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Fri, Sep

 

Mauricio Pochettino has delivered a stunning verdict on Chelsea’s 2016–17 Premier League triumph: strip them of the title and hand it to Tottenham.

Pochettino’s Tottenham side finished runners-up that season with a club-record 86 points, just seven behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, who lifted the trophy after an extraordinary 30-win campaign and 93 points.

But Chelsea’s title-winning season has been dragged back into the spotlight after the Premier League fined the club £10.75 million for historical breaches involving undisclosed payments and transfer-related reporting between 2011 and 2018.

The cases included deals involving stars such as Eden Hazard, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matić.

For Pochettino, that punishment does not go far enough.

“We should win one Premier League. We should have been awarded it.”

The former Tottenham boss, who later managed Chelsea during the 2023–24 season, insists Spurs were not competing on a level playing field.

“We didn’t compete before the start of the season with the same card.”

Pochettino believes Tottenham could have strengthened their squad had they operated under the same circumstances — potentially changing the outcome of the title race.

“Maybe with the same rules, we could’ve signed some players that would have made the team better or scored more goals.”

He was careful not to diminish Chelsea’s performances under Conte, acknowledging that they were an excellent side.

But his message was blunt: if the rules were broken, there should be consequences for the title.

“If you broke the rules, then ‘ciao’ — you need to give it to another team.”

And Pochettino says he would apply exactly the same standard to Tottenham.

“If we were at Tottenham and broke the rules, I’d admit the same: We don’t deserve the title because we broke the rules.”

Tottenham’s 2016–17 campaign remains their best-ever Premier League finish. Spurs won 26 games, lost just four and amassed 86 points — yet still finished behind Chelsea.

Despite Pochettino’s explosive call, however, Chelsea remain the officially recognised 2016–17 Premier League champions. No retrospective title change or points deduction has been imposed following the Premier League’s findings.

For now, the trophy remains at Stamford Bridge.

But Pochettino has made his position crystal clear: if Chelsea broke the rules, he believes Spurs should have the crown.

The crisis rocking Nigerian football has taken a dramatic new turn, with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) set to launch a joint assessment mission in Abuja after insisting that no decision has yet been taken on the unfolding Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) situation.

The development effectively throws the latest claims of an agreement between FIFA, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and other stakeholders into fresh doubt.

In a strongly worded email dated September 7 and addressed to Barrister Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer, Elkhan Mammadov, said FIFA and CAF were still examining the legal, governance, administrative and electoral issues arising from the crisis within the NFF.

“At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps,” the message stated.

The position is a significant departure from reports suggesting that FIFA and the NSC delegation led by its Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Bukola Olopade, had reached an understanding over the proposed football reforms.

FIFA Puts NFF Election on Hold

In what could prove to be the most consequential part of the communication, FIFA asked that the ongoing NFF electoral process be suspended, with no further steps or decisions taken until further notice.

FIFA said the request was necessary to preserve the status quo while it and CAF complete their assessment and consult the various stakeholders.Importantly, however, the football governing body stressed that the suspension should not be interpreted as a ruling on the validity of any position, decision or action taken by any of the parties involved.

In other words, FIFA has frozen the process without yet declaring who is right or wrong.

Ikpeme, Not NSC, Named Key Contact

FIFA also made it clear that Emmanuel Ikpeme, whom it recognises as the NFF's Deputy General Secretary, should remain the primary point of contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF — rather than the National Sports Commission — until further notice.

That move further underscores the importance FIFA attaches to dealing through the recognised football administration while its investigation continues.

FIFA, CAF Delegation Heading to Abuja

The international football bodies are now preparing for a joint mission to Abuja at the earliest opportunity.

The delegation is expected to meet with representatives of:

The NFF administration;NFF members;The NFF electoral bodies; and The Federal Government, including the National Sports Commission.

The mission, FIFA said, is intended to give both organisations a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the latest developments, hear directly from the various stakeholders and identify issues requiring further examination under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulations.

No Winner, No Verdict — Yet

The message from Zurich is unmistakable: the matter remains open.

FIFA and CAF have reserved the right to make recommendations or proposals to their respective decision-making bodies after completing their assessment.

Until then, FIFA has warned against assuming what action it will eventually take.

The latest development therefore leaves Nigerian football in a state of suspense, with the electoral process effectively frozen and the next move now resting with FIFA and CAF.

For now, there is no final verdict, no approved reform deal and no clear winner in the escalating battle over the future direction of Nigerian football. FIFA and CAF are coming to Abuja. And before they leave, the full picture of the NFF crisis may finally begin to emerge.

