Kick-off activiteiten 40 jarige IMEAO-1 met planten van bomen

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: De Ware Tijd Online

Tekst en beeld Sharon Singh PARAMARIBO — Het Instituut voor Middelbaar Economisch en Administratief Onderwijs(IMEAO-1) viert dit jaar haar 40

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Mondial: Benzema forfait, les Bleus groggy

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

L’étoile des champions du monde français a perdu de son éclat samedi avec le forfait de Karim Benzema, Ballon d’Or terrassé par une nouvelle blessure, un coup de massue supplémentaire pour les Bleus…

L’étoile des champions du monde français a perdu de son éclat samedi avec le forfait de Karim Benzema, Ballon d’Or terrassé par une nouvelle blessure, un coup de massue supplémentaire pour les Bleus à trois jours d’affronter l’Australie au Mondial.

Le feuilleton des blessés continue de bousculer l’équipe de France et le dernier épisode en date prend la forme d’une violente secousse: l’attaquant du Real Madrid est à terre, comme Paul Pogba et N’Golo Kanté, Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe et Christopher Nkunku.

Convalescent depuis un mois, Benzema a espéré voir le bout du tunnel, samedi, en participant à son premier entraînement collectif avec les Bleus. 

Mais il a dû l’écourter, victime d’une “lésion” musculaire à la cuisse gauche, “qui nécessitera un délai de convalescence de trois semaines”, a expliqué la Fédération dans un communiqué.

“De ma vie je n’ai jamais abandonné mais ce soir, il faut que je pense à l’équipe comme je l’ai toujours fait”, a réagi le buteur sur Instagram. “La raison me dit de laisser ma place à quelqu’un qui pourra aider notre groupe à faire une belle Coupe du monde”.

A 34 ans, l’avant-centre ne disputera probablement jamais une deuxième Coupe du monde, après celle de 2014 qu’il avait terminée dans la peau de meilleur buteur français.

Pour défendre son titre, la bande de Didier Deschamps va devoir faire sans l’ancien Lyonnais, revenu en grâce après le long bannissement (2015-2021) consécutif à “l’affaire de la sextape”.

Plus que jamais, la star du Paris SG Kylian Mbappé se retrouve au centre des attentes.

Remplacement possible

Le réservoir d’attaque reste néanmoins bien rempli pour les Bleus, avec Antoine Griezmann, Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Kingsley Coman, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani… et Olivier Giroud, éternel revenant et premier postulant pour remplacer Benzema.

“C’est une période un peu faste pour moi, je me sens bien physiquement, dans mon jeu, dans mon club et aussi en équipe de France”, a rapporté jeudi l’avant-centre titulaire en 2018, barré ces derniers mois par le retour de “KB9” mais encore là, à 36 ans.

Les règlements de la Fifa permettent à Deschamps d’appeler un nouveau joueur jusqu’à lundi, veille de France-Australie, pour procéder à un remplacement de dernière minute en cas de blessure. Mais il peut également décider de conserver un groupe de 25 joueurs.

Une brume assez épaisse entourait l’état de santé de Benzema depuis la mi-octobre. Il se plaignait de gênes persistantes à la cuisse droite depuis plusieurs semaines, sans que la nature de ses pépins physiques ne soit clairement établie. 

Il a disputé son dernier match en intégralité le 19 octobre, un Elche-Real remporté 3-0 par les Madrilènes avec un but du Français, sacré Ballon d’Or deux jours plus tôt à Paris. Et il n’a pu jouer, depuis, qu’une petite trentaine de minutes le 2 novembre en Ligue des champions.

Varane de retour

L’étirement de sa période de convalescence a commencé à poser question à l’aube du Mondial, notamment sur sa capacité à répéter les efforts à haute intensité dans la chaleur du Qatar.

S’il est préférable “d’enchaîner les matches” avant un grand tournoi, “Karim est un cas à part, c’est moins handicapant que pour un milieu de terrain”, a cependant argumenté Adrien Rabiot, vendredi. “C’est un joueur de très haut niveau qui sait se gérer” et, s’il n’est pas rétabli au premier match, “ce sera au deuxième”, avait lancé le milieu de la Juventus.

Benzema ne sera finalement pas avec les Bleus mardi, contre l’Australie, ni les 26 et 30 novembre contre le Danemark puis la Tunisie.

De l’autre côté du terrain, en défense, il subsiste encore un gros point d’interrogation derrière le nom de Raphaël Varane, patron de la jeune arrière-garde du haut de ses 29 ans et 87 sélections.

