Manuel Pellegrini slapped with two-match touchline ban by UEFA following post-Barcelona rant about referee Jonas Eriksson

A further one-game penalty has been suspended after the Manchester City  suggested the Swedish official was biased towards the Spanish giants

Manuel Pellegrini has been given a two-match ban by UEFA for his Champions League ref rant.

It means the Manchester City boss will be banned from the touchline for his side's last 16 second leg tie at Barcelona on March 12.

Pellegrini claimed Swedish ref Jonas Eriksson was "not impartial" during City's 2-0 defeat at home to Barcelona and will now have to watch the second leg from the stands at the Nou Camp.

UEFA handed Pellegrini a three-match ban but suspended one of the games for two years, meaning it is, in effect, a two-match suspension. It means Pellegrini cannot enter the dressing-room or making any communication with players or staff during the matches concerned.

If City are knocked out by Barcelona, then Pellegrini's ban will carry over into his first game in Europe next season. Despite apologising for his comments, UEFA took a dim view of them and found him guilty.

In a statement the governing body said: "UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body has banned Manchester City FC head coach Manuel Pellegrini for three UEFA competition games, one of which is under probation for two years.

"The sanction is due to the coach's press statements and violation of the general principles of conduct under Article 11 of the 2013 UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (DR) at the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg between Manchester City and FC Barcelona on 18 February in England.

"As a result, the City manager will be banned for his team's round of 16 second leg against Barcelona in Spain on 12 March. This means that Pellegrini may follow the game from the stands only; he may not enter the dressing room, tunnel or technical area before or during the match; and he may not communicate directly or indirectly with his players and/or technical staff during the game."

Chelsea's Jose Mourinho demands Premier League bosses do more to help clubs competing in European

Mourinho is angry that his players are being forced to play just two days after they touched down from their mid-week travels to Istanbul

Jose Mourinho today demanded Premier League bosses start helping English football's Euro-travellers.

Chelsea boss Mourinho is angry that his Blues have to face Fulham tomorrow having only returned from Istanbul in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Mourinho's players had a gentle warm-down at Cobham on Thursday afternoon and then had a light session at Stamford Bridge this afternoon and the Portuguese echoed Frank Lampard's call for protection of the players.

"We all prefer to play game after game after game," said Mourinho. "But we all want to play game after game with conditions to recover, with equal conditions for every team, and no sense that a team has a privilege in the choices.

"I feel every team in the same country should have the same privilege to be a little bit protected in relation to European matches.

"It makes the players' job difficult, not my job. I can play a match every day, so it's not a problem for me - or the people who make the fixtures!

"I don't run, they don't run. But it's difficult for the players.

"When a player like Frank Lampard, who has a right to speak and has played an unbelievable number of seasons and matches in this club, and over 100 times for England, and is not the kind of player who is trying to give an opinion all the time, when a player like him, and a man like him, expresses his feelings about that, this country should listen.

"I repeat, it's not a problem for my legs, or those who make those decisions. It's a problem for the players' legs.

"We're not just talking about what they do in Portugal and Spain. It's what they do in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Greece as well. It's everyone.

"I can accept that we couldn't play last week on Friday. But what we don't accept is why we're playing Saturday and not Sunday, why a team who plays on Wednesday in the Champions League has to play on the Sunday before and not the Saturday.

"I'm nobody, and my legs are fresh from the last match. I didn't sleep a lot, but my legs are fresh. But for my players, it's different."

Mourinho thanked Fulham chief Felix Magath for having the "honesty" to concede the scheduling favoured the Cottagers.

He added: "Not many people are honest in the way they analyse things.

"I have to praise Magath because he was the first one to say this is a different match because Chelsea have this situation in midweek, the special situation that the game was so far, and we don't play on Sunday.

"Sunday would be difficult but we play Saturday, which is more difficult. Magath knows that. He has experience at this level, having played European competitions for many years with other clubs, so I have to praise his honesty."