There is the prospect of a genuine sports revolution in the air. There is a refreshing spirit across the land. There are glimpses of a new dawn for the entire sports sector through the developments in football.

Beyond sport, there are also emerging, the faint outlines of a new nation from 2027. Things are coming together. Things are falling into places and fitting in like a jig saw puzzle.


Even the Universe is involved in the evolving ‘conspiracy’. Otherwise, who can explain the spate of coincidences of developments in Nigerian sports?

Presidential support

It was all kick-started by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He directed that proper sports reforms take place. And he backed his directive with the money to get it done.

Such level of presidential interest has not been seen since the era of late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu.

The president means business, and everyone knows it.

The NSC – getting things done!

The National Sports Commission, NSC, bosses have been very busy, demonstrating proficiency in managing the crisis-situation in Nigerian football and maneuvering through the maze of difficult issues. They dealt with the disbandment of the board of the NFF masterfully. It went without any outcry, or resultant crisis.

They led a delegation to the headquarters of FIFA and came back with a bouquet of flowers (that I hope are not coated with hidden poisons)from the embattled president of FIFA. I hope they now have the clearance to carry out the needed reforms in Nigerian football without involving the Congress of the NFF. That organ should have been dismantled as well, and without the threat of any sanction for ‘Third-Party interference’ hanging on our necks.

The NSC, I hope, are now set to advance matters to the next level – setting up a body of credible, neutral, and knowledgeable persons to dismantle the old failed system and to create new instruments for genuine football development in the best interest of the country.

A few days before that, Dr. Allen Onyema, Chairman of AirPeace Airline, had approved that the ‘file’ of the Olympic Gold Medalists of 1996 be dusted, and that the names of the heroes be uplifted again and inscribed in Gold on the ‘NIIA Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame’ at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos.

The induction ceremony will be held in October/November, 2026, a year that marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games Boycott led by Nigeria, as well as the 30th anniversary of Nigeria’s greatest moment in sport, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Two of Nigeria’s great sports ambassadors will also be decorated on the day – late captain and manager of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi; plus the only world record breaker in Nigeria’s athletics history, Tobi Amusan(even as her record has been broken by America’s Olympic champion Masai Russel).


Governor Uba Sani – a new titan

Then, last week, came the bombshell. In my humble reckoning, the best news of the year came from Kaduna.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, CON, has joined Allen Onyema to fan the embers of the ‘Dream Team’, Nigeria’s victorious Olympic football team of 1996. Following that success, the Governor of Kaduna State at the time rewarded the players and their officials with plots of land in Kaduna. For some reason, the deed was not completed. The parcels of land were not documented and handed over the players.

30 years after, Governor Uba Sani has awakened ‘dead bones’, dusted the long-buried files, completed the process and redeemed the State government’s promise.

There was more great development

The state government was handed back the ownership of Ahmadu Bello Stadium, a heritage site that was built and opened in 1964 by the government of Northern Nigeria under Sir Ahmadu Bello. The stadium has deep historical significance to Northern Nigeria . It was taken over by the federal government for renovation for the Nigeria ‘99 FIFA Under-17 championship.

To have taken over all the State stadia became the worst decision ever. Some administrators in charge at the time, not versed in sports matters, ignorantly destroyed all major sports infrastructure in the country. Nigeria has not recovered from that misadventure and financial brigandage since then.

The Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kaduna, the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, and the Township Stadium, Calabar, had some of the best football facilities in Africa. Their ‘renovation’ became their destruction by some Nigerian and Israeli contractors.

Governor Uba Sani has come to spearhead a redemption of those monuments. The Governors of Oyo and Cross Rivers States should follow Uba Sani’s lead, secure the release of the two other State stadia from the NSC and rebuild them for the sake of posterity and for the coming reformation of sports in Nigeria.

By Segun Odegbami

The transfer window has slammed shut. The big-money deals are done. The deadline-day chaos is over. Clubs can no longer splash millions on new signings.

But there’s still plenty of talent sitting on the sidelines. A remarkable group of household names are now free agents, meaning clubs can potentially snap them up without paying a transfer fee.

And the list is loaded with former Premier League champions, Champions League winners, Ballon d’Or winners and some of the biggest names of the past decade.

Pogba, Benzema and Ramos headline the free-agent market
At the very top of the list is Paul Pogba.

The 33-year-old former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder is searching for his next chapter after Monaco terminated his contract following a difficult spell blighted by injuries.

Pogba's career has been interrupted repeatedly in recent years, but there is no doubt about the pedigree. At his best, he was one of the most exciting midfielders in world football.

Then there is Karim Benzema.

