Arsenal are facing accusations of attempting to breach a UEFA rule ahead of their Champions League semifinal match against Paris Saint-Germain.
According to UEFA rules, clubs must allocate 5% of their stadium’s seats to away fans, which would allow PSG to have 3,000 fans at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Arsenal are reportedly trying to reduce this number to 2,500, with the ticket office for away fans yet to open despite being only six days away from the match.
This move comes after Arsenal previously allowed 3,000 PSG fans to attend their earlier Champions League match, which they won 2-0.
The Gunners have not provided a reason for their decision and have been accused of similar behavior in the past, such as during their FA Cup match against Manchester United in January.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr could face a two-year ban from football due to a potential conflict of interest under FIFA rules.
FIFA is investigating the Brazilian player for owning stakes in several professional football clubs, which may violate the governing body’s rules.
The issue stems from Vinicius’ association with his father’s company, ALL Agenciamento Esportivo, which has stakes in clubs like Athletic Club de São João del Rei and Alverca.
A complaint was filed against Vinicius with the FIFA Ethics Committee on April 7, citing a violation of ethics rules that ban players from having direct or indirect ownership of professional clubs.
If found guilty, Vinicius could be forced to sell the clubs or face a suspension of up to two years.
CROSS RIVER, CALABAR – Despite hosting and heavily investing in the 2nd edition of the Calabar Marathon Race for Sweet Prince 2025, Cross River State athletes failed to secure first-place victories.
Godsmine Godswill Eteng’s third-place finish in the female marathon category stood as the brightest spot for Cross River State in the 2nd edition of the Calabar Marathon Race for Sweet Prince 2025, as athletes from other states swept the top prizes, raising concerns about the state’s competitive preparedness.
The major sporting event draws participants from across 29 Nigerian states and four African countries, Cross Riverians were unable to secure top spots.
Eteng’s bronze medal—accompanied by a N300,000 reward—offered a glimpse of promise amid an otherwise underwhelming local showing.
From the perspective of collective value and public impact, the result highlights a significant gap between the state’s investment in hosting the event and the tangible benefits returned to its athletes and local sporting community.
The event featured over 1,000 competitors and offered prize money totaling N16 million, alongside return tickets to South Africa for top winners of Skate-a-thon.
Gang James Boyi of Plateau State and Charity Agofure of Delta State took the first prizes in the male and female categories of the marathon race respectively, each walking away with N1 million.
Agofure, who also won the 2024 edition, credited her success to discipline and professionalism. “The secret of my success is hard work. I do marathon racing professionally. Cross River did a good job organizing the event,” she said.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr Elvert Ayambem, praised the event’s broader social mission, saying, “We are here to prove that as biting as the Nigerian economy is, we can still give out largesse. What your hand finds doing, do it well—there’s a day of recompense.”
He lauded the governor’s efforts under the “People First” mantra, calling Cross River “a unique state” capable of competing globally.
He also extended an employment promise to NYSC members serving in the state.
Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, the governor’s Special Adviser on General Duties, acknowledged the performance gap, stating, “There’s work in progress.
“Cross Riverians have had inconsistencies in participating in various sports.” He added that the administration was focused on building youth capacity in mental, social, and physical wellness through such platforms.
National Inline Skating Federation Chairman and event organizer Mr. Damilola Daniel expressed gratitude for the governor’s approval, commending the turnout and smooth execution. “We had over 1,000 skaters this year. This is a huge success,” he said.
Still, for the host state, success must go beyond hospitality and participation.
Godsmine Eteng’s determination and podium finish serve as a wake-up call and a reminder that sustained investment in talent development—not just event hosting—is essential to translate celebration into victory and ensure lasting value for the community.
CROSS RIVER, CALABAR – The Cross River State Government will close the Carnival Calabar route to vehicular traffic on Saturday, April 19, 2025, to facilitate the 2025 Calabar Marathon for Sweet Prince.
According to the Ministry of Information, the closure will affect the stretch from 11-11 Roundabout through Calabar Road, Mary Slessor Avenue, Marian Road, Ndidem Usang Iso, Efio-Ette Roundabout, and down to MCC–Mobil. The road will be closed from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Major General O. U. Obono (Rtd.), the Senior State Security Adviser, said the temporary shutdown is necessary to help the Cross River State Tourism Bureau organize a smooth and secure marathon.
“The closure is to allow the Tourism Bureau seamlessly organize the 2025 Calabar Marathon for Sweet Prince,” Obono explained.
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, urged residents to comply with the directive.
“We are calling on members of the public to cooperate with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free event,” he said in a statement released Tuesday.
He also wished the public a Happy Easter celebrations.
WORLD CUP – Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has criticized a proposal to expand the 2030 men’s World Cup to 64 teams.
The plans, put forward by South American governing body Conmebol, have also drawn opposition from Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The tournament will be hosted by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, after the opening matches are held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The 2026 World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, has already been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
But Conmebol said it wanted to add more participants to mark the competition’s 100-year anniversary.
“I don’t believe expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams is the right move for the tournament itself and the broader football ecosystem, from national teams to club competitions, leagues, and players,” Montagliani told ESPN., external
“We haven’t even kicked off the new 48-team World Cup yet, so personally, I don’t think that expanding to 64 teams should even be on the table.”
Concacaf is the governing body of football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The decision to expand the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams was taken in 2017 following a unanimous vote at a Fifa congress.
Fifa’s 75th congress will be held in Paraguay on 15 May, when Conmebol’s proposal could be discussed.
If the proposal is accepted, the 2030 edition would consist of 128 matches, double the number played under the 64-game format used from 1998 and 2022.
In March, Ceferin described the proposal as a “bad idea” while AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said it would cause “chaos”.
“If the issue remains open to change, then the door will not only be open to expanding the tournament to 64 teams,” said Salman.
“But someone might come along and demand raising the number to 132 teams. Where would we end up then? It would become chaos.”
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman has named Pedri as Barcelona’s best player this season, snubbing the likes of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.
McManaman made the comments after Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-8 first leg on Wednesday night.
Pedri has had an excellent season for Barcelona, overcoming a serious injury that set him back in the past.
McManaman praised Pedri, saying he is a “lovely player” and a huge fan of his.
The win over Dortmund was marked by impressive performances from Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Yamal, but McManaman said Pedri is the standout player for Barcelona.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has named Barcelona as the most difficult team to beat in the Champions League this season, after their impressive 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Henry made the comments on CBS Sports, where he praised Barcelona’s outstanding midfield performance, particularly De Jong and Pedri.
The Frenchman also highlighted Barcelona’s major weakness, pointing out that they tend to give their opponents too many opportunities to score due to their high defensive line.
Henry believes that despite this vulnerability, Barcelona are the favorites to win the Champions League this season, citing their ability to stop counter-attacks and dominate games.
He noted that Barcelona’s high line can sometimes leave them exposed, but overall, he considers them a team that is very difficult to beat.
Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund was marked by impressive performances from Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal, who scored two and one goal respectively.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has named Paris Saint-Germain as the favorites to win the Champions League, ahead of Arsenal.
Ferdinand made the comments after PSG came from behind to defeat Aston Villa 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.
Arsenal had thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium a day earlier and are in a strong position to reach the semi-finals.
If Arsenal knock out the current holders, they will be considered one of the favorites to win the trophy, according to bookmakers.
However, Ferdinand noted that PSG, who eliminated Liverpool in the previous round, are the bigger favourites due to their authoritative performances.
Ferdinand praised PSG’s dominant display against Aston Villa, saying they “played like they’ve won this tournament many times before” and took control of the tie with their impressive performance.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has admitted that his team was “lucky” not to lose by more than three goals to Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The LaLiga champions were thrashed 3-0 by the Gunners at the Emirates, with Declan Rice scoring two stunning free kicks in the second half and Mikel Merino adding a third.
Bellingham acknowledged that Real Madrid was completely outplayed by Mikel Arteta’s team, stating that Arsenal could have had many more goals if not for the luck of the match.
He said that the team is holding on to the hope of a second-leg comeback, despite the significant deficit.
The second leg is scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday, where Real Madrid will look to mount a comeback and overturn the deficit.
Arsenal’s win has set up a potentially thrilling second leg, with the Gunners looking to book their place in the semi-finals.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has been presented with the Torch of Unity for the forthcoming 2025 National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold from May 16 to May 30 in Ogun State.
The Torch of Unity was presented to the governor by a delegation from the National Sports Commission, symbolizing the unity and solidarity of sports enthusiasts across the country.
Governor Alia pledged his total support to the state’s athletes, urging them to win laurels for the state.
Benue State Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode, received the torch on behalf of Governor Alia and described the visit as a mark of unity that will unite all sports lovers across the country to foster national unity.
Ode commended Governor Alia’s innovative approach to sports development, which has attracted infrastructural development to the sector, particularly in football.
He emphasized that sports is an industry in the state and urged investors to invest in sporting activities, highlighting plans to diversify into other sports like volleyball, handball, and table tennis.
Ode expressed optimism that the McCarthy Stadium in Makurdi will be ready for the state-owned football club, Lobi Stars, to play their home matches.
He also commended the resilience of Lobi Stars officials, who have faced daunting challenges while playing outside their home.
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