Le milieu de Manchester United s’est entraîné pour la première fois avec l’ensemble du groupe, samedi en fin de journée au stade Jassim-bin-Hamad de Doha. Le protocole de rétablissement semble être respecté sans accroc pour l’ex-Madrilène, fauché le 22 octobre par une inquiétante blessure à la cuisse droite.

Une rare bonne nouvelle dans un océan de tourments.

ama-jta/lh

le Français Karim Benzema (G), derrière Kylian Mbappé lors d’une séance d’entraînement à Doha, le 19 novembre 2022
• FRANCK FIFE

le Français Olivier Giroud lors d’un entraînement le 17 novembre à Doha
• FRANCK FIFE

Karim Benzema et Raphael Varane (d) lors d’une ssesion d’entraînement à Doha le 19 novembre 2022
• FRANCK FIFE

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La COP27 se termine sur un bilan contrasté

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

Après des négociations longues et difficiles qui ont largement débordé du calendrier prévu, la COP27 s’est terminée dimanche à l’aube après avoir adopté un texte très disputé sur l’aide aux pays pauvres affectés par le changement climatique mais sans nouvelles ambitions…

Après des négociations longues et difficiles qui ont largement débordé du calendrier prévu, la COP27 s’est terminée dimanche à l’aube après avoir adopté un texte très disputé sur l’aide aux pays pauvres affectés par le changement climatique mais sans nouvelles ambitions pour la baisse des gaz à effet de serre.

Après plus de deux semaines, la grande conférence sur le climat de l’ONU a pris fin avec plus d’un jour de retard sur le calendrier prévu, ce qui en fait l’une des COP les plus longues de l’histoire.

“Ca n’a pas été facile” mais “nous avons finalement rempli notre mission”, a souligné le président égyptien de la conférence Sameh Choukri.

Une déclaration finale fruit de nombreux compromis a été finalement adoptée, appelant à une réduction “rapide” des émissions mais sans ambition nouvelle par rapport à la dernière COP de Glasgow en 2021.

“Nous devons drastiquement réduire les émissions maintenant –et c’est une question à laquelle cette COP n’a pas répondu”, a regretté le secrétaire général de l’ONU Antonio Guterres, à l’issue de la conférence climatique.

Dans la foulée, l’Union européenne s’est dite “déçue” par l’accord sur les émissions.

Cette édition a en revanche été marquée par l’adoption d’une résolution emblématique, qualifiée d’historique par ses promoteurs, sur la compensation des dégâts causés par le changement climatique déjà subis par les pays les plus pauvres.

Ce dossier des “pertes et dommages” climatiques des pays pauvres avait failli faire dérailler la conférence, avant de faire l’objet d’un texte de compromis de dernière minute qui laisse de nombreuses questions en suspens, mais acte le principe de la création d’un fonds financier spécifique.

“Les pertes et dommages dans les pays vulnérables ne peuvent désormais plus être ignorés même si certains pays développés avaient décidé d’ignorer nos souffrances”, a salué la jeune militante ougandaise Vanessa Nakate.

Recul critiqué

Le texte sur les réductions d’émissions a été également très disputé, de nombreux pays dénonçant ce qu’ils considéraient comme un recul sur les ambitions définies lors de précédentes conférences.

Notamment sur l’objectif le plus ambitieux de l’accord de Paris, contenir le réchauffement à 1,5°C par rapport à l’ère pré-industrielle, qui est toutefois réaffirmé dans la décision finale.

Les engagements actuels des pays signataires de l’accord ne permettent pas de tenir cet objectif, ni même celui de contenir l’élévation de la température à 2°C par rapport à l’ère pré-industrielle, quand les humains ont commencé à utiliser en masse les énergies fossiles responsables du réchauffement climatique.

Ces engagements, en admettant qu’ils soient intégralement tenus, mettraient au mieux le monde sur la trajectoire de +2,4°C à la fin du siècle et, au rythme actuel des émissions, sur celle d’un catastrophique +2,8°C.

Or, à près de 1,2°C de réchauffement actuellement, les impacts dramatiques du changement climatique se multiplient déjà.

L’année 2022 en a été l’illustration, avec son cortège de sécheresses, méga-feux et inondations dévastatrices, impactant récoltes et infrastructures.

Les coûts de ces événements extrêmes s’envolent également: la Banque mondiale a ainsi estimé à 30 milliards de dollars le coût des inondations qui ont laissé un tiers du territoire pakistanais sous l’eau pendant des semaines et fait des millions de sinistrés.

Les pays pauvres, souvent parmi les plus exposés mais qui sont généralement très peu responsables du réchauffement, réclamaient depuis des années un financement des “pertes et dommages” qu’ils subissent.

“Suspects habituels”

La bataille ne s’achèvera pas avec l’adoption de la résolution de Charm el-Cheikh puisque celle-ci reste volontairement vague sur certains points controversés.

Les détails opérationnels doivent être définis pour adoption à la prochaine COP, fin 2023 aux Emirats arabes unis, promettant de nouveaux affrontements. Notamment sur la question des contributeurs, les pays développés insistant pour que la Chine en fasse partie.

Autre sujet qui a secoué la COP: les ambitions de réductions d’émissions.

De nombreux pays ont estimé que les textes proposés par la présidence égyptienne constituaient un retour en arrière sur les engagements d’en relever régulièrement le niveau pris à Glasgow.

“Cette COP a affaibli les obligations pour les pays de présenter des engagements nouveaux et plus ambitieux”, a regretté Laurence Tubiana, architecte des accords de Paris de 2015.

Sans compter la question de la réduction de l’usage des énergies fossiles, à l’origine du réchauffement mais à peine mentionnées dans la plupart des textes sur le climat.

Le charbon avait été cité en 2021 après de rudes échanges mais à Charm el-Cheikh les “suspects habituels”, selon l’expression d’un délégué, s’y sont une nouvelle fois opposés pour le pétrole et le gaz. Arabie saoudite, Iran ou Russie sont les noms de pays les plus souvent avancés.

Le développement des renouvelables fait cependant l’objet d’une mention inédite aux côtés des énergies à “basses émissions”, expression généralement appliquée au nucléaire.

so-jmi/uh/elm

Les marais asséchés de Chibayich en Irak, le 24 juillet 2022
• Asaad NIAZI

COP27 : le président Shoukry appelle à l’action et ouvre la réunion plénière de clôture

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D Head Cornerstone wins United Racehorse Trainers’ Association trophy Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News
Loop Sports

6 hrs ago

D Head Cornerstone with jockey Reyan Lewis wins the United Racehorse Trainers’ Association trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards at Caymanas Park on Saturday, November 19, 2022. (PHOTO: caymanasracing).

NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!

D HEAD CORNERSTONE on Saturday franked his fourth-place finish in this year’s St Leger and Jamaica Derby with a workmanlike victory in Saturday’s United Racehorse Trainers’ Association feature event at nine furlongs and 25 yards at Caymanas Park.

Ridden by Reyan Lewis for Gary Subratie, DHEAD CORNERSTONE gained quickly on longtime leader, THE CITADEL, attacking off the home turn to record his second consecutive win.

D HEAD CORNERSTONE, who won impressively at a mile on November 5, took over from THE CITADEL a furlong out to win going away in 1:57.2.

Lewis survived a stewards’ enquiry and jockey’s objection lodged by Jerome Innis after 6-5 favourite D HEADCORNERSTONE drifted inwards on THE CITADEL when making his bid for the lead.

Dane Dawkins rode a three-timer on the 10-race card to move six clear of defending champion jockey Anthony Thomas.

Dawkins won back-to-back races, the second and third events, astride CHARMIN BEAUTY and leading trainer, Jason DaCosta’s two-year-old, SHE’S MYHEDGEFUND, before making all with SENSATIONAL SATIN in the eighth.

Youville Pinnock rode two upsetters, TIGRAY EXPRESS at 15-1 in the fourth and TURNONTHELIGHT at 13-1 in the 10th.

Trainer Patrick Lynch saddled two winners, TIGRAY EXPRESS and CHARMIN BEAUTY.

Racing continues on Sunday with a nine-race card featuring a $5 million Reggae 6 carryover starting at the opening event.

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Rules and guidelines for people attending JLP conference on Sunday Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

The police are advising persons who will be attending the annual conference of the Jamaica Labour Party at the National Arena on Sunday, November 20 that no firearms, drugs, knives, ice picks, machetes, umbrellas (long ones), glass bottles or any other item that can be used to cause serious harm or injury, will be allowed inside the venue.

Licensed firearm holders are advised to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the safeguarding of their weapons, the police said in a release on Saturday.

All persons entering the venue will be subjected to a search and no vending will be allowed outside of the designated areas, the release stated.