The former Real Madrid superstar and Ballon d’Or winner has also suddenly become available after his contract with Al-Hilal was terminated.

At 38, Benzema is no longer the unstoppable striker who terrorised European defences at Madrid — but his experience, finishing and enormous trophy haul make him one of the most intriguing free agents on the market.

And then there is Sergio Ramos.

Forty years old. Four Champions League titles. World Cup winner. One of the most decorated defenders of his generation.

Ramos has been without a club since leaving Monterrey in December 2025, yet he has still not called time on his extraordinary career.

Could one more adventure be waiting?

⚡ Sancho is still looking for his next move
Few names on this list carry more intrigue than Jadon Sancho.

The 26-year-old's Manchester United career never reached the heights expected after his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.

Loan spells followed at Chelsea and Aston Villa, and now Sancho is searching for another opportunity.

A move to Brazilian giants Palmeiras has reportedly been agreed — but until everything is officially completed, Sancho remains one of the biggest names on the free-agent market.

At just 26, he could still have plenty of football left to offer.

⯑ Champions League pedigree is everywhere
Sancho isn't the only player whose CV jumps off the page.

Dani Carvajal spent 13 years at Real Madrid, making an astonishing 451 appearances and winning virtually everything there is to win.

David Alaba, meanwhile, left Madrid after five years and arrives on the market with a résumé that includes 12 league titles and four Champions League triumphs.

Then there's Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian winger won the Premier League five times and lifted the Champions League with Manchester City. He scored 37 goals in 122 appearances for Al Ahli before his contract was terminated.

He may not be available for long, however, with reports linking him with a move to Al-Shabab.

⯑ And the list goes on...
There are plenty of other familiar faces waiting for their next opportunity.

Raheem Sterling, 31, is available after leaving Feyenoord following just eight games.

Philippe Coutinho, 34, has been without a club since leaving Vasco da Gama and has previously been linked with a move to MLS.

Jamie Vardy, 39, is also searching for his next destination after leaving Cremonese following their relegation to Serie B.

And there are plenty more experienced players available:

Jordan Ayew, 34
Dele Alli, 30
Joselu, 36
Anthony Martial, 30
Conor Coady, 33
Wilfried Zaha, 33
James Rodríguez, 35
Tyrell Malacia, 27
Oleksandr Zinchenko, 29
Solly March, 32
Georginio Wijnaldum, 35
Yves Bissouma, 30
The window may be closed — the market isn't For these players, deadline day didn't bring an ending. It simply brought another question: Who will take the gamble?

Some are veterans chasing one final chapter. Others, such as Sancho, Malacia and Zinchenko, are still young enough to rebuild their careers at the highest level.

And with no transfer fee required, clubs could be looking at some potentially huge bargains.

The transfer window may have slammed shut. But the free-agent market is still wide open.

Shockwaves have hit West African football as Ibrahim Musa Gusau loses his grip on the WAFU Zone B presidency following his dramatic exit from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Gusau’s reign at the regional level has come to an abrupt end, just days after he resigned as President of the NFF, triggering a major leadership shake-up in West African football.

In a decisive move, the WAFU Zone B leadership has appointed Oumarou Sawadogo, President of the Burkina Faso Football Federation, as Gusau’s successor.

The development means Nigeria has been stripped of its place at the top of the sub-regional football bloc, with Burkina Faso now taking the leadership seat.

Gusau had occupied the powerful WAFU Zone B presidency while simultaneously steering the affairs of Nigerian football. But following his departure from the NFF, that dual leadership has now come to an end.

Sawadogo inherits the regional presidency at a crucial moment as WAFU Zone B continues to drive football development, organise competitions and coordinate programmes involving its member associations.

The sudden change marks a dramatic new chapter for the regional body — and signals the end of Nigeria’s latest spell at the summit of WAFU Zone B. From Abuja to the regional stage, Gusau’s football leadership era has ended — and Burkina Faso is now calling the shots.

FIFA has accused UEFA of waging a “smear campaign” against president Gianni Infantino as the bitter row over a scrapped $4.2bn investment deal escalates into a legal battle.

UEFA has accused FIFA and Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” over the proposed Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), a plan that would have sold a 20% stake in a new FIFA commercial subsidiary to US investment firm Thrive Capital.

But in court filings in the United States, FIFA has hit back, arguing UEFA is seeking documents to support a foreign criminal case that does not exist.

“Rather than participate in that democratic process, UEFA issued a press release - the beginning of a weeks-long smear campaign against FIFA and its leadership,” FIFA said.

The governing body also dismissed UEFA’s legal arguments as suffering from a “fundamental defect” and “legal deficiencies”.