Etisalat unveils new ‘Gold Series’ Experience Centre in grand style

Fastest growing and most innovative company, Etisalat Nigeria further cemented its growing reputation as the most customer-centric GSM services provider in the country with the launch of its new customer service centre, aptly named the ‘Gold Series’ Experience Centre. 

The state-of-the-art customer service centre located at 43, Adeola Odeku Street in Victoria Island was recently unveiled in grand style. Continue...

With the opening, Etisalat has once again shown itself as a trendy brand, with the centre set to redefine the way and manner customer experience is perceived in Nigeria.

The new Etisalat centre, designed to deliver better customer service experience, has an in-store café where customers can relax, grab a coffee, and continue to interact with the brand. There’s also a VIP “GEM” lounge for its existing high value customers.

What’s more, it has an authentic Geek Force bar loaded with “Small bytes & App-etizers” apps menu where customers can ask questions, try out new apps and see how the latest mobile devices can enhance their lives when paired with the right applications.

With the current features, layout and experiential zoning, the new experience centre at Adeola Odeku is set to revolutionize the retail environment in Nigeria.

 

WOW!!! AKON WANT TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR A MILLON HOMES

         

w/ President Ali Bongo. Akon is doing more than just a simple fundraising event or making a donation to an orphanage on his birthday

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will recall Mesut Ozil for their trip to Stoke on Saturday

Wenger is still sweating on the fitness of Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs as he faces a crisis at left back

Mesut Ozil has shaken off his hip problem and will make the team bus for Arsenal's Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke.

The £42.5million German international has been given some time off after a poor display against Bayern Munich as the pressure of playing in the Premier League appeared to be showing.

And Wenger will welcome him back for the trip to the Potters now he has been given the green light over his injury.

But news that Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs remain doubtful has given the Gunners boss a headache.

And Wenger will wait until the last minute to see if they pass a fitness test before deploying a fit-again Thomas Vermaelen at left-back.

Provisional squad: Szczesny, Sagna, Monreal, Wilshere, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Cazorla, Arteta, Giroud, Rosicky, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Fabianski, Sanogo, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Gnabry, Vermaelen, Gibbs.

Federal Government to spend N35.83bn on ex-millitants in 2014

Mr Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, said on Friday that N35.83 billion would be spent in 2014 for the reintegration of ex-militants enrolled in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

Kuku disclosed this in Abuja at a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta.

He told the committee that a total budget proposal for the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the

Man sues Macdonalds for $1.5million for giving him only one napkin

A man is suing Macdonalds for $1.5million for giving him only one napkin and refusing to give him another when he asked for it. Lol. The things you can sue people for in the US.

TMZ reports

McDonalds has made a new golden arch enemy - a California man is suing the company for $1.5million... because he says he only got one napkin with his meal. Webster Lucas claims he was stiffed on napkins at the Mickey D's in Pacoima, CA on January 29th -- after ordering a Quarter Pounder Deluxe - and when he went up to the counter to ask for more, he was rudely rebuffed by the manager ... who insisted he already got some. According to his lawsuit, Lucas, who is black, then retorted, "I should have went to eat at the Jack-in-the-Box because I didn't come here to argue over napkins. I came here to eat."That's when Lucas says things got racist -- claiming the manager (a Mexican-American) mumbled something about "you people."Lucas subsequently emailed the general manager to complain - insisting he couldn't work because of the "undue mental anguish" he was suffering as a result of the napkin debacle -- and says he was insultingly offered free burgers in return. Lucas wants to super size instead - $1.5 million.

Centenary celebration, a dance on the graves of murdered students - Atiku

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar says the centenary celebration currently going on in Abuja to mark the 100 years of Nigeria's Amalgamation is disrespectful to the memory of the recently murdered FGC students in Yobe state. His tweets above...

Meanwhile the families of late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Chief Gani Fawehinmi have rejected the Post Humous Awards the Federal Government is to bestow on both Gani and Fela at a Centenary Awards which will hold later today at the Banquet Hall State House in Abuja. Continue...

