Britain wants Russia stripped of right to host World Cup 2018 over Ukraine crisis

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6946232859336525689" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 660px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">                 </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UMWgHM3sIRgbK68QKlJwRpapBgY0LL-xeCXMVaNlsXc80VCZk5NOgBcrEuphwTYKaZ_1oXw1yk33aTF6XbDiCHH0avvz2UvzEbVO4uxENWmbo2f1TQnnjJ-PWrRdUFbd45TwJr2NnT4/s1600/FIFA_Sepp_Blatter_Putin_Russia_World_Cup_2018_Host_AP_240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UMWgHM3sIRgbK68QKlJwRpapBgY0LL-xeCXMVaNlsXc80VCZk5NOgBcrEuphwTYKaZ_1oXw1yk33aTF6XbDiCHH0avvz2UvzEbVO4uxENWmbo2f1TQnnjJ-PWrRdUFbd45TwJr2NnT4/s1600/FIFA_Sepp_Blatter_Putin_Russia_World_Cup_2018_Host_AP_240.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Britain is pushing for Russia to be stripped of the right to host the 2018 World Cup under tough new political sanctions to be suggested by David Cameron at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels.<br /><br />The Prime Minister, with growing support across the EU, wants Russia to be ostracised from high-status international events, such as the football tournament, to teach Vladimir Putin that he will become a pariah unless he pulls troops out of Ukraine.</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The idea of taking the World Cup away from Russia has come up in talks between European leaders. Britain especially has pushed it as a way of taking broader and more imaginative measures against Russia," said a senior European diplomat.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">European diplomats who are currently working on the EU's response to Russia are drawing up a list of "symbolic" political sanctions aimed at President Putin's highly developed sense of prestige, robbing him of the high-profile sporting events and barring him from participating in international summits.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The existing sanctions have not yet changed Russian behaviour and we need to be more imaginative," said another senior EU official involved with coordinating the European response to Russia.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> "We need to have tougher sanctions with new economic measures as well as looking at new options, for example, not holding the World Cup in Russia, dismissing Putin from the G20 or ASEM meetings between Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand."</span></blockquote> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mr Cameron and other EU leaders are aware that the Russian leader fears losing popular support if he cannot hold the 2018 World Cup which is already complicated by Russia's intention to play matches in Crimea, illegally invaded and annexed by Mr Putin in March.<br /><br />Speaking yesterday (FRI), Mr Putin expressed his "hope" that Russia would not lose the right to hold the football tournament as pressure grows on Fifa, the sport's governing body, to punish Russia for invading Ukraine.</span><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Fifa has already said soccer and sport are outside politics and I think that is the right approach," said the Russian President.</span></blockquote> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In July Fifa insisted that it remained committed to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and claimed that "boycotting sport events or a policy of isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems".</span></blockquote> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">EU leaders are also expected to give the green light to new economic sanctions against Russia including measures to paralyse its banking system and to hit the country's immense mineral wealth.<br /><br />Mr Cameron will call on the EU to bring its sanctions into line with US measures that target many Russian oligarchs close to Mr Putin and companies with links to the Russian state.<br /><br />Britain is also pressing for Russia to be blocked from accessing the Swift banking transaction system which is one of its main connections to the international financial system.<br /><br />Additionally, the EU is discussing bans on the import of Russian luxury goods, such as caviar and vodka, including Russia's economically vital diamond monopoly Alrosa in sanctions for the first time.<br /><br />The EU last year bought non-industrial diamonds worth as much as much as EUR2.5billion last year, with 97 per cent of the trade controlled by Alrosa, which is run by Yury Trutnev, Russia's deputy prime minister and is 44 per cent state owned.</span></div> <div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6946232859336525689" itemprop="description articleBody" style="position: relative; width: 660px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> </div>

Britain wants Russia stripped of right to host World Cup 2018 over Ukraine crisis

                  Britain is pushing for Russia to be stripped of the right to host the 2018 World Cup under tough new political sanctio...

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Nigeria Rises to 33rd Position in FIFA Ranking

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit;">The Super Eagles have moved a place up in the latest global rankings released yesterday to remain the third best team in Africa. Nigeria</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit;"> moved a place up to the 33rd place in the Fifa rankings, courtesy of the Super Eagles’ second round finish at the World Cup in Brazil.</span><br /> <div id="entryContainer" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="entry entry-content" itemprop="articleBody" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 6px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Eagles are now the third-ranked African side behind Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire who finished in the 24th and 25th positions.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/nigeria-rise-33rd-fifa-ranking/" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="Nigeria rise to 33rd on FIFA ranking"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="BRAZIL, Curitiba : (From top L) Nigeria's team midfielder John Obi Mikel, forward Emmanuel Emenike, defender Kenneth Omeruo, defender Godfrey Oboabona and defender Efe Ambrose (from bottom L) forward Victor Moses, goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama, forward Ahmed Musa, midfielder Ogenyi Onazi, midfielder Ramon Azeez and defender Juwon Oshaniwa pose during a Group F football match between Iran and Nigeria at the Baixada Arena in Curitiba at the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 16, 2014. AFP PHOTO" class="attachment-slider wp-post-image" height="194" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/EAGLES-260x194.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; margin: 0px 20px 10px 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; width: 250px;" width="260" /></span></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Reigning world champions Germany remain at the summit of the ranking table with 1736 points while World Cup runners up Argentina remain unmoved in the second position with 1604 points.</span></div> </div> </div> </div>

Nigeria Rises to 33rd Position in FIFA Ranking

The Super Eagles have moved a place up in the latest global rankings released yesterday to remain the third best team in Africa. Nigeria  ...