Warning to motorists

Motorists are reminded that all provisions of the Road Traffic Act will be strictly enforced. In particular, drivers are warned not to allow passengers to hang from the doors of motor buses, sit on top of motor vehicles, or have any part of the body protruding from the motor vehicles. Driversare to ensure that they obey the speed limit and desist from dangerous and careless driving on the nation’s roads.

The full force of the law will be brought to bear on anyone found in contravention of any of the provisions of the law.

TRAFFIC CHANGESTraffic changes will be implemented beginning at 8:00 am on Sunday, November 20 to facilitate the smooth staging of the event.

These are as follows:

Before the event: At 8:00 am, Arthur Wint Drive will be one way towards the National Arena (easterly). Motorists travelling from this direction will turn left onto Roosevelt, right onto Stanton Terrace, right on Mountain View Ave, right onto Arthur Wint drive and into the Car Park.

Police checkpoints will be set up at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Stanton Terrace as well as at the intersection of Mountain View Avenue and Arthur Wint Drive.

Only vehicles with VIP passes will be allowed to pass these checkpoints and head towards the National Arena.

There will be no throughway along Arthur Wint Drive between gates E4 to the Bob Marley Statue at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue. The area will be available only to pedestrian traffic.

Residents travelling from Mountain View Avenue to the Lofts Apartments will be allowedto turn onto Arthur Wint and access the apartment.

Residents from Stadium Gardens will be able to leave and enter the community by using Arthur Wint as a one-way easterly only.

ROAD CLOSURES

Latham Avenue at the intersection with Old Hope Road will be closed to general vehicular traffic; only residents will be allowed access.

Latham Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic at the junction with Roosevelt Avenue; only residents will be allowed access.

Stanton Terrace/Roosevelt Avenue

Except for the party president and residents of the respective community, all other vehicles travelling from Old Hope Road including those transporting delegates and supporters will be diverted along Stanton Terrace via Mountain View Avenue to access the KSAC Car Park.

PARKINGo VIPs will enter through gates E1 and park at Arena North. Others will park in the general Parking Area which will be accessed via Gates E4? and E5and the KSAC Car Park across from the Stadium Car Park.

No parking is allowed along Arthur Wint Drive, Roosevelt Avenue, Stanton Terrace and Mountain View Avenue.

Vehicles found in contravention will be towed. Motorists will be asked to position their vehicles facing the directions where the traffic will flow after the event to assist with traffic flow after the event.

DURING THE EVENTThe situation will remain. However, the traffic Management team will use discretion to deal with situations as they arise.

AFTER THE EVENT

Arthur Wint Drive1. From gate E4 towards Tom Redcam Ave, Arthur Wint Drive will be one-way westerly. Roosevelt Ave will operate as normal.2. From gate E5 towards Mountain View Ave, Arthur Wint Drive will be one-way easterly.3. Motorists travelling on North and Central Avenue towards Arthur Wint Drive will only beallowed to turn right onto Arthur Wint Drive. Emergency vehicles will use these roads toaccess the Bustamante Children’s Hospital.

Latham AvenueLatham Ave will be one way north-westerly towards Old Hope Road.

Stadium GardensFor about 45 minutes after the event, residents of Stadium Gardens will be able to exit the community by turning left onto Arthur Wint drive but will not be able to enter or re-enter the community.

All attendees, both motorists and pedestrians are being asked to obey all directions given by the police and other security and safety personnel, who will be deployed in adequate numbers to ensure the safety of all.

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Man pulls gun on homeless woman in New Kingston Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

A retired policeman has issued a call for licensed firearm holders to exercise a greater level of responsibility and to ensure that when they make the decision to use their weapons it is in situations that warrant such action.

The calls have come following a video circulating on social media showing a firearm holder pulling his weapon on a woman living on the street in New Kingston.

The 40-second video shows the woman, who is known to beg for a living, walking towards the man close to the intersection of Knutsford Boulevard and Trafalgar Road.

The man is seen backing away while he appears to warn the woman to stay away, but after a few steps, he pulls his firearm and points at the female.

Several firearm holders have since given their views on the situation.

One firearm holder said he felt the action was justified. The firearm holder who spoke to Loop was of the view that the man felt threatened and pulled his firearm to keep away the threat.

Another firearm holder and a retired policeman who asked that his name not be published because of security reasons said he did not feel the action of the man was justified.

“Look at the small frame of the woman and look at the firearm holder who towers over the woman. Where was the threat the woman did not have a weapon or any corrosive substance so the licensed firearm holder did not have to pull his gun.

Another firearm holder said the man ran the risk of getting charged with assault at common law for his action.

