Former Spanish football head Rubiales detained in corruption probe

Former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales was detained for a few hours on Wednesday in connection with a corruption probe relating to contracts during his term.

Rubiales was met by police at Madrid airport upon his return from the Dominican Republic and questioned before being released again.

An official statement was yet to be released but a Guardia Civil spokesman told dpa that the report from broadcaster RTVE was correct.

Rubiales is expected to be questioned by an investigating judge within the next few days.

Under Spanish law, a suspect can be detained for up to 72 hours without an arrest warrant.

Rubiales was already in the Dominican Republic when the Guardia Civil raided RFEF offices and other properties, including Rubiales’s home in Granada in mid-March in connection with a corruption and money laundering investigation into contracts made during his five years as RFEF president.

They are said to include the deal to hold the Spanish Super Cup as a four-team tournament in Saudi Arabia, completed by Rubiales together with businessman and former Barcelona player Gerard Pique.

Rubiales stepped down in September over the women’s World Cup kissing affair, having kissed Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent.

He is under criminal investigation over that incident as well in Spain, and was banned for three years from football activities by the world governing body FIFA.

Rubiales has protested his innocence in both affairs.

(dpa/NAN)

Neuer still absent as Bayern Munich resume training

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was still missing due to injury as Bayern Munich returned to training after a 2-0 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund which ended their hopes for a 12th straight Bundesliga title.

Neuer, 38, suffered an adductor injury two weeks ago which made him miss Germany’s international friendly victories against France and the Netherlands, as well as Saturday’s game against Dortmund where Sven Ulreich deputised.

Bayern next visit mid-table Heidenheim in the league and on Tuesday next week will be at Arsenal for the Champions League quarter-final first leg match.

Read Also: Liverpool’s Sadio Mane Joins Bayern Munich, Ending Trophy-Filled Six Years at Anfield

It remains unclear whether Neuer will be fit to play in Hoffenheim but Bayern definitely expect him back in London in a week. Neuer trained individually last week.

Midfielders Aleksandar Pavlovic and Raphael Guerreiro were back in team training on Tuesday from illness and injury, respectively.

The Dortmund defeat made Bayern slip 13 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen with seven games left. The Champions League could now offer them the most realistic chance to avoid a first season since 2012 without a trophy.

(dpa/NAN)

FIFA Ranking: Eagles move up 14 spots after AFCON silver win

Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up, Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up by 14 spots to place 28th  in the world in the February FIFA ranking.

In the ranking table published on the website of the world football governing body on Thursday, the team garnered 1,522 points as against the 1,474 points garnered in December 2023.

The upward movement further shoots up the Super Eagles as the third-placed team on the continent,  behind Morocco and Senegal who have 1663 (12th) and 1620 (17th) points.

However, the newly-crowned African champions Cote d’Ivoire, reaped the rewards of their continental triumph on home soil by being in 39th place having moved up by 10 spots.

AFCON’s second runners-up, South Africa climbed 8 spots to 58th, with Egypt (36th), Cameroon (51st) & Ghana (67th) dropping down after their early AFCON 2023 exits.

The Angolan side who were ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.

In the points stakes, two-time Asian Cup winners Qatar (37th, up 21) chalk up the biggest tally (92.04 points) after capitalising on home comforts to successfully defend their continental crown.

Elsewhere, Jordan (70th, up 17), who was edged out in the final, make good ground, as do Thailand (101st, up 12), whose journey came to an end at the last-16 stage.

Qatar’s rise sees them enter uncharted territory, with two other teams also recording best-ever rankings.

Senegal (17th, up 3), which suffered a shoot-out heartbreak at the hands of the eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire in the AFCON Round of 16, broke new ground.

Tajikistan (99th, up 7) mark their maiden Asian Cup campaign by making a first-ever appearance in the top 100.

Other impressive performers are Equatorial Guinea (79th, up 9), South Africa (58th, up 8), Cabo Verde (65th, up 8), Namibia (107th, up 8) and Mali (47th, up 4).

(NAN)

FIFA Ranking: Eagles move up 14 spots after AFCON silver win