Nigerian Sports Fiesta

Barcelona and Real Madrid are doing their bit to refute suggestions that Spanish football is turning into a predictable two-horse race. Both sides dropped points last night, with Barcelona fortunate to secure a 2-2 draw at Valencia, while Madrid were held to a goalless draw at Racing Santander. The results leave the reigning champions in 4th spot in La Liga while Jose Mourinho’s Real sit uncomfortably in 7th spot. Naturally, Mourinho was magnanimity personified after watching his fail to win or score for the second successive match. “It’s less worrisome to draw a match in which you’re the only side that tries to play and win, said Mr Charm. Following Sunday’s defeat to Levante, Mourinho complained about the opponents’ underhand tactics. True to form, he levelled the same accusations against Racing. “The pace was broken by simulation, by injuries, by the stretcher coming onto the pitch,” he said. “We’re responsible for this because we failed to put a stop to it.”

Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick has resigned citing burnout, just six months after taking charge of the Bundesliga club. The 53-year-old suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and has struggled to maintain the energy levels required for the job. “After a long and deep reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need a break,” Rangnick said in a statement on the club website. “It was extremely hard to reach this decision but my current energy level is not enough to be successful and to bring the team and the club forward.” Prior to taking the Schalke job, Rangnick had enjoyed a successful four-and-a-half-year spell with Hoffenheim during which he took the club from the third tier to the top-flight. “The decision of Ralf Rangnick deserves the highest respect,” Schalke general manager Horst Heldt said.

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has been dragged into the debate concerning the club’s decision to accept a shirt sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation. There is a growing opposition to the deal with thousands of Barcelona fans signing an online petition urging the club to revoke the agreement. Part of the opposition to the shirt sponsorship deal stems from the lack of democracy in Qatar, but there is also a principle at stake, with may fans believing commercial shirt sponsorship is incompatible with the club’s lofty ideals. A few seasons of mid-table obscurity while they chipped away at their €442 million debt would certainly test those principles. Guardiola, who knows all about the lure of the petrochemical dollar, having played in Qatar for played Qatar’s Al Ahly between 2003 and 2005 and acted as an ambassador for the country’s successful World Cup bid, has defended the regime. “I can tell you that I lived for two years in Qatar and my family and I received wonderful treat

A day after FIFA confirmed that Issa Hayatou had been installed as head of its London Olympics football organising committee and GOAL Bureau chief, football’s governing body says his appointments were just a “technical error”. “Due to a technical error, appointments for FIFA standing committees have appeared on the FIFA website,” said the FIFA statement released to media at 19:00 CET on Wednesday. “The appointments for the chairman and deputy chairman of the FIFA standing committees will be communicated in due course. “Therefore, Issa Hayatou has not been appointed as chairman of the organising committee for the Olympic football tournaments.” Hayatou like most people who have been involved in the running of the sport in the past 20 years, has been the subject of corruption allegations and is currently under investigation following Panorama claims last year that he received kickbacks in the 1990s scandal that engulfed FIFA’s now-defunct marketing partner ISL. Given that Hayatou is cur

Inter Milan on Thursday officially announced the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as their new coach, a day after predecessor Gian Piero Gasperini was fired. The 59-year-old has signed a two-year deal, tying him down until the end of June 2013. The announcement followed swiftly on Gian Piero Gasperini's sacking on Wednesday morning . Gasperini was relieved of his duties after four defeats and a draw in his five matches in charge, having only succeeded Leonardo in June. It will be Ranieri's first job since quitting Roma in February following a run of four straight defeats. "Claudio Ranieri is officially the new coach of Inter," read an official club statement on Thursday. "All of Inter has the pleasure of welcoming Claudio Ranieri and his staff. He will guide today's training session and will be unveiled tomorrow to the press." Under Gasperini, Inter lost 3-1 against newly-promoted Novara on Tuesday night and suffered defeats to Palermo in Se