There are also reports emerging that officials from the Firearms licensing authority are carrying out their own checks to ascertain whether the man is a licensed firearm holder.

Checks are also been carried out to determine when the incident took place

Social media users have been divided on the issue.

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Man pulls gun on homeless woman in New Kingston Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

A retired policeman has issued a call for licensed firearm holders to exercise a greater level of responsibility and to ensure that when they make the decision to use their weapons it is in situations that warrant such action.

The calls have come following a video circulating on social media showing a firearm holder pulling his weapon on a woman living on the street in New Kingston.

The 40-second video shows the woman, who is known to beg for a living, walking towards the man close to the intersection of Knutsford Boulevard and Trafalgar Road.

The man is seen backing away while he appears to warn the woman to stay away, but after a few steps, he pulls his firearm and points at the female.

Several firearm holders have since given their views on the situation.

One firearm holder said he felt the action was justified. The firearm holder who spoke to Loop was of the view that the man felt threatened and pulled his firearm to keep away the threat.

Another firearm holder and a retired policeman who asked that his name not be published because of security reasons said he did not feel the action of the man was justified.

“Look at the small frame of the woman and look at the firearm holder who towers over the woman. Where was the threat the woman did not have a weapon or any corrosive substance so the licensed firearm holder did not have to pull his gun.

Another firearm holder said the man ran the risk of getting charged with assault at common law for his action.

There are also reports emerging that officials from the Firearms licensing authority are carrying out their own checks to ascertain whether the man is a licensed firearm holder.

Checks are also been carried out to determine when the incident took place

Social media users have been divided on the issue.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Loop Lens: An ‘Xodus’ from the ‘Bacch’! Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News
Sponsored By : Carib Beer Kadeem Rodgers

38 minutes ago

By the looks of it, this patron fully endorses the Bacchanal Jamaica x Xodus Carnival sugar rush. (Photos: Marlon Reid)

NEWYou can now listen to Loop News articles!

‘Tis the first official band launch for the 2023 Carnival season, and patrons and stakeholders alike are rearing to get on bad.

Since Xodus Carnival and Bacchanal Jamaica dropped the plot twist for Carnival Road March 2023, fans have been teeming with anticipation in response to the merger and tonight’s reveal.

This was evident from tonight’s massive turnout at Mona Hockey Field in Kingston for the Xodus Sweet Treats Indulge in Pleasure and Bacchanal Jamaica Candy Land band launches.

Loop Lens takes you to the stage with these highlights!

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Trini referee makes the calls at World Cup in Qatar

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Caleb Wales makes a call during a football match. –

DAVID SCARLETT

THE illustrious FIFA World Cup is here again, bringing together casual fans, fanatics and bandwagonists for one month of thrilling, heart-breaking and exciting football.

Four years since the previous tournament was held in Russia, Qatar opens its doors to the world for the largest event on the sporting calendar.

It’s been 16 years since the Soca Warriors made TT proud with a maiden appearance at the World Cup. TT did not qualify for Qatar 2022 but there is still much to be proud of.

Twenty years since Michael Ragoonath, head of the TT Football Association (TTFA) Refereeing Department, graced the 2002 World Cup stage, the nation will, again, be proudly represented by one of TT’s most outstanding referees – Caleb Wales.

Refereeing is often seen as a villainous occupation. Whether referees make the right or wrong decision, some fans still believe they harbour sinister intentions against their favourite team.

But it is noteworthy to understand that referees are athletes and football lovers too, and only want the best for the game.

Refereeing in TT has been at a high level for some years now, particularly now under Ragoonath’s management.

Caleb Wales is a match official as an assistant referee at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. – Photos courtesy Caleb Wales

Ragoonath was an assistant referee in South Korea and Japan and now uses his experience and expertise to develop both seasoned and budding referees across the nation.

Wales, 34, who has a background in information and communications technology (ICT), fell in love with officiating in his early adult years. It was then he decided to pursue refereeing as a career and later specialised as an assistant referee.

The Santa Cruz resident has been a TTFA referee since 2006 and was selected as an elite FIFA assistant referee in 2013. Since then, he has officiated in several Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, many Concacaf Champions League fixtures, the 2021 Gold Cup semifinal (Mexico vs Canada), and the 2021 Concacaf Nations League final (USA vs Mexico), in addition to matches and competitions in TT.

On May 19, Wales was selected by the FIFA Referee Committee to serve in Qatar.

He is now the fifth Trinidadian match official (fourth assistant referee) to fly the TT flag, as well as the checkered flag, at a World Cup.

