BEB Weekend Sports: Juicy News!

Manchester City banned from European club competitions for two seasons

Manchester City have been banned from European club competition for the next two seasons after being found to have committed "serious breaches" of Uefa's club licensing and financial fair play regulations.

The reigning Premier League champions have also been fined 30m euros (£25m).

The decision is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Manchester City say they are "disappointed but not surprised" by the "prejudicial" decision and will appeal.

The independent Adjudicatory Chamber of the Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) said City had broken the rules by "overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to Uefa between 2012 and 2016", adding that the club "failed to cooperate in the investigation".

It has been reported that City could also face a Premier League points deduction because the league's FFP rules are similar - although not exactly the same - as Uefa's.

However, the punishment has no implications for City's women's team.

Manchester City in a statement said:

“Simply put, this is a case initiated by Uefa, prosecuted by Uefa and judged by Uefa. With this prejudicial process now over, the club will pursue an impartial judgment as quickly as possible and will therefore, in the first instance, commence proceedings with the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the earliest opportunity."

NFF appoints Yobo as Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach 

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former Super Eagles’ defender and captain Joseph Yobo as assistant coach of the team.

He replaces Imama Amapakabo in three-time African champions’ technical crew.

This was contained in a press statement by the spokesperson for the NFF, Ademola Olajire, on Wednesday.

Yobo, who played for the Nigeria U20 – Flying Eagles – during the FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as FIFA U20 World Cup) in 1999, won his first cap for the senior team in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match away to Zambia in Chingola in April 2001, and played in three FIFA World Cup finals in 2002, 2010 and 2014.

Semenya competes in first race in more than six months

Double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya competed in her first track meeting since June with victory in the 300m in Johannesburg.

The South African won her race in a national record of 36.78 seconds.

The 29-year-old is currently unable to compete in events between 400m and a mile without taking testosterone-reducing drugs following a rule change by World Athletics.

"Track and field, you will still see my face," said Semenya. 

"That is all I can say for now."

Semenya missed out on the chance to defend her world 800m title in Doha last year having failed in her bid to prevent the governing body's rule change.

World Athletics argued female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) - such as the South African - have "a competitive advantage".

If Semenya does choose to target the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics - an event she would be permitted to compete in - then she would have to run a qualifying time of 22.80 secs. Her current best is 24.26s.

Fury says he needs to knock out Wilder to guarantee victory

Tyson Fury says he will have to knock out Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas to avoid a repeat of the judging controversy of their first fight.

The British heavyweight, despite hitting the canvas twice, believed he had won their enthralling December 2018 WBC contest, declared a draw.

"I believe I out-boxed him," said Fury, who fights Wilder again on 22 February. 

"To guarantee a win, I need a knockout. I don't want another controversial decision - I want a defining win."

Fury, nicknamed the Gypsy King, was knocked down in the ninth and 12th rounds but nevertheless impressed as he went the distance in what was his first world title fight since returning to boxing the previous June, after a three-year absence.

The spectacle in Los Angeles was scored 115-111 for Wilder, 114-112 for Fury and 113-113.

from Bola Esho's Blog