Sports
FIFA urges tolerance after Trump’s comments on kneeling
FIFA yesterday appealed for “tolerance, mutual respect and common sense” after U.S. President Donald Trump denounced the annulment of a policy that required football players to stand during the national anthem.
“I won’t be watching match anymore!” Trump tweeted on Saturday.
Trump retweeted a tweet by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who wrote: “I’d rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won’t stand for the National Anthem.”
United States captain Megan Rapinoe kneeling in support of Colin Kaepernick led to the U.S. Soccer Federation adopting the rule in 2017.
It was annulled last week after American soccer leaders acknowledged a change in sentiment among the public since the death of George Floyd sparked global anti-racism protests.
“FIFA strongly advocates for tolerance, mutual respect and common sense when such important matters are debated,” world soccer’s governing body said in a statement to The Associated Press when asked about Trump’s comments.
“FIFA has a zero-tolerance approach to incidents of all forms of discrimination in football, as outlined in the FIFA Statutes. We must all say no to racism and no to violence.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino introduced Trump at a dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January, expressing a desire to “make sure that the ‘American dream’ becomes reality, not only in America, as we have seen, but all over the world.”
In response to Trump’s tweet, FIFA said Infantino’s “position on the player’s rights to express themselves against racism, discrimination and violence was clearly stated two weeks ago and it has not changed.”
Infantino signaled support for on-field protests after American midfielder Weston McKennie wore an armband while playing for Schalke in Germany with the handwritten message “Justice for George” around his left arm. –AP
Management of Asempa FM has issued a public apology to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Kofi Adams, after wrongly quoting him in a recent publication about the selection of players for the Black Stars.
In a statement released by the station’s management, Asempa FM admitted that a quote card shared after Kofi Adams’ interview on Ultimate Sports Show on 13th October 2025 misrepresented his actual remarks.
According to the station, the error created a wrong impression that the Sports Minister was directly involved in selecting players for the national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The wording on the artwork may have created a misleading impression. For clarity, the Honorable Minister stated that the final decision on player selection rests solely with the technical team, and he emphasized the importance of transparency and merit-based selection,” the statement said.
Asempa FM expressed deep regret for the misrepresentation and apologized to Kofi Adams and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The management further assured the public that the station would take steps to ensure greater accuracy and care in its future communications.
“We hold Kofi Adams and his office in the highest regard and deeply regret any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused,” the statement concluded.
By: Jacob Aggrey
When Otto Addo took charge, Ghana sat fourth in Group I with just three points from two matches — a situation that seemed daunting for even the most optimistic fans. But what followed was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in African World Cup qualifying history.
Addo’s arrival brought renewed tactical clarity and belief. He restructured the team’s shape, redefined roles, and instilled discipline in both defense and attack. The results began to flow as Ghana went on an astonishing run of victories.
The coach’s calm leadership was crucial in restoring confidence to key players who had lost form. Veterans found new motivation, while youngsters flourished under his guidance, creating a perfect blend of maturity and energy.
Each win became a statement of intent — that Ghana was back. The team’s comeback victories over tough opponents like Mali and Central African Republic showed resilience and mental fortitude.
By the end of the campaign, the Black Stars had climbed from fourth to first, topping the group with 25 points and a +17-goal difference — a clear testament to Otto Addo’s transformational leadership.
This turnaround will go down in Ghana’s football annals as a story of hope, determination, and tactical brilliance that brought the nation back to the world stage.
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