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How ministry used 1971 Decree to dissolve sports federations

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5 years ago

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Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, recently stirred the hornets’ nest when he dissolved 31 sports federations and later restored the Athletics Federation leaving the number of dissolved federations at 30.
It will be recalled that on Friday, April 30, the minister represented by the director, federation elites and athletes department, Dr Simon Ebohjaiye said the tenure of the National Olympic Sports Federations had come to an end and there was an urgent need for a transition from the old boards to new ones.
The decision came to many as a surprise considering that most of the dissolved sports federations were finalising preparations for the Tokyo Olympics which is about two months away.
Following condemnations in some quarters, the sports ministry explained that since the tenure of the federations had indeed ended and they were not ready to self-dissolve, the responsibility to dissolve them lies squarely with the supervisory Ministry.
Consequently, the Minister invoked section 16(1) of the law setting up the associations which stipulates that “The Ministry may set up national associations for each kind of sports and may appoint chairman and other members thereof. Accordingly, all matters relating to the constitution, affiliation, recognition of officers of national sports Association to International Federation shall be submitted for approval.”
Sub-section 2 of the same law states that “Subject to the approval of the Commissioner (in this case, the Minister), it shall be the duty of the Commission to supervise and, where in the opinion of the commission it is necessary to do so, take over and manage for such a period as the Commission may think fit the affairs of any of national sports association.”
Thus, even as agitations continued to mount against his decision, the Minister stuck to his guns, insisting that he only acted within the powers conferred on him by the law as quoted above.
However, the law being talked about here is Decree No 34 of 1971 setting up the now defunct National Sports Commission. It is this military Decree promulgated during the administration of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) when he was Nigeria’s Head of State that has been invoked to dissolve some of the sports federations.
The decision to adopt what many may consider to be an obsolete law to administer sports in the 21st century is being viewed negatively, especially by those affected by the dissolution of the boards of the federations.
However, the sports Ministry has in turn heaped the blame on some of the federations that have failed to domesticate their own constitutions already approved by the international sports federations.
The Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Sports, Olumide Bamiduro said “The constitutions that they were talking about, about six of them have got approval from their international federations but they (constitutions) are yet to be domesticated within the National Assembly and until that is done, that is not a law.
“We are being guided by law and we cannot fold our hands on illegality and that is where the exercise of the dissolution of the federations has come from.”
In addition, despite the explanations given by the Sports Ministry, there have been concerns that the dissolution of the federations is ill-timed and might impact negatively on Team Nigeria’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
However, this seems to be addressed by the Minister who has re-appointed most presidents of the dissolved federations as Chairmen of the recently inaugurated Care-taker committees.
According to the Ministry, dissolution of the federations and subsequent inauguration of Care-taker committees is “to enhance Nigeria’s medals prospects at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”
The decision to retain most of the former presidents is said to be a masterstroke by the Minister which has emasculated some of the aggrieved members who had declared their intention to fight for justice.
Resultantly, even after a group that claimed to be representing other concerned stakeholders addressed a press conference and gave the Minister 48-hours to reverse his decision, some of the Care-taker Committee Chairmen disassociated and distanced themselves from the group.
It will also be observed that two weeks after the dissolution of the sports federations, it is only Rugby Africa that announced the suspension of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.
And after some rugby stakeholders staged a peaceful protest at the MKO Abiola national stadium in Abuja to ask the Minister to reverse the dissolution of the NRFF, nothing has been heard again.
Since the action of the Minister appears to have gone unchallenged, the Ministry is already planning how to conduct credible elections into the different sports federations at the end of the Olympics.
Even as the action by the Sports Ministry may be sailing safely to the harbour, divergent views from major stakeholders have continued to trail it.
As earlier stated, some are shocked that a Decree enacted as far back as 1971 is not only seen to be still relevant but is used in dissolving sports federations.
A member of one of the dissolved sports federations who spoke on condition of anonymity said “It is not everything that is law. There are certain interventions that law should not be the only consideration. There are some decisions that must not be based on law but common sense.
“What the minister has done is not well timed and may create more problems for the sports sector in future. It is against this background that I implore the relevant authorities to cooperate with the National Assembly to come up enabling laws for sports administration.
“I am sure many will be surprised to hear that we are using a Decree promulgated in 1971 in 2021.”
However, a former member of the House of Representatives from Plateau State, Hon. Lumumba Dah Adeh has said as long as the Decree is not amended or abrogated, the Minister has done nothing wrong.
“What I can say is that if there was a Decree, whether in 1900, as long as it has not been abrogated, or amended before democracy came in the First Republic, it has become an Act of the National Assembly and therefore, a subsisting law.
“Unless there is an amendment or it has been repealed, it remains valid. It depends on the provision of the law the Minister is citing. If nobody contradicts him to the effect that it has been abrogated or repealed or amended, then the Minister is right to have used the Decree,” said Lumumba.
On his part, a former Director of Sports in Katsina State, Alhaji Aliyu Kofar-Soro said since the National Sports Commission is no longer in existence, there is no basis for anyone to say he used the Decree that set up the commission to dissolve the sports federations.
“I think the Minister was wrongly advised. How can he say he used the Decree of 1971 that set up the now defunct National Sports Commission to dissolve the sports federations?. Where is the National Sports Commission itself?.
“These federations were duly elected and have tenure of four years each. As long as their tenures haven’t elapsed, nobody can dissolve them unilaterally. Moreover, the timing is not right. It is too close to the Olympics.
“Let’s hope the international federations which these federations are affiliated to do not come out to stop Nigeria from taking part in the Olympics,” he said.

