THISDAY

UEFA Ban Evra for Kung-fu Kick on Supporter

- Fidelity, First Bank Clash in Nigeria Bankers Games Final Fury Vows to Beat AJ at 25 Stone

Patrice Evra's contract has been terminated by Marseille after he was banned until June 2018 for kung-fu kicking a fan.

The former France captain was sent off before Marseille's Europa League defeat against Vitoria on November 2 after lashing out at a supporter who Evra claimed was abusing him.

UEFA charged Evra under article 15 of their disciplina­ry regulation­s, which deals with the misconduct of players, banning him from their club competitio­ns until June.

And Marseille quickly followed news of his suspension by terminatin­g his contract with immediate effect.

A statement published on Marseille's website read: "Patrice Evra has been exemplary on the field and in the locker room. He played an important role in reviving the team and in the improvemen­t of results.

"However, on November 2 in Guimaraes he committed an irreparabl­e act by responding to provocatio­ns from a handful of individual­s.

"Nothing justified such a reaction, especially from a senior player whose attitude both on and off the pitch should inspire the youngest of us. "In that context, the conditions were no longer right for Patrice Evra to accomplish his mission here with serenity or, above all, effectivel­y.

"Both parties agreed to end the collaborat­ion by mutual consent.

"This incident also highlighte­d the unacceptab­le attitude of a small number of people who uttered insults and threats of violence towards the player and his family before contemptuo­usly invading the pitch.

"Such behaviour, which exposes the club to sanctions, has no place in the stands of a football stadium and at Marseille in particular."

Club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud added: "Today, there is sadness. For Patrice Evra first, who obviously understood all the consequenc­es of his action and who will no longer be able to exercise his passion at Olympique de Marseille.

"Also for Marseille fans, who are stigmatise­d because of the irresponsi­ble behaviour of a handful of them."

Marseille's American owner Frank McCourt had described Evra's behaviour as "unacceptab­le" and "not something that we can tolerate", while fans held up a giant banner before last Sunday's game against Caen saying: "We don't want you in our colours anymore. Evra get lost."

Over 300 Taekwondo Players drawn from across the world will participat­e at the 4th edition of the Lagos State Taekwondo Internatio­nal Classics holding from November 23-25, at Sir Molade Okoya Thomas hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

A breakdown of the figures shows that the host country Nigeria top the list with highest number of athletes while Ghana, Senegal and Mali are leading the pack of foreign athletes coming for the big event that would be used to round off the 2017 Taekwondo activities in the state.

According to the chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Jimmy Ogunowo, who is also the chairman of the Lagos State Taekwondo Associatio­n said he is not surprised at the encouragin­g number of entries which appears to be the highest so far in the history of the championsh­ip.

"Lagos remains as the home of teakwondo where every stakeholde­r wants to visit," he remarked. He thanked their sponsors, coca-cola, Afriglobal Insurance Brokers, NEM Insurance and Indomie for their support in helping to actualize their dream through the sponsorshi­p. He assured that the state will continue to play her leading role in the developing the art not only in Nigeria but the entire West Africa sub-region as the flagship of Taekwondo in this part of the world.

Over 300 Taekwondo Players drawn from across the world will participat­e at the 4th edition of the Lagos State Taekwondo Internatio­nal Classics holding from November 23-25, at Sir Molade Okoya Thomas hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

A breakdown of the figures shows that the host country Nigeria top the list with highest number of athletes while Ghana, Senegal and Mali are leading the pack of foreign athletes coming for the big event that would be used to round off the 2017 Taekwondo activities in the state.

According to the chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Jimmy Ogunowo, who is also the chairman of the Lagos State Taekwondo Associatio­n said he is not surprised at the encouragin­g number of entries which appears to be the highest so far in the history of the championsh­ip.

"Lagos remains as the home of teakwondo where every stakeholde­r wants to visit," he remarked. He thanked their sponsors, coca-cola, Afriglobal Insurance Brokers, NEM Insurance and Indomie for their support in helping to actualize their dream through the sponsorshi­p. He assured that the state will continue to play her leading role in the developing the art not only in Nigeria but the entire West Africa sub-region as the flagship of Taekwondo in this part of the world.

Tyson Fury claims he could beat Anthony Joshua at 25 stone and vowed to "punch his face in" after Joshua called Fury "fat" and told him to "get fit".

Fury, who welcomed a fight with Joshua at Wembley next summer, has not fought since dethroning long-time heavyweigh­t champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

The 29-year old is currently waiting for a final ruling from UK Anti-Doping for a suspended drugs ban, a period which has seen Fury gain weight through inactivity.

Joshua, who has been called out by WBC title holder Deontay Wilder, took to social media to label Fury "fat" and ordered him to "get fit" if a fight between the pair is to happen.

However, Fury responded by claiming he'd beat his fierce domestic rival despite weighing "25 stone", calling Joshua "useless".

"This is a message to the weight-lifter, big Anthony Joshua - the tough man. Who told me to get fit?" Fury said on Instagram.

"To be honest with you, I don't need to get fit to fight somebody like you, at all.

"I'll come to you and I'll punch your face in for you. Even at 25 stone.

"So I really don't need to get fit for you, put it that way."

 ??  ?? Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton
 ??  ?? Olympique de Marseille fans hold a banner aimed at Evra, reading: 'You thought you were above the institutio­n OM and its supporters. We don't want you wearing our colours.'
Olympique de Marseille fans hold a banner aimed at Evra, reading: 'You thought you were above the institutio­n OM and its supporters. We don't want you wearing our colours.'

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria