly great in the tournament, his top form and excellent performances in Uruguay games were hailed by fans and football lovers across the globe until the ugly incident happened. For biting an opponent (Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini) in World Cup clash, the Liverpool striker has been handed a 4-month ban, fined £66,000 and banned from entering any stadium by FIFA committee.
Claudio Sulser, Chairman, FIFA independent disciplinary committee said: “Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a Fifa World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field. The Disciplinary Committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr Suárez’s guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the code. The decision comes into force as soon it is communicated.”
His 9-game suspension for biting is longest EVER in the World Cup. Even if he appeals successfully, he will not be able play in any matches. Luckily, his ban will not affect any possible transfer, so he stands a chance of moving to another club next season, for now, he is on Barcelona’s radar.
Meanwhile that’s the third time he’ll be biting an opponent, I repeat, he should have his front teeth cropped.
Open chat