Wayne Rooney handed £5,500 fine, ban for misconduct

Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney has been given a one-match ban for misconduct in their 2-1 home victory over Blackburn Rovers in a Championship (second-tier) match earlier this month, the Football Association said on Friday.

Rooney was charged for his behaviour in an eventful win over Blackburn where he was sent off for allegedly insulting the fourth official and returning to the pitch after his dismissal.

Plymouth were leading 1-0 when Blackburn scored an equaliser in the 86th minute which Rooney and his players felt should not have stood, with the former Manchester United and England forward seen fuming at the fourth official.

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Referee James Linington gave Rooney a red card and he walked down the tunnel at Home Park but was back on the pitch to celebrate a 97th-minute winner from Morgan Whitaker.

“Wayne Rooney has been given a one-match touchline ban and 5,500 pounds ($7,180.25) fine for misconduct at Plymouth Argyle’s EFL Championship match against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 5 October,” the FA said in a statement.

“It was alleged that the manager’s conduct around the 87th minute was improper and/or he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official, which led to his dismissal.

“It was further alleged that following his dismissal his conduct was improper and/or violent. It was also alleged that by returning to the field of play after being dismissed his behaviour was improper.”

Rooney was appointed Plymouth manager in May. They are 14th in the standings before visiting Cardiff City on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney handed £5,500 fine, ban for misconduct

Super Eagles: Nigeria denies apologising to Libya

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has firmly denied claims that the country issued an apology to Libya over the recent detention of the Super Eagles in Benghazi. The clarification comes after The Libya Observer inaccurately reported that Nigeria had apologized for the incident.

In a statement released on Wednesday, October 16, by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, it was explained that the false report misrepresented a diplomatic phone call between Tuggar and Libya’s Eastern-based Foreign Minister, Abdelhadi Lahweej. The Nigerian government, instead of issuing an apology, expressed dissatisfaction with the way its national football team was treated and called for an immediate resolution.

“The fact of the matter was that the CDA of the Government of National Unity was summoned to the Ministry to seek an immediate end to the unfortunate incident,” the statement clarified.

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Diplomatic efforts, however, initially hit a roadblock. The Acting Charge d’Affaires of Libya in Nigeria, Imad Mohammed Matooq Aboud, claimed that the incident was beyond the jurisdiction of the Tripoli-based government, which they represented, and was under the control of the Eastern Government in Benghazi.

Faced with this impasse, Tuggar promptly reached out to the Eastern administration, directly contacting Foreign Minister Abdelhadi Lahweej to intervene. Following the discussions, the situation de-escalated, and the necessary permits were issued for the Super Eagles’ departure from Libya.

“After that, the aircraft was given the necessary permits to fly, and aviation fuel was accessed. Both Ministers agreed that the matter should be de-escalated immediately,” the statement noted. Despite attempts by Lahweej to revisit past claims about the treatment of Libyan players in Nigeria, Tuggar corrected these inaccuracies but refused to apologize, reiterating that the claims were unsubstantiated.

The statement underscores that Nigeria’s priority was to resolve the situation diplomatically while correcting any misinformation surrounding the events.

Super Eagles: Nigeria denies apologising to Libya

Ahmed Musa, Ali ‘Pele’ dazzle as Pillars win seven-goal thriller in Enugu

Kano Pillars’ legends, Ahmed Musa and Rabiu Ali ‘Pele’ rolled back their age once again as they guided the ‘Masu gida’ boys to 4-3 victory over title holders Enugu Rangers in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Week 7 fixture played yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Stadium Enugu.

In the contest of two halves, Pillars netted four goals in the first before Rangers rallied back to score three goals in the second for a more respectable score line.

Ageless Rabiu Ali opened the scoring for Pillars from the spot in the 15th minute, Zilkifilu Rabiu doubled the lead in the 28th minute before ‘Pele’ grabbed his brace in the 37th minute in what began to look like a one sided affair.

Before the break Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa grabbed the winning goal for Pillars and his third of the season when he outpaced Rangers defenders to slot the ball into the net with his left foot.

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However, on resumption, the tide changed as the hosts staged a fight back that saw Isaac Saviour scoring a brace in the 47th and 59th minute while Silas Nenrot further reduced the deficit with the third goal in the 90th minute.

However, Musa’s strike in the first half was the difference as Pillars stood firm to record their first away win of the season which took them to the sixth position on the log.

 At the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa United captain and leading goalscorer, Ana’s Yusuf, was the hero as his second hat-trick of the season (57, 59 and 70th minute), ensured the ‘Solid Miners’ dumped Abia Warriors 3-0 for the maximum points.

However, in the early kickoff at the same venue, Lobi Stars surrendered their two goal lead to draw 2-2 with the unbeaten El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

In-form striker, Ossy Martins, scored a brace in the 17th and 53rd minute for Lobi Stars but Nigerian international, Ibrahim Mustapha, responded with his own in the 57th and 86th minute for a share of the spoils.

Kwara United also bounced back to winning with 3-0 spanking of Sunshine Stars in Ilorin while Enyimba fought back to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Niger Tornadoes in Aba.

The remaining five Week seven matches will be played today across match venues.

Ahmed Musa, Ali ‘Pele’ dazzle as Pillars win seven-goal thriller in Enugu