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| Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by chika4real: 6:20am On Oct 07, 2010 |
By Nnamdi Okosieme October 6, 2010 11:56 Ayo Ositelu, one of Nigeria’s most experienced journalists has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to call the bluff of world football governing body, FIFA over its decision to ban Nigeria from all its global football competitions. Ositelu, former Sports Editor of The Punch Group of Newspapers, said by banning Nigeria the way it has done FIFA has shown disrespect to a sovereign nation. “It is about time Nigeria called the bluff of the arrogant dictators or self-styled overlords who delight in issuing threats and terrorising mostly developing countries on the flimsiest of excuses. I really do not know how the self-serving opportunists who found themselves running world football got the idea that the Nigerian government decides what goes on in the courts of law,” Ositelu said. “Where was FIFA when government gave Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) N900 million for the South Africa World Cup? Where was FIFA when government was financing all NFF programmes? And where will NFF be without government? Does FIFA know that corporate bodies do not support sports or football in Nigeria? It is the government that fund the sport. “Everybody knows who is behind all these problems, the same person who has controlled sports for 20 years with little to show for the government’s massive investment in sports, particularly football. I’m sure the government knows what to do before one man single-handedly destroys what Nigeria has built for more than seven decades.” Fishing out culprits He said FIFA ought to show Nigeria more respect. “What is the problem of FIFA if government say they want to increase the number of club in the league? If FIFA can do without Nigeria, they should go ahead so that the country could organise its football,” Ositelu said. “On June 6, 2006, when FIFA ordered England, Spain, Italy and Germany to reduce the number of the teams in their leagues so that players play less matches, these nations told FIFA to go to hell and why is FIFA concerning itself with unimportant issues instead of focusing on important issue like goal-line technology. The tenure of Sepp Blatter as FIFA boss is the most corrupt in the history of FIFA.” Ositelu also called for an investigation to expose those behind the nation’s recent predicaments. “The person or persons must be brought to book. After all, no person (not even President Jonathan) is bigger than Nigeria. The sports minister is not minister of football but of sports, I think the FIFA ban will help us to focus on other sports, money spent on football should be diverted to other sports in Nigeria”. NPL responsible In a related development, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has said it is not to blame for the enlargement of the Nigeria Premier League to 24 teams from its original 20. Olukayode Thomas, Special Assistant to the Sports minister, Ibrahim Bio, said neither Bio nor Patrick Ekeji unilaterally increased the number of teams in the premier league “On the issue of the league, the decision not to relegate any team was taken by the NPL, NFF and the club owners, who met in Abuja to resolve the dispute between Baribote and the NPL. So what is the ministry’s role in that case?” Thomas asked. http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/Football/5627651-146/call_fifas_bluff_ositelu_advises_jonathan.csp |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by chika4real: 6:24am On Oct 07, 2010 |
Please good NLs.is there any was we,as an online community can better tell FIFA to GO TO HELL.Set Blatter has become over bearing.Even all the dictators in africa put together dont sum up to him.Do they have offices here,web page etc.Lets tell them to hold themselves. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by oisehumen(m): 6:33am On Oct 07, 2010 |
I 100% support this veteran journalist jare. Enough of FIFA'S rubbish |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by 12large1: 8:54am On Oct 07, 2010 |
haha is the jornalist that is bluff. fia made this rule before nigeria situation the rule's are clear, no government interferance. if u want to take matter to court the sport ministry should open a sports court in the country something like cas. for me is easy just tell president to tell those nff people that they should come back and re-do that election or they faces life in prisonment |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by juman(m): 12:06pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
FIFA will always be FIFA. Do we have any other way except to follow the FIFA rule? |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by sayso: 12:10pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
This is what GEJ is getting,people want to be relevant to him but through the wronng way.Please do not advice our dear wrongly.The rules are clear,even France could not do what Nigeria did because of FIFA rule. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by md4real(m): 12:11pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
