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Palestinians Request FIFA To Suspend Israel From Football

The Palestinian Football Association will request the FIFA Congress, the general meeting of the world soccer governing body, in May to suspend Israel, saying it continues to hamper its sporting activities.

Despite efforts by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to calm tensions, the Palestinians remain discontented at the current restrictions. The Palestinians claim that Israel interferes on the movement of their sportsmen between the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Football Association also accuses Israel had placed restrictions on Palestinian territories on the supply of sports equipment and on visits by foreign teams and athletes.

In 2013, Sepp Blatter set up a task force which included the Israeli, Palestinian football officials, himself and the some important chiefs of the European and Asian football confederations to analyze the Palestinian complaints and to try to solve the issue.

But Palestine Football Association president Jibril Rajoub announced he has lost patience, and he has requested FIFA to show Israel “the red card.”

Israel defends itself by citing security worries for restrictions it imposes in the West Bank, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is in limited control of the region, but also on the border with the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas.

Israel says it has ameliorated travel for Palestinian athletes between the two territories, which can be made only by transiting Israel.

In December, Rajoub asked FIFA to sanction Israel after Israeli troops stormed the offices of the Palestine Football Association. An army spokesperson explained at the time soldiers were searching a wanted individual and were not on the premises because of its connections to football.

The Palestinian resolution requests Israel’s suspension because its measures “inhibit the ability to develop the game.”

The document also complains about racist behavior toward Arab athletes and footballers by some Israeli fans, as many Israeli football teams from Jewish towns have Arab players on their rosters.

The Palestinian Football Association added that Israel was breaking international law by offering places in the domestic league play to five clubs from Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Most nations regard settlements Israel has constructed on land it captured in the 1967 war as being illegal.

Reports in the Israeli press this month announced that UEFA President Michel Platini had advised former Israel Football Association chief Avi Luzon, who is a member of the UEFA executive committee, to help avert possible sanctions.

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South Africa’s National Football Team Captain Shot Dead

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Senzo Meyiwa, the captain and goalkeeper of South Africa’s national football team was shot and killed last night while protecting his girlfriend from burglars. According to the latest report, burglars were trying to break into Meyiwa’s home and in an effort to protect his pop star girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, he was killed.

As news of the killing broke, fans were in shock. At just 27 years old, Meyiwa and Khumalo lived together near Johannesburg in the township of Vosloorus. Around 8:00 pm last night, two men broke in, followed by demanding money, cellphones, and other items of value.

According to Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane, provincial official for community safety, one of the men pointed a gun toward Khumalo at which time Meyiwa stepped in between the two and was shot. Apparently, there was a third man waiting outside the home and once the gun went off, all three fled the scene. Although Meyiwa was rushed to the hospital, he died en route.

In an effort to gain information about the shooting that leads to an arrest, a $14,000 US dollar reward is being offered. In the meantime, outraged fans gathered at Meyiwa’s home, as well as the hospital, prompting the police to ask everyone to remain calm while the investigation is underway.

The last four matches played in the African Nations Cup qualifiers were captained by Meyiwa. At no time in these four matches was a goal conceded. Meyiwa and his team also played the night before the killing, when his club the Orlando Pirates moved forward to the semifinals of the South African League Cup.

Meyiwa’s South Africa coach, Ephraim Mashaba, as well as numerous teammates gathered at the hospital while Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Pirates released a statement saying this is an incredibly sad loss no matter how it is looked at, affecting Meyiwa’s entire family, his extended family, the Orlando Pirates, the South African nation, and many other foreign countries.

Some of Meyiwa’s teammates, along with other team’s football players and professional athletes from other sports took to social media to express their sadness. One of these was from Dean Furman, a South African footballer with the Doncaster Rovers who wrote on Twitter that he was beyond devastated at losing the team’s captain and friend, adding that thoughts and prayers were going out to his family members and friends.

In another Tweet, Kevin Prince Boateng, former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder, as well as Ghana international said one word that described the situation perfectly…”TRAGEDY!!!”

Georgia University Applying to Have Todd Gurley Reinstated

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Todd Gurley with the Georgia Bulldogs was suspended from playing football for the University because of a memorabilia-related NCAA violation. Immediately after the violation, Gurley missed two games, with Georgia winning over both Arkansas and Missouri.

As reported, Gurley was paid $400 from an autograph dealer for his signature on 80 items up for sale. In a statement from Gurley, he immediately took full responsibility for his actions and went on to thank the University, as well as his coaches and teammates for their support. He added that he looks forward to getting back on the field.

Today, Georgia University plans to apply to the NCAA for the reinstatement of Gurley, a Heisman candidate running back. Not only does the University hope for a quick ruling but expects one. Right now, the entire team would like to know if Gurley will be able to play against Florida, giving the Bulldogs adequate time to prepare one way or the other.

Mark Richt, head football coach for the Georgia University Bulldogs supports Gurley’s reinstatement and expresses his hope that there would be a relatively quick turnaround from the NCAA. However, he knows that the NCAA cannot be controlled and that once a decision is made, everyone will know.

While some Georgia fans were unhappy with the investigation’s timetable into the alleged violations, Richt feels that most people were satisfied with how things went. After all, it was important for the investigation to be thorough and everyone wanted to make sure the process was handled right.

After rushing 773 yards and 8 touchdowns for the team’s first five games, not to include a kickoff return touchdown and a 50-yard pass, Todd Gurley became a top candidate for the coveted Heisman Trophy.

According to William King, Gurley’s attorney, his client takes responsibility for his actions and is ready to play football. The University has gone through a lot over the past two weeks and done everything possible to show their support for Gurley. King then expressed gratitude to President Morehead, Greg McGarity, and Coach Richt for standing behind Gurley.

Five N.J. Football Coaches Suspended Due to Hazing Scandal

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Five football coaches from Sayreville War Memorial High School in New Jersey have been suspended from teaching after being embroiled in a “sick” hazing scandal. However, each of the five coaches to include the head coach, George Najjar, will continue to be paid under a current state law.

A source close to the situation and with direct knowledge quoted that the suspensions included not only coach Najjar, but also Mark Poore, Tim Ballard, Ed Mish, and Mike Novak. This coming Tuesday, officials with the Sayreville War Memorial High School will take a vote to determine what the next step should be.

As reported by the New Jersey Advance Media, some of the five football coaches were actual school staff whereas others were there only as substitutes. Although the coaches have been suspended, an investigation is underway to determine if any or all of them will be charged with a crime.

The five coaches became the center of a horrible hazing scandal, which involved seven players between the ages of 15 and 17 on the Bomber’s football team who assaulted new students of the school. According to the parents of the victims, the targeted students were held down and anally penetrated with one abuser’s finger, then forced to put the finger in their mouth.

Based on the allegations, arrests warrants were issued for all seven of the football players, who were then charged with juvenile delinquency by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s office in connection with four separate attacks. The allegations involve older team members routinely holding new players down while committing horrendous sex acts on them.

Although a full investigation is ongoing, it was learned that in order for the sick hazing ritual to be carried out, seven people at once had to be involved. In a statement from the school’s superintendent, Richard Labbe, officials now have enough evidence to substantiate that there was in fact incidences of harassment, bullying, and intimidation on the football team.

Because some of the perpetrators are under the age of 18, no names of players who committed the acts have been released although information is expected to be shared by local law enforcement authorities sometime soon.

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