The proposed deal would have seen Thrive Capital, led by venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, invest $4.2bn in the new FIFA entity. The plan was abandoned within days of being publicly revealed in July after triggering fierce opposition across world football.

FIFA had argued that the deal would dramatically increase funding for its 211 member associations, raising payments for the 2027-30 cycle from £5.9m to £14.7m per association.

UEFA claims the deal was struck at an artificially low valuation and alleges FIFA’s World Cup commercial assets were priced at around £15bn without an open auction or independent valuation.

It also alleges that Infantino discussed the concept with Kushner for almost a year before the final terms were agreed and claims the FIFA president failed to properly consult the organisation’s governing bodies.

UEFA has asked a New York court to order the disclosure of documents and testimony from Kushner and his company Thrive, as well as American financier Greg Maffei, a key adviser to the proposed deal.

Neither Kushner nor Maffei is expected to be a defendant, UEFA says, but their evidence could shed light on how the controversial proposal was developed and valued.

FIFA, however, claims UEFA has an ulterior economic motive for opposing the scheme, arguing that giving smaller football nations greater financial resources would strengthen global competition and potentially weaken UEFA’s market dominance.

UEFA has declined to comment, although sources have indicated that its position is simple: if FIFA has nothing to hide, it should release the documents and allow the legal process to move forward.

The row marks a dramatic escalation in UEFA’s opposition to Infantino, who is facing calls to resign from three continental confederations.

Kushner has also expressed regret over becoming involved in the deal, saying the group “failed to appreciate the political dynamics of global football” and would not have participated had it known how the controversy would unfold.

What began as a failed investment proposal has now become a high-stakes battle over FIFA’s finances, governance and Infantino’s leadership.

The Premier League has gone transfer-mad.

English clubs have smashed the summer spending record for the second year running, pouring a staggering £3.410bn into the transfer market.

And the message to the rest of Europe is clear: the Premier League has money — and plenty of it.

Last summer’s record of £3.14bn has already been blown away.

Then came deadline day.

Manchester City paid an initial £60m for Iliman Ndiaye, pushing the total beyond the previous record.

And that still wasn’t the end.

Soon after the window slammed shut, City confirmed another blockbuster: £125m for Enzo Fernández from Chelsea, matching the British transfer record.

Three of the 10 most expensive transfers in football history have now been completed this summer — and every one involved a Premier League club.

Chelsea paid £117m for Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

Manchester City spent £116m on Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool committed an initial £106m for Bradley Barcola, with the deal potentially rising to £123m.

The numbers are staggering.

Just five years ago, Premier League clubs spent £1.13bn in an entire summer.

Now they are spending almost three times that amount.

England is buying England

Perhaps the most remarkable part of the spending spree is where the money is going.

Increasingly, Premier League clubs are buying from each other.

Around 35% of transfer-fee deals this summer have been completed between Premier League clubs, up from 30% last year.

Add deals involving clubs lower down the English pyramid and that figure rises to 44%.

Tottenham paid up to £100m for Sandro Tonali.

They also spent £85m on Mateus Fernandes and potentially £85m on Savio.

Arsenal paid £75m for Bruno Guimarães.

Manchester United spent £70m on Carlos Baleba.

The Premier League is becoming its own transfer marketplace.

Europe struggles to keep up

The financial gap is becoming impossible to ignore.

Premier League clubs have maintained a net spend of more than £1bn, comfortably ahead of Europe's other major leagues.

And even when English clubs sell, much of the money simply stays in England.

Newly promoted Ipswich Town have spent more on players than European heavyweights such as Barcelona, AC Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

That tells you everything about the scale of the Premier League's financial muscle.

Why leave England to shop abroad?

There is a simple reason many clubs are increasingly looking closer to home:

certainty.

A player who has already succeeded in the Premier League is a safer bet than an expensive import who still has to adapt to English football.

Recent big-money signings from abroad have not always delivered, giving clubs another reason to target proven Premier League performers.

There is also a darker side to the boom.

Foreign clubs know exactly how much money Premier League sides have — and that can push asking prices higher.

So English clubs are often choosing to spend huge sums on players they already know, rather than gamble on talent from overseas.

The result?

Record spending. Record fees. Record power.

The Premier League isn't just dominating English football.

It is reshaping the global transfer market — one £100m deal at a time.

More Articles ...

  1. UEFA Seeks Single Challenger to Infantino in FIFA Election Showdown
  2. Irish FA and Former Players Turn Against Infantino
  3. FIFA Punishes Argentina Players Over World Cup Final Brawl
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