i disagree with the veteran journalist. apart from fifa making the rules and regulating standard of the game world wide, we all know that this country's football house is in total mess. just imagine relegation and coming back of Bayelsa united. where has such incidents ever happened. the solution is to have people wit the passion for the game to operate and partake in the administration of this country. I.E people like Odegbami and okocha. until then, our problem will persist and i guess i will be contented with CHELSEA WHOOPING SOME ASS in EPL |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by oisehumen(m): 12:15pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Our football house is in total mess and needs overhauling, yes we know. But how possible is it for government (who bankrolls the body 100%) to stay without interfering? |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by md4real(m): 12:21pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN BY ME BEFORE THE NFF ELECTION. I GUESS IT IS MANIFESTING, http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2067:saving-the-beautiful-game&catid=7:opinion&Itemid=12 Saving the beautiful game Wednesday, 01 September 2010 01:00 Mohammed D. Mohammed E-mail Print PDF Share In every sphere of human endeavour, antecedents serve as the bedrock for tomorrow’s well being. For the past decades, the most popular sport in Nigeria, football, has been on the decline, despite the amount of manpower and material resources poured into the field. At the world stage, the country failed to make it beyond the group stages in the World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan in 2002. It also failed to qualify to the next event held in Germany 2006 and four years later in the first ever World Cup held on the soil of Africa, the country had a terrible outing by existing the tournament in the group stage again. In Africa, the best the country has achieved is it traditional “birth-right” bronze (which is only played for in African Nations’ Cup), despite its abundant talent in the round leather game. The same can be said about the Nigerian football league which, just like the national team, has suffered from the indiscriminate board room award of points, in-depth corruption, poor security as a result of administrative failure, nepotism and organized hooliganism. These poor showings of the national team have not only earned it a change in nomenclature from Super Eagles to Super Chickens but also affected the country’s footballers and officials at the global stage. It is becoming difficult to see the country’s national team players playing for the top teams in top European leagues while most of the little that do hardly make the first team. In the same vein, Nigerian referees, lines-men and other officials are hardly picked to officiate at matches in the world cup and nations’ cup or other global football events. The poor outing at the last World Cup made the federal government to sack the entire executive council of the football body and suspend the nation from international engagements for two year – a decision that was later reversed as a result of FIFA’s threat to sanction the country. This brought into the limelight the obvious: that there is a problem with our football. To tackles these frequent failures, a new election that will not only re-brand the football authority (or federation) but also usher in a set of football executives who will champion the needed revolution should be held to provide the needed change. The same old wines that that had ruined the state FAs and the national FA in the days of its un-productivity are back into the association as executive members. These administrative bureaucrats are the major bane of Nigeria football development. They have been in the system and offered little or nothing at all, and yet they are hanging on to power. Many of those elected to run the FA have never played football, have no previous successful experience in football management and even in some cases have more interest in making money than in football or its growth; neither do they have the strategic plan needed to develop the game at all levels. What this country’s football association needs are people with the passion for the game, people that have played the games and have the technical knowledge and know the challenges faced by the boys in the fields, not some administrative bureaucrats who do not know the total number of teams in the nation’s football league. Abedi Pele of Ghana, David Beckham of England, Luis Figo of Portugal all played special roles in their country’s football affairs. Even the dictator Muammar Ghadafi appointed his son, a former player with the passion for the round leather game, to head the Libyan football association. What is the faith of our ex-internationals like Segun Odegbami, Austin Okocha and others willing to serve in what they love to do best? |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Synthase(m): 12:23pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
This is very simple, the if the government should not interfere with the nff then it should not be involved financially too, let the nff source for its own fund shikenah |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by md4real(m): 12:32pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Synthase:WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FUNDS GIVEN TO THEM BY FIFA? |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by JUO(m): 12:42pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
fifa is something else. dey don't like the truth and dey will never say the truth |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Nobody: 12:49pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