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HOW NIGERIA CAN WIN THE WORLD CUP USING TECHNOLOGY

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <header class="entry-header" style="margin: 0px auto; max-width: 474px; padding: 0px 30px 12px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px auto 8px; max-width: 474px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="entry-date" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/how-nigeria-can-win-the-world-cup-using-technology/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2014-07-17T19:48:53+00:00">JULY , 2014</time></a></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit;"> </span></div> </header><br /> <div class="entry-content" style="-webkit-hyphens: auto; border: 0px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 474px; outline: 0px; padding: 12px 30px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Germany-Lifts-World-Cup.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Germany Lifts World Cup" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-127" height="168" scale="0" src="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Germany-Lifts-World-Cup.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 7px 24px 7px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>Like millions of football fans worldwide, after watching Germany defeat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the World Cup in Brazil, both finalists are being applauded and non-nationals of Germany are left to rue ‘What could have been’ for their individual countries.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigeria had a respectable showing at the World Cup. However, the general consensus that we can do better. For Nigerians, the following questions arise:</span></div> <ol style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 24px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Can Nigeria ever win the world cup?</span></li> <li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If we can, what do we need to do?</span></li> </ol> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These questions are explored in detail below.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: 700;">Can Nigeria ever win the world cup?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This question has only 2 answers – Yes or No. You cannot ‘maybe or possibly’ win the world cup. You either win it or you don’t. Either of these two answers have logical reasons for being chosen.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Nigerian-Coach.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Nigerian Coach" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-128" height="199" scale="0" src="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Nigerian-Coach.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 7px 24px 7px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>For those in the ‘No’ camp, fingers will be pointed at the level of organization at the football federation. Further ammunition is added to the ‘No’ camp because at the time of writing this article, the Nigerian Football Federation has been sanctioned by FIFA, the football governing body for interference by the Government.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Those in the ‘Yes’ camp will tell you that whist there may be problems now, as long as we qualify for the World Cup, there is a statistical chance that Nigeria can win the World Cup.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigerian players have the natural talent, flair, ability and there are thousands of footballers to select from in a country that boasts of about 160 million people.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: 700;">If Nigeria can win the world cup, what do we need to do?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To answer this question, let’s find out what the current world champions, Germany have done.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Under-17-World-Cup.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Under 17 World Cup" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-129" height="163" scale="0" src="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Under-17-World-Cup.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 7px 24px 7px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>While Germany’s success can be attributed to many things, it could all be traced back to the role and method of preparation using technology.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Germany’s World cup preparations did not start a few months to the world cup. On the contrary according to Joachim Loew, the 54 year old coach of Germany, “I think that we were 50 days together but this is a project we started 10 years ago…we started it with Juergen Klinsmann (after 2004) and then we continued it. Our biggest strength is that we improved throughout the years even if we missed taking that last step at tournaments”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bundesliga.png" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Bundesliga" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-133" height="188" scale="0" src="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bundesliga.png" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 7px 24px 7px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="226" /></a>The German Football Association (DFB) invested in youth centers which work closely with the various Bundesliga clubs and keeps an index of the performance of each of these players. These youth players are assimilated into the German league structure with teams fielding younger players with more technical skills. This led to Germany fielding one of its youngest teams in 76 years at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To be fair, the Nigerian Football Federation has invested in youth centers particularly with the support of FIFA through projects such as the FIFA ‘Goal’ Project.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Glo-Premier-League.jpg" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Glo Premier League" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-134" height="300" scale="0" src="http://bamboo.com.ng/bamboonews/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Glo-Premier-League.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 7px 24px 7px 0px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></a>Like Germany, Nigeria needs to use technology to build a database and index the performance of each of these players and track them as they develop. The good thing is Nigerian companies such has <a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Debonair Devices Ltd </a>which manufacture the ‘Made-In-Nigeria’ range of tablet computers, mobile phones and other mobile internet devices under the ‘<a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/inner.php?pg=features" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Bamboo</a>’ brand have offered to help the NFF keep track of Nigerian players over a 10-year period with a Nigerian Players Index which will commence from the 2015/2016 season.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In addition, Bamboo Devices will be used to monitor player performance in training sessions (especially during camping of the Nigerian National Team) using technology that will measure the speed, acceleration, distance, heart rate and power levels of every athlete in training. This information will be made available to the Coach, NFF, Clubs and other experts on their <a href="http://bamboo.com.ng/inner.php?pg=features" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Bamboo tablet computers and mobile phones </a>provided by Debonair.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The data can also be used for post session in-depth analysis. The detailed performance data will allow coaches and trainers to fine tune each player’s skills and plan workouts that focus on particular areas of need. Using the methods above (and with a little luck), Nigeria can be genuine trophy contenders in the Qatar 2022 or 2026 World Cups.</span></div> </div> </div>

HOW NIGERIA CAN WIN THE WORLD CUP USING TECHNOLOGY

JULY , 2014   Like millions of football fans worldwide, after watching Germany defeat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the World Cu...

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