Actress Yvonne Okoro stuns in lingerie and see-through red dress

The Nigerian/Ghanaian actress has one of the best bodies in the movie industry...

Rita Dominic becomes face of a product of Keystone Bank

Actress Rita Dominic has landed another endorsement deal. From telecoms now to banking. The award winning actress and movie producer will be unveiled in the coming weeks as the face of a new initiative Keystone Bank will be launching soon to empower women called Pink Account or something like that. She signed a one year deal in January for millions of Naira and has already shot ads for the campaign. Congrats to her!

'I can have sex with Ramsey Noah on set' - new Tinsel star, April

Joju Muse popularly known as April is the latest addition to the Tinsel family. She’s playing the role of Sammie – the hostess at Ziggies. To say she’s ready to conquer the world is stating the obvious as April is ready for almost anything even sex with Ramsey Nouah on set. Yeah, you read that right, sex on set with Mr Noah. Unfortunately he's married...so...:-)

In an interview with iCampusNG, the 26 year old Public Admin graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University and daughter of a former senator, said she gets horny watching John Dumelo and Ramsey Noah in movies. Excerpt from the interview below...

Which Nigerian actor would you not mind kissing on set?

There are actually two of them; Ramsey Nuoah and John Dumelo. I’m so in love with both of them. Their movies hit the right spot.

Right spot? They make you horny?

Everything join together. [laughs]

So you don’t mind a sex scene with Ramsey Nuoah?

A sex scene with Ramsey? Mehn, we are doing it for real. No acting, we will do it.

Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann gets France national team call-up

Real Sociedad’s Anotine Greizmann has been one of La Liga’s most prolific scorers this season and as a reward, the 22-year-old has been called up to the French national team for their upcoming 5th March friendly against Holland.

The match, which will take place in Paris at the Stade de France, will feature the majority of France’s biggest names, but will also feature newcomers such as Griezmann and Lucas Digne, who has only played nine games for Paris Saint Germain this season.

Griezmann has been adamant about his desire to make it on the France squad for the 2014 World Cup, following his lengthy ban after a night out in Paris with the U-21 squad over a year ago.

The entire French squad is as follows:

GK: Lloris, Mandanda, Ruffier

DF: Debuchy, Digne, Evra, Sagna, Managala, Sakho, Varane, Koscielny

MF: Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi, Grenier, Mavuba, Sissoko

FW: Benzema, Giroud, Ribery, Griezmann, Payet, Remy, Valbuena

Abidal: My dream is to return to Barça

Former Barcelona and current AS Monaco defender, Eric Abidal recently spoke about his time in Catalunya, his best memory with the Blaugrana shirt and the details behind his rather cold dismissal from the club.

In an interview with Barcelona-based radio station, Rac1′s ‘Primer Toc’ programme, Abidal spoke about his health and thanked former teammate, Dani Alves for honouring him by trading in his ’2′ shirt for Abidal’s ’22′, which he will do when he attends the game in person this Sunday.

“I’m in good health.  I undergo analysis every month and every time they touch me, I’m afraid I’ll go back to how I was.  I’m enjoying my life now more than ever before.  I’m proud to be an example for people.  My recovery has been easier with all of your support.  I hope that I’ll soon be able to thank all of you from the Camp Nou.

“Dani is a great person and a great player. It was a massive gesture he made so I could survive, to be in the same boat as me, but I didn’t want to do that to him because I love him.  What we shared will last a lifetime, I’ll never forget it.”

Abidal went on to add that he doesn’t feel betrayed by the club, as many fans feel that Barcelona not offering him a new contract after all he’d been through was a berayal of trust, but Abidal insists that he has no hard feelings, wants to make it to the Champions League with Monaco and one day return to Barca.

“I know there’s been a lot of talk, but specificially they never told me anything concrete.  I ask the president, Zubi (sporting director Andoni Zubizaretta and Tito if I would continue or not.  I don’t feel betrayed because no one told me I would return.

“After playing football it’s very difficult to know what we’re going to do, but I’d like to return to Barca and work on the training pitch.