guys pls lets address the issues on ground, where on earth do we see a premier league refusing to relegate 4 teams that finished at the bottom of the table, and allow those that finished at the tops of the division to get promoted, where  thats the issue we should discuss not blame fifa, we brought this on ourselves, second the issue with Bayelsa United chairman taking the NPL chairman, David owume to court is simple--the law says you must be a chairman or club owner before you can be a contest for NPL election, NPL president owume wasnt a chairman when the election was concluded, these are the issues, lets get it clear. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Reference(m): 12:52pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
It is called Federation of International Football Associations. It is a secretariat running a club. Blatter is just the head. When FIFA acts it does so on behalf of over 150 associations. Thus >150:1 cannot be wrong. Every club, meeting association or what have you is governed by rules. You cannot have 150 rulers governing an association. Neither can Blatter overide the will of 150 members. Nigeria should just keep quiet and get its act together or form its own global association where corrupt governments rule and where teams cannot be relegated. Fifa is not in support nor against one candidate or the other but once the process of elections commence it expects no interference, whoever emerges becomes its defacto ambassador in that country. Now FIFA cannot write the constitution of the NFF so this is where the government can successfully interface. It can set the standards and direct the manifesto or agenda of potential candidates. It can ensure through the creation and sustenance of institutions that candidates are properly screened to ensure the best materials emerge. It is like the process of manufacturing. You start by deciding what you want, setup a factory, source labour, equipment and raw materials, put them together and market them. The quality of the process from raw materials to marketing will decide whether you remain in business. You cannot fault the consumer for rejecting your bad product. In our case we expect a good product from faulty materials and lapses in the processes. It is a pity. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by skyranger: 1:51pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Fifa host nations, politics defines nations, u can't separate a nation frm its govt all in the name of futball, its just cheap talk, fifa is covering its own ass frm been asked to be accountable. wonder hw fifa has gotten away with this for this long. it doesn't make common sense to me that a private organization accountable to no body would organize international competition where footballers wear national colours to compete and you ask Govt not to interfere!? Folks, football between nations is like modern day warfare, Govt has every right to organize and sensitize its football house. during bidding and planning to host, govt is expected to be very much involved, they spend huge money and Fifa exco sits with presidents when competitions are on going, so why the double talk, or do you think the private sector can foot the bill for hosting the world, its not about profit making, its the pride of a nation, its about the culture and hospitality of a nation, what did Fifa say to french govt when they sanctioned some of its players for improper conduct during 2010. If u ask me, Fifa should concentrate on int'l club contest, competition b/w nations should be handle by a sport dept in UN. footbal houses are the most corrupt of all organizations, who are these pea heads accountable to? we all saw what they did to Ireland when they almost took France out in the qualifying series. Issa Hayatou holds on to CAF like its his fathers barn. the German govt recently honoured the German representative in fifa 2010 why didn't the football house give them honours, footbal is all about a nation, it brings a whole nation together and pitch its pride, dignity and valour against another nation when they meet, even at friendlies. how long has Sepp Blatter been on the seat of power as fifa president? someone please should call FIFA to order. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by hardbody: 1:52pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
@ Reference, I cant but admit that your comment is both incisive and logical. whether i agree or not is not material here. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by egift(m): 1:52pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Is Mr President going to get any boost on this? NO! He half-bakedly suspended the Super Eagles. That was cool. He should have manned up to his actions. He saw 90% facebookers (not Nigerians) shouting nooooo on his Fans Page, he changed his mind. But now FIFA have seen other reasons to ban Nigeria - it becomes a big slap on his face - WHY: - He cannot be seen begging FIFA (he is not that humble) - He cannot bluf FIFA (it will not earn him support) - He cannot claim credit (when he took such action, he later changed his mind) - He cannot suspend Nigeria after the FIFA's ban expires (that will be impossible) - He cannot thank FIFA (that will be lame) - He cannot release the 'dogs' (who bombed us on 1st Oct) - He cannot use the opportunity to restructure our Sport sector (it will look like 1st Oct Anniversary plan - that is up for probe 4 days after execution) What can he do then: Sit back, want us to protest online, if FIFA accepts, He will issue a statement "I have been ironing things out with FIFA" and "I have succeeded". And like Akala "Beaf" will type "Up JEGA, Up JEGA, Up JEGA, Up JEGA, Up JEGA, Up JEGA, ---.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-."  |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by slap1(m): 2:02pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