-Daily Trust

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Messi Fires Stunning 75th Career Free-Kick to Reach 930 Goals in Inter Miami Draw

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2 days ago

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September 21, 2026

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Messi Fires Stunning 75th Career Free-Kick to Reach 930 Goals in Inter Miami Draw

The Argentine maestro bags his 101st goal for the Herons alongside a Luis Suárez strike as San Diego FC snatches a 2-2 result.

Lionel Messi reached another historic milestone on Sunday night, curling home his 75th career direct free-kick to tally his 930th professional goal during Inter Miami’s pulsating 2-2 draw with San Diego FC.

The 39-year-old Argentine forward stepped up in the 24th minute after drawing a foul outside the penalty area, whipping a trademark left-footed strike off the post past goalkeeper CJ dos Santos to cancel out Anders Dreyer’s early chip for the visitors.

Consequently, the spectacular strike marked Messi’s 101st goal in an Inter Miami shirt, arriving just four days after he surpassed the century mark in a Campeones Cup victory over Mexico’s Cruz Azul and his 20th league goal of the 2026 Major League Soccer campaign.

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Building on that momentum, strike partner Luis Suárez found the net in the 74th minute to hand Miami a 2-1 lead. However, Dreyer struck back for San Diego eight minutes later, capitalizing on defensive space to slot home his second goal of the evening and silence the home crowd.

Ultimately, the late equalizer condemned Inter Miami to their fourth consecutive MLS stalemate, leaving the club on 46 points with a record of 12 wins, four defeats, and 10 draws.

While the shared points frustrated coach and squad alike in the playoff seeding race, Messi continues to defy age, anchoring Miami’s attack and pushing global scoring records to extraordinary heights.

Messi Fires Stunning 75th Career Free-Kick to Reach 930 Goals in Inter Miami Draw

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Enough Is Enough: Muslim Supporters Demand Change of New Man United Owners

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3 days ago

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September 20, 2026

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Enough Is Enough: Muslim Supporters Demand New Man United Owners

Enough Is Enough: Muslim Supporters Demand Change of New Man United Owners

The Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club (MUMSC) has called for a change in the ownership of the English Premier League club, demanding that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family leave following fresh comments by the billionaire about immigration, welfare and the state of the United Kingdom.

The supporters’ group issued a strong statement of no confidence in the Manchester United ownership after Ratcliffe, the club’s co-owner and chairman of INEOS, said Britain was “on the slide” and argued that politicians were not being sufficiently tough on immigration and welfare.

