I was lucky to avoid punishment, says Klopp…See full details

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS /

Jurgen Klopp admits he was lucky to avoid punishment for bellowing in the fourth official’s face but the Liverpool manager brushed aside Jose Mourinho’s claim that he gets special treatment.

Klopp apologised following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea after a touchline exchange with Neil Swarbrick saw him vent his frustration at the award of a penalty to Diego Costa.

Simon Mignolet saved the subsequent spot-kick and Klopp shouted “No one can beat us” at the official, who responded, according to the German, by saying, “No problem, I like your passion”.

After a goalless draw at home to Hull on Wednesday, Manchester United manager Mourinho suggested he was treated differently than Klopp and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

“Yesterday one fourth official told a manager, ‘I enjoy very much your passion, so do what you want to do’. Today I was told, ‘Sit down or I have to send you to the stands’. So everything is different for me,” Mourinho said in his tetchy post-match press conference.

Wenger is currently serving a four-match ban for using insulting or abusive words to a fourth official, while Mourinho has served two suspensions this season and a stadium exclusion last term.

Klopp accepts he was fortunate not to be pulled up for his actions, but believes everyone is treated differently because no two officials or managers are the same.

“I think it depends on the fourth official. We all know what we can do,” Klopp told reporters on Thursday.

“When I saw the picture (of Klopp shouting at the fourth official) afterwards it didn’t look too nice but it was not as bad as it looked, so that is why I said what happened.

“Maybe I was lucky with what the fourth official said because I’ve never heard something like this before. There are different ways to handle the situation.

“It is quite an emotional game and to switch off emotions is not that simple.

“We struggle — not only myself and Jose but Arsene Wenger and a lot of other people struggle.

“We are all different, sometimes we get a fine, sometimes not. It’s not what we want to do nor is it a tactic.

“It was worse with me when I was younger. I have already improved but I had no idea why he (Mourinho) spoke about me.”

Mason making ‘excellent progress’ after skull fracture (Read full details)

Chelsea's English defender Gary Cahill (L) and Hull City's English midfielder Ryan Mason clash heads during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Hull City at Stamford Bridge in London on January 22, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS /

Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason is making “excellent progress” after fracturing his skull but will remain under close observation in hospital, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old suffered serious injury when he accidentally clashed heads with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in the 14th minute of the 2-0 loss at the Premier League leaders on Sunday.

Mason was rushed to the nearby St Mary’s Hospital in west London and underwent surgery.

“The club can confirm that Ryan Mason continues to make excellent progress after sustaining a skull fracture in Sunday’s game against Chelsea,” said a Hull statement.

“He will continue to be closely monitored by staff at St Mary’s Hospital over the next few days, whilst also remaining in contact with our medical team to assess his progress.”

Hull said they would only release more information when there are changes to Mason’s condition, adding: “We also ask that people respect Ryan and his family’s privacy whilst he remains in hospital.”

Hull announced Monday that Mason was conscious and able to speak following a visit by captain Michael Dawson and club officials.

Chelsea representatives — including Cahill and Blues captain John Terry — visited him hours after Sunday’s match.

Following the collision between Cahill and Mason, medical staff from both clubs sprinted out to attend to the two players, with referee Neil Swarbrick halting play for close to 10 minutes as they each received on-field treatment.

Central defender Cahill returned to his feet and scored Chelsea’s second goal, a header, but Mason left the field on a stretcher while receiving oxygen.

Mason making ‘excellent progress’ after skull fracture

EFCC Chairmanship: Court fixes Feb. 13 for suit against Magu (Read full details)

Ibrahim Magu

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed Feb. 13 to hear a suit filed against Ibrahim Magu, challenging his continued stay in office as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, had urged the Court to forthwith, restrain Magu, from parading himself as acting chairman of the commission.

In his new suit filed on Jan. 16, Adegboruwa is also asking the Senate not to entertain any further request for the confirmation of Magu as Chairman.

The defendants in the suit are the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the EFCC and Magu.

When the case was mentioned on Monday, Adegboruwa announced appearance for the plaintiff.

On the other hand, there were no representative for the defendants.

The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun consequently, adjourned the suit to Feb. 13 and ordered service of processes on the defendants.

In a 39 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by Adegboruwa, he traced the appointment of Magu back to Nov. 9, 2015, contending that he had been functioning in acting capacity as EFCC Chairman, beyond the six months allowed by law.

Adegboruwa contended in his suit that since the Senate had rejected Magu as substantive chairman of EFCC, he could not thereafter be illegally functioning in acting capacity.

Citing the provisions of section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act, Adegboruwa argued that the section makes confirmation by the Senate, a condition precedent to the appointment of the EFCC chairman.

He argued that since the provision of section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act was activated by forwarding the nomination of Magu to the Senate, he could not defy the decision of the Senate, which rejected him for the substantive appointment.

Adegboruwa stated that notwithstanding the clear decision of the Senate not to confirm Magu, he has continued to parade himself in office as EFCC Chairman.

He said that example of such act was when he met with representatives of the United States Embassy on Jan. 6, 2017, clearly defying the decision of the Senate.

Adegboruwa is therefore, asking the court to restrain the EFCC and all other authorities, from recognizing, treating or in any other manner, dealing with Magu as the Chairman of EFCC, either in acting or substantive capacity.

He also seeks a declaration that given his conduct in office so far, he is not a fit and proper person to function in office as chairman of EFCC.

Consequently, Adegboruwa is asking the court to give an order forthwith directing Magu to vacate and relinquish his office as EFCC Chairman, whether in acting or substantive capacity.

The lawyer also wants the court to declare void, all actions taken by the EFCC under the tenure of Magu, especially charges and information preferred in court.