We are the cause of our woes, our house is not in order. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by JMourhinho(m): 2:24pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
I hear the House of Reps sport's committee is already talking to FIFA, I just hope say its not a case of sovereign Nigeria begging arrogant FIFA. Lets hold our own for once, even while engaging in diplomatic talks, call bluffs where necessary. If sovereign Nigeria respected FIFA rules last time by GEL rescinding his initial order (at FIFA's instance) for Nigerian to withdraw from international football for 2years, why cant FIFA respect Nigeria's internal independent and sovereign institutional processes? Dont let me say to hell with FIFA, for once at least! |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by md4real(m): 2:41pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
egift: the guy is just predictable |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by oluagness(m): 3:50pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
FIFA should go to hell |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by otokx(m): 4:06pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Jonathan should just ignore FIFA and face the provision of electricity. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Akainzo(m): 4:29pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
chika4real: Ayo, next time your friend, Dad or Uncle gives you money, make sure that you should always put a call to them about how to spend the money, where to buy things and even when to sleep. Marabout masquerading as eminence! Getting money from government has nothing to do with interference or should Glo interfere with the running of football since they give a guaranteed 300Million yearly! This man is just looking for releveance should in case the FIFA ban stands and the government decides to appoint administrators or caretakers. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by denitro(m): 5:53pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
Rubbish. This guy is talking rubbish. If NFF wants to increase the no of teams in the league with bias. Then they should do it the right way. Relegate Bayelsa etc and then at the end of the season promote 4 teams instead of 2 Their actions are very fishy. FIFA's role is well justified, once you are deviating, you have to be called to order and not WHINE as this journalist is doing. SORRY BUNCH |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by nateevs(m): 7:09pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
skyranger: Best post by a mile. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by adexchamp(m): 7:36pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
I seconded that motion raised the the Enigmatic Decon, FIFA is nothing but a piece of Poo!!!!! |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by mystikal(m): 8:12pm On Oct 07, 2010 |
How many Countries has FIFA banned? very few I imagine. The majority cannot be fools. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Mobinga: 8:39am On Oct 08, 2010 |
Who cares? Go Liverpool |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Mpele(m): 10:08am On Oct 08, 2010 |
I don't agree with FIFA's decision but clearly Nigerian footall must sought out its mess. Why is the problems in your football! |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Nobody: 10:28am On Oct 08, 2010 |
FIFA has no problem with you calling their bluff. If you call their bluff, you teams will no contest any FIFA organised football tournaments. World Cup, Nations cup and all continental football tournaments. If Ositelu thinks the best thing for development of football in Nigeria is to call FIFA bluff and stay in the football wilderness that is fine. It is the same Nigeria that will use its hands and beg FIFA to reinstate them. What FIFA is trying to do is garner all football associations to follow the European model, where football is free from Government interference. Football in western europe is solely independent and operate free from government funding. He who pays the piper dictates the tune |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Mariory(m): 10:31am On Oct 08, 2010 |
Akainzo: If you are investing money, you have a right to know how that money will be used. You also have a right to dictate how that money will be used. Akainzo: *facepalm* That is not a smart comparison at all. Glo entered into a contract and recieves from said contract specifically what it paid for. If this were not the case then guess what, Glo would go to court. |
| Re: Call Fifa’s Bluff, Ositelu Advises Jonathan by Kaymus(m): 11:23am On Oct 11, 2010 |
we are giving too much attention to this FIFA Ban of a thing. We have other serius issues to face. Let's face them and make Nigeria a better nation. FIFA CAN GO TO HELL. They cannnot dictate our sport for us. The Govt must be in control. |
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