Ratcliffe made the comments during a BBC interview in which he discussed Britain’s economic and political challenges. He attributed part of what he sees as the country’s decline to high taxes and immigration and called for politicians to take tougher decisions on immigration and benefits. (The Guardian)

The remarks triggered a fresh response from the Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club, which said it had previously hoped Ratcliffe’s apology over earlier immigration comments would mark a change in his approach.

The group said the latest remarks were “deeply disappointing” and “completely unacceptable”, arguing that they were inconsistent with the diverse character of Manchester United.

According to the supporters’ group, the club brings together players, staff, stewards, security personnel and supporters from different countries, cultures, ethnicities, religions and backgrounds.

It said that diversity is not separate from the identity of Manchester United, but is an important part of what the club represents.

The latest dispute follows comments Ratcliffe made earlier in 2026 in which he said Britain had been “colonised by immigrants”. He later apologised for his choice of language and for causing offence.

MUMSC said it had condemned those earlier comments and hoped the apology indicated that a lesson had been learned, but argued that Ratcliffe’s latest remarks showed otherwise.

The supporters’ group also expanded its criticism beyond the billionaire’s comments on immigration, pointing to concerns about Manchester United ticket prices, the condition of Old Trafford, the club’s performances and what it described as repeated unfulfilled promises.

MUMSC said many supporters had initially welcomed Ratcliffe’s arrival because they hoped his investment would bring meaningful change after years under the Glazer family’s ownership.

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However, the group said its confidence in the current ownership had now been exhausted.

“Enough is enough. It is time for change. The Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe must go,” the group said.

Ratcliffe became a major shareholder in Manchester United in 2024 after his INEOS group acquired a minority stake in the club. The agreement also gave INEOS significant responsibility for football operations, while the Glazer family retained control of the club.

The ownership dispute comes amid a difficult start to the 2026/27 Manchester United season, with results on the pitch adding to the frustration among sections of the supporters.

United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the third round after losing 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford despite taking a two-goal lead within the opening 10 minutes.

Teenager Shea Lacey opened the scoring before Mason Mount doubled United’s advantage, but Brighton responded through Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper to complete the comeback.

The defeat ended United’s Carabao Cup campaign at the first hurdle and marked the first time in 50 years that the club had lost at Old Trafford after taking a 2-0 lead. (The Guardian)

Manager Michael Carrick accepted responsibility for the collapse and said the team had to respond quickly by returning to winning football.

The cup defeat followed a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the Premier League and contributed to a difficult opening period for Carrick’s side. Recent reporting put United 13th in the Premier League after collecting four points from their opening four league matches. (The Guardian)

The football struggles have therefore become another source of tension between sections of the fan base and the club’s leadership, although the MUMSC’s latest statement makes clear that its concerns are broader than results.

The supporters’ group has linked its demand for ownership change at Manchester United to questions about the club’s direction, supporter relations, commercial decisions and its treatment of the diverse community that follows the team.

Ratcliffe’s involvement has already produced significant changes at the club, including restructuring and job cuts, while his decisions on ticketing and other operations have generated criticism from some supporter groups.

His latest comments have now added an additional point of contention, particularly among the Muslim supporters’ group, which says Manchester United’s international and multicultural identity should be reflected in the conduct and public statements of those running the club.

Despite the demand from MUMSC, there has been no indication that Sir Jim Ratcliffe or the Glazer family is preparing to sell their respective interests in Manchester United.

The latest development nevertheless places renewed attention on the relationship between the club’s ownership and its supporters as Manchester United attempts to recover from a difficult start to the new season.

Enough Is Enough: Muslim Supporters Demand Change of New Man United Owners

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Ronaldo Included in Portugal’s Nations League Squad as Jorge Jesus Begins New Era

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3 days ago

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September 19, 2026

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Ronaldo Included in Portugal’s Nations League Squad as Jorge Jesus Begins New Era

Ronaldo Included in Portugal’s Nations League Squad as Jorge Jesus Begins New Era

Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in Portugal’s 25-man squad for the opening fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, ending immediate uncertainty over the 41-year-old captain’s continued involvement with the national team.

New Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus named Ronaldo in his first squad on Friday, September 18, as the reigning Nations League champions prepare for four Group A4 matches between September 24 and October 4.

Ronaldo’s selection comes less than three months after the veteran forward confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final appearance at the tournament.

He has also fuelled wider retirement speculation after saying in August that the coming year would probably be the final season of his professional football career.

However, Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from international football, and his inclusion in Jesus’ first squad confirms that he remains available for Portugal.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner remains the leading scorer in men’s international football, with 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal.

His international career has included victory at Euro 2016 and two UEFA Nations League titles, in 2019 and 2025.

Ronaldo was unable to add the FIFA World Cup trophy to his collection after Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16 at the 2026 tournament.

The defeat brought his World Cup career to an end after six appearances at the global tournament, but did not immediately mark the end of his Portugal career.

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Jesus, who was appointed after Roberto Martinez left the post following Portugal’s World Cup exit, has a previous working relationship with Ronaldo.

The 72-year-old coach managed Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, where they won the Saudi Pro League title during the 2025/26 season.

Jesus, however, has made it clear that Ronaldo’s reputation will not guarantee him a starting place in the new Portugal team.

Discussing the veteran forward’s selection, the coach said performance would determine his decisions.

Jesus said Ronaldo would be treated like the other players when it came to selection, although he acknowledged that the Portugal captain has a different status because of his achievements.

The new coach’s comments underline his intention to maintain competition for places as he begins rebuilding the national team following the World Cup.

Jesus has retained most of the players who featured at the 2026 World Cup, with only a small number of changes to the squad.

Among the players returning to the national team are Joao Palhinha, Nuno Tavares and Fabio Silva, while Benfica goalkeeper Samuel Soares has also been included.

The squad features several of Portugal’s established stars, including Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes, Rafael Leao and Pedro Neto.

Ronaldo is joined in the forward line by Fabio Silva, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto and Rafael Leao.

Portugal will begin the new Nations League campaign at home against Wales on September 24 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.

Jesus will then take his team to Oslo to face Norway on September 27 before Portugal travel to Copenhagen for a meeting with Denmark on October 1.

The four-match sequence will conclude with Portugal hosting Norway at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto on October 4.

The fixtures will provide Jesus with his first competitive tests since replacing Martinez and give him an opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the next phase of Portugal’s international programme.

Portugal enter the competition as the defending UEFA Nations League champions, having defeated Spain on penalties in the 2025 final to win the tournament for the second time.

The team’s previous Nations League triumph came in 2019, when Portugal defeated the Netherlands in the final.

Ronaldo’s selection also keeps alive the possibility of the veteran playing a role in Portugal’s preparations for future competitions, although his long-term international plans remain unclear.

The next major European international tournament will be Euro 2028, by which time Ronaldo will be 43.

For now, however, his immediate focus is the Nations League and the start of the Jorge Jesus era.

Ronaldo is also approaching another major personal milestone.

He has scored 979 official career goals for club and country, leaving him 21 goals short of the 1,000-goal mark.

Jesus was asked about the possibility of Ronaldo reaching the milestone with Portugal but suggested that he expected the forward to achieve it at club level rather than with the national team.

The comment adds another dimension to the relationship between the coach and Portugal’s most prolific international scorer.

Despite Ronaldo’s advancing age and retirement comments, his continued selection means he remains part of Portugal’s plans at the start of the new international cycle.

Jesus has nevertheless stressed that past achievements will not determine who plays, placing the emphasis on current performances.

Portugal’s first test under the new manager will therefore attract considerable attention, with Ronaldo expected to remain one of the central figures as the European champions begin their 2026/27 Nations League defence.

Portugal’s 25-Man Nations League Squad

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, Samuel Soares.

Defenders: Goncalo Inacio, Joao Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, Nuno Tavares, Nuno Mendes, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias, Tomas Araujo.

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Joao Palhinha, Joao Neves, Ruben Neves, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva.

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Silva, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao.

Ronaldo Included in Portugal’s Nations League Squad as Jorge Jesus Begins New Era

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