EFCC Chairmanship: Court fixes Feb. 13 for suit against Magu

Pope lashes mafia’s ‘blood-stained money’ (Read full details)

Pope Francis<br />/ AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO

Pope Francis on Monday blasted the “money stained with blood” and “evil power” wielded by Italian organised crime as he met the heads of the country’s anti-mafia squad.

“I beseech God, just and merciful, to touch the hearts of the men and women in the various mafia organisations, so that they stop, cease doing evil, change paths and adopt a different life,” Francis said.

“The money from the mafia’s dirty business and crimes is money stained with blood, which leads to an evil power.”

He added: “The mafia phenomenon, which is the expression of a culture of death, must be resisted and fought.”

Francis praised the officials for their “difficult and dangerous” fight against organised crime, and noted the burden that their job caused for their families.

“Society has to be cleansed of corruption, extortion, illegal drugs and arms smuggling, of the trafficking of human beings, so many of whom are children reduced to slavery.”

In March 2015, on a trip to Naples — a blackspot for organised crime — the pope set down a marker of his hatred of the mafia, condemning it for its “stinking” corruption, especially of the young and poor.

Pope lashes mafia’s ‘blood-stained money’

EKEDC appeals to NERC to drop N48m fine (Read full details)

PHOTO: http://www.iroy

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to drop the N48 million fine slammed on it for late submission of financial reports.

Mr Oladele Amoda, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director of the company made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

NAN reports that NERC had on December 9, 2016 fined Afam Power Plc and the Eko Disco N18.5 million and N48 million respectively for late submission of the 2013 and non-submission of 2014 audited financial reports.

According to Amoda, NERC may have forgotten it approved the extension of deadline for the submission of audited financial reports for 2013 and 2014.“When we started as Distribution Companies (DISCOs), the government had promised that we should start on a clean slate.

“This means that the DISCOs were not to bother about the previous debts or whatever activities that had taken place before we took over the companies.“But the external auditors that we hired said that the trend cannot hold because there is continuity in a company.

“So the auditors took time to check all records because the defunct PHCN records were unaudited.“The records were not really there for the auditors to leverage on, so they have to start afresh.

“That took some time; we have to go to the field to do a lot of asset auditing.“So the deadline given by NERC was so short that it was impossible for EKEDC to meet up, so some of us sent letters requesting for extension,” he said.

He said that their appeal for extension was allegedly granted by the commission.Amoda said that the fine may have been due to misinformation.The managing director, however, said EKEDC had submitted its audited financial reports for 2013 and 2014.

“We have submitted our audited financial reports for 2013 and 2014.“So we are asking the commission to drop or reduce the fine to the number of days the reports were late,” he said.

EKEDC appeals to NERC to drop N48m fine

Trump tweets criticism over US protests (Read full details)

US President Donald Trump (L) and former US President Barack Obama cross their hearts during the National Anthem sung at Trump's swearing-in ceremony on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC.<br />Mark RALSTON / AFP

President Donald Trump took to Twitter Sunday to criticize the millions of people across the United States who marched in protests against him a day earlier, including the celebrities who took part.

“Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly,” Trump tweeted.

More than two million people flooded US cities Saturday in protests led by women opposed to Trump, who many fear will roll back the rights of women, immigrants and minorities.

The scale of the mass protests, echoed in sister rallies around the world, highlight the depth of resistance to the former reality TV star, two days after he was sworn in as president with an approval rating of just 37 percent.

Pop diva Madonna made an unannounced appearance Saturday in Washington, joining hundreds of thousands of protesters who rallied for women’s rights in defiance of Trump.

Other celebrities at the massive demonstration included actresses Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd and America Ferrera, filmmaker Michael Moore and the feminist icon Gloria Steinem.

Trump tweets criticism over US protests

Comeback kings Sevilla maintain pressure on Madrid (Read full details)

Sevilla's playres celebrate after midfielder Vicente Iborra scoring his team's first goal during the Spanish league football match CA Osasuna vs Sevilla FC at El Sadar stadium in Pamplona on January 22, 2017.<br />ANDER GILLENEA / AFP

Sevilla produced another late fightback to remain just one point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid after twice coming from behind to edge out rock bottom Osasuna 4-3 on Sunday.

Sergio Leon and a Vicente Iborra own goal put the hosts in front early in each half.

But Iborra twice levelled before Franco Vazquez’s controversial third 10 minutes from time and a stoppage time effort from Pablo Sarabia sealed a vital three points for Sevilla.

Kenan Kodro rounded off the scoring with virtually the last action of the game, but defeat leaves Osasuna nine points off safety.

Sevilla produced a stirring comeback by scoring twice in the final five minutes to end Real Madrid’s 40-game unbeaten run in all competitions last weekend and have now won six of the eight La Liga games when they have conceded first this season.

Leon got across his marker to turn a low cross into the far post after just 15 minutes.

Iborra got the first of his unusual hat-trick two minutes before half-time as he followed up to sweep home Stevan Jovetic’s cross after his initial spectacular volley came back off the post.

The Sevilla captain was the centre of attention early in the second-half as he inadvertantly deflected a cross looping over the head of Sergio Rico to briefly restore Osasuna’s lead before heading home at the other end to make amends two minutes later.

Osasuna were infuriated when Vazquez’s goal was allowed to stand despite a push on Leon to finally give Sevilla the lead.

Sarabia’s fine left-footed shot from outside the area sealed the points, but there was still time for Osasuna to pull another goal back when Kodro headed in from close range.

Victory takes Sevilla four points clear of Barcelona in second, but the champions can cut that gap back to one by winning at Eibar later on Sunday.

Comeback kings Sevilla maintain pressure on Madrid