“I always though positively.  You know that in life you can’t always get what you want and I spent six spectacular years here.  Lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley with the Captain’s armband was the best moment of my life.  In time, I’ll return to Barcelona, it’s very difficult to adapt to a new country, but for me [Catalunya] is a different country.”

Abidal concluded by discussing the work of new manager, Tata Martino and his former manager, Pep Guardiola.

“In the last Champions League match, I saw a game with a more touches.  I believe a lot in Barca’s style, the philosophy and it’s still winning.  I don’t think the team needs a revolution. They always need to keep their base.  Looking to improve when you already have the best system is difficult.

“Pep offered me a contract [at Bayern] when I didn’t have one and there’s a player I know in Ribery, but things aren’t always that easy.  My idea was to close the circle in Monaco, where it all began.”

Valverde: Barça? I’ve already got my hands full

Athletic Bilbao manager, Ernesto Valverde has dismissed reports stating that he is on the short-list to replace Tata Martino at Barcelona, should the Argentine leave at the end of the season, admitting that he already has his hands full at Athletic and can’t be bothered to leave the club.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Valverde spoke about the short-list published in Barcelona-based sports daily, Sport and shared his thoughts on the subject.

“Sounds good to me, what do you want me to say? It’s a joke, right?  Well, I don’t want to talk about jokes.  You have to ask the person who wrote it.  I have my hands full here.  I’m not worried about those types of things.  This press call is for the match against Granada.  In the big clubs, these types of things come out every two to three minutes and the coach must endure it.”

Valverde then scowled when shown the cover of ‘Sport’ with his picture among the candidates.

P-Square To Launch Animated Version Of “The Alingos''

P-square brothers, Paul and Peter Okoye are releasing an animated version of their hit song “Alingo”.

The cartoon programme which will soon be aired on television is called “The Alingo’s”.

Peter Okoye shared the YouTube link of the cartoon teaser on his Instagram page few minutes ago and captioned it: “Something’s comin to ur SCREEN it’s MASSIVE & DOPE…. R u ready 4 it? Watch teaser #THEALINGOS”  

Groom Abandons Bride At RCCG Church, You Won’t Believe Why (See Photos)

On Saturday, 22nd February, a groom called off his wedding after the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG that was supposed to wed them conducted a pregnancy test and it came out positive.

After keeping guests waiting for about two hours the groom came out and announced to the astonished guests that he was no longer interested in the marriage.

Souvenir from the wedding

The bride, Cynthia who insisted she was not pregnant did another pregnancy test in a different hospital which came out negative. The church did a second test with their own doctor and again their own test came out positive again.

The groom said he had never slept with the girl hence he couldn’t go on with the wedding.

Despite the wedding being called off, guests still sat down to eat and drink and even pack souvenirs.

To make things even more interesting, the groom’s family went on to pack the wedding cake, wine and other drinks as well as souvenirs even though those things were paid for by the bride’s family.

All this time the poor bride, still in her wedding gown kept crying and insisting she wasn’t pregnant.

'We had chances to kill the game', admits Jose Mourinho after Chelsea draw with Galatasaray

The Portuguese manager was full of praise for his players' effort, but accepts his side could have put the tie to bed

Frustrated Jose Mourinho accused his Blues of lacking “killer instinct’’ in the 1-1 draw with Galatasaray and blowing the chance to guarantee their Champions League progress, writes Martin Lipton in Istanbul.

The Chelsea boss was powerless as his side failed to build on Fernando Torres' ninth-minute opener before conceding a soft second half equaliser from defender Aurelien Chedjou.

Chelsea remain favourites to go through to the quarter-finals from the second leg at Stamford Bridge next month, but Mourinho admitted: "It was an opportunity missed, especially in the first half.

"We had two, three, four situations where, normally, you have to be effective and score.

"I know that it’s been like that all season but that’s our team. Some other teams have three chances and score three goals. We have five and score one.

"This is not a criticism of the strikers, like sometimes people think. It’s just the profile of the team we have.

