Putin: Blatter deserves a Nobel prize

"We all know the situation developing around Mr. Blatter right now. I don't want to go into details but I don't believe a word about him being involved in corruption personally," he said via Swiss broadcaster RTS. The president of Russia says heads of sporting organisations deserve greater recognition and has criticised the timing of the corruption investigation Fifa chief Sepp Blatter...

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Alexis Sanchez: We knew we'd win Copa America after the World Cup

The Arsenal star says that having their impressive World Cup campaign cut short last year is what inspired Chile to secure their first title this summer Alexis Sanchez has claimed Chile 's belief that drove them to Copa America success stems all the way back to last year's World Cup. The tournament hosts beat Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout in Saturday's final to...

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Is it time to find an ‘Oyinbo’ coach for Nigeria's youth teams?

Is it time to find an ‘Oyinbo’ coach for Nigeria's youth teams? Sports Verdict    By Prof Patrick Omo-Osagie      Follow on Twitter  This is an undisputable football fact; Nigeria has the best youth programme in the world of football. We have won four FIFA U16/17 tournaments and we have placed second (twice) and third in the U20. So why are...

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Portugal risk Madrid row over plans to pick Ronaldo for Olympics

The nation's Under-21 side have secured a place in Brazil next summer and the Blancos forward is part of their plans Portugal are risking a club versus country row with Real Madrid after revealing Cristiano Ronaldo is under consideration to fill one of their three over-23 slots at the 2016 Olympic Games. Should the 30-year-old still be at the Santiago Bernabeu heading into the...

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Stephen Keshi fired as Super Eagles coach

Keshi The Big Boss has been shown the exit door by the Nigeria Football Federation for lack of commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives Stephen Keshi’s contract as head coach of the Super Eagles has been terminated, the Nigeria Football Federation has announced. The 53-year-old who was re-appointed as the country’s senior national team coach in April was kicked out on Saturday evening,...

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Awoniyi, Yahaya top Nigeria U23 list for Congo game

The Flying Eagles players have been picked to face the Congolese U23 squad in next week’s African U23 Championship qualifier Coach Samson Siasia has picked a strong 25-man team for July 19’s African U23 Championship qualifier against Congo.  Three players from the Flying Eagles’ squad to the 2015 Fifa U20 World Cup squad made the list (Taiwo Awoniyi, Saviour Godwin and Musa Yahaya) made...

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Ronaldo: People told me I was too skinny to make it

The Portugal international has revealed he used the negativity to motivate him to become the impressive physical specimen he is today Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed being told he was "too skinny" as a youngster drove him to become the player that he is today. The Portugal international first came to prominence as a slender, teenage winger at Manchester...

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