"We are not a team who kills opponents. We create but we arrive in the last third of the pitch and the last decision, the correct pass, is not right at the moment.

"So we are paying for that in the Premier league, losing points, and in the Champions League."

Torres was preferred to Samuel Eto’o, the subject of Mourinho’s controversially-captured comments about the deficiencies of his strike options.

The Cameroonian, a late replacement for Torres, insisted "I’ve no trouble with Mourinho" when asked for his response.

Galatasaray boss Roberto Mancini suggested the odds had shifted slightly towards his team, claiming they now had a "40 per cent" chance of going through after claiming Chelsea were ‘’80 per cent’’ likely to progress before the game.

That brought another withering put-down from the Portuguese, who replied: "I’m not good at maths. And football is not maths.

"If football was maths, I’d coach in the third division. Because football is not maths, I coach Chelsea."

World's Highest Earning Athletes.

Iker Casillas sets Spanish football record with 952 minutes without conceding a goal

Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, despite not being the first choice keeper this season, has broke a Spanish football record after going 952 minutes without conceding a goal, topping former Atletico Madrid keeper, Abel Resino’s mark of 924 minutes set in 1990-91.

In the 91st minute Wednesday evening’s Champions League tie against Schalke, Casillas’ former teammate, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored in the 91st minute to break the 32-year-old’s run that has been going since November 2013, but will go down in history adding yet another notch in the belt of Casillas’ storied career.

In a completely different record, Resino’s record in La Liga still stands at 1275 minutes without conceding a goal (but conceded a goal in the Copa del Rey at the 924 minute mark), something that doesn’t look to be beaten by Casillas, as he no longer plays La Liga matches.

In what has been a year of highs and lows, Casillas can take solace in the fact that, at least in one category, he is the best Spanish goalkeeper of all-time.

Liverpool plot Bojan Krkic transfer from Barcelona for a bargain £5million

Forward was one of European football's golden boys when he moved in £35m deal in 2011 but his career took a wrong turn and he's now on loan at Ajax

Liverpool are lining up an audacious bid to land Barcelona's Bojan Krkic in a cut price transfer.

The Spain international striker was once valued at more than £35million three years ago when he signed for Roma, but the Reds reckon they can now bring him to the Premier League for as little as £5m.

Scouts have watched him play on loan at Ajax several times in recent weeks, with an Anfield representative running the rule during the Dutch club's surprise Europa League defeat by Salzburg last Thursday.

Krkic is still only 23, but has seen his value collapse since that unhappy move to Roma, which saw him quickly loaned out to AC Milan and then re-signed by Barca, who exercised a buy-back clause last summer.

The versatile striker, who can play in all positions along the front line and in front of midfield, was hoping to revive his career at the Nou Camp but was sent out on loan again to Ajax.

And he admitted this week that his future is now up in the air, as he raised doubts over whether his deal with the Amsterdam club will be made permanent.

"We'll see about my future, there are still two months of the season to go before any decisions have to be made," he explained.

Krkic moved to Roma in a deal which saw the Italians make an £11m down-payment, with an extra £25m to be paid should they wish to secure his long term future.

But after letting him go to Milan on loan, they decided to allow Barca to take him back, and that has left the Spanish giants admitting they are likely to sell the striker this summer for a cut-price fee.

Just like Philippe Coutinho, snapped up from Inter Milan for £8.5m 13 months ago, Krkic fits the Anfield bill perfectly - a young player with a massive reputation who played more than 100 games for Barca, but has lost his way a little in recent seasons.

The Reds will monitor the situation, and if they can do a deal at around the £5m mark they are ready to make their move in the summer.

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers meanwhile, has received a big boost to his title hopes - midfielder Lucas is back on the training ground, and could even make the subs' bench for the weekend visit to Southampton.

The Brazilian has been sidelined for more than a month with a knee ligament injury, but he posted a video of himself undergoing a full training session on Wednesday, and revealed he would be back in action soon, several weeks ahead of schedule.