His predecessors were Douglas James (assistant referee, USA 1994), Ramesh Ramdhan (referee, France 1998), Merere Gonzales (assistant referee, France 1998) and Ragoonath (assistant referee, Korea/Japan 2002).

Caleb Wales on duty during a match. –

In an interview with Sunday Newsday recently, Wales expressed his excitement to be on the world’s biggest stage in Qatar. “For me, it means a lot to be at the FIFA World Cup. It is the realisation of a lifelong goal to be a part of one of the biggest events in the world. It is also a big deal for my family, friends, colleagues, country, and wider region. I intend to do my best and make everyone proud,” he said.

Wales discussed the distinction between a referee and an assistant referee but stressed that the job is no easier.

“I prefer the more black-and-white decisions like offside (or not) and line decisions, such as ball in and out of play, or goal/no goal. Hence, it’s what I chose as we have more responsibility in such crucial decisions.

“I have stuck with it ever since. An assistant referee is also a match official so we must also be knowledgeable and prepared in all aspects of the laws of the game.”

Currently, Wales is accompanied by four other Trinidadians on FIFA’s elite panel. One is Ainsley Rochard, who is also an outstanding assistant referee with FIFA and Concacaf experience. They sport a FIFA badge on their chest alongside three women match officials – Crystal Sobers (referee), Cecile Hinds (referee) and Carissa Jacob (assistant referee).

Unfortunately, his local compatriots will not be joining him in Qatar.

But Wales believes that his breakthrough regarding World Cup selection can open the door for more local referees at the top level.

“I hope it does,” he said. “I am glad that I have proven that the door is still open for anyone looking to reach this point.

“I would like to see a full trio team (referee and two assistant referees) of Trini match officials at a World Cup one day, but it is a lot of hard work and commitment. We must be ready for it.”

He also highlighted that his preparations for the tournament have been “physical, mental and spiritual.” Most of his days leading up to the World Cup involved training, studying the game and praying that all goes well.

The competition’s referees arrived in Qatar on November 10 and Wales has been enjoying what he can in the Arab nation amidst his jam-packed schedule.

Despite the sweltering conditions – approximately 65 per cent humidity – that both players and referees will have to endure during the tournament, he was impressed by Qatar’s culture, infrastructure and love for their national team.

“It’s a very hot, dry country and their football is developing. I have seen the Qatari team at the Concacaf Gold Cup (2021), and they performed well.”

Qatar had an impressive campaign as an invited guest, topping Group D, which included Honduras and Panama, before defeating El Salvador 3-2 in the quarterfinals. They lost narrowly 1-0 to eventual champions USA in the semis.

An avid fan of Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, Wales is relishing his World Cup experience so far, rubbing shoulders with the best of the best and keeping his eyes and ears open for knowledge.

“It’s like a dream come true. I, too, intend to be remembered as being one of the best, so I will learn as much as I can from the team.”

Although Wales has achieved one objective, he insists that he will not stop at this point. His next goal is to earn selection for the next World Cup, especially as it will be hosted in Concacaf territory (the United States, Mexico and Canada).

In addition to the quintet of the regular refereeing team (referee, two assistant referees, fourth official and reserve referee), as well as the video assistant referee (VAR) and the assistant video assistant referee, there will be three new roles at this year’s tournament – offside video assistant referee, support video assistant referee and stand-by assistant video assistant referee.

Therefore, there will be ten match officials appointed to every game in the competition.

However, Wales said that he will only be serving on the pitch as he is not yet trained to be in the Video Operation Room for VAR duty.

Also, for the first time in World Cup history, there will be women officiating at the tournament. Stephanie Frappart, who was the first woman to referee a professional men’s European match and a UEFA Champions League match, will lead the female contingent in Qatar.

Frappart will be accompanied by two other referees – Yamashita Yoshimi and Salima Mukansanga – as well as three assistant referees – Neuza Back, Karen Diaz Medina and Kathryn Nesbitt – as part of the 129 match officials at the tournament.

Wales was pleased to see his female colleagues joining him in Qatar. “It’s nothing new for me as I have been working with top women officials for men’s games on both the local and regional stage for many years.

“FIFA is setting the standard in that, if the referee is of high enough quality, then it doesn’t matter the gender of the official and I am always happy to be working with top quality match officials.”

Wales’ first World Cup appearance is yet to be determined as referees are appointed two to three days before a fixture.

He is grateful for the support he has been getting from his family, friends, FIFA colleagues, the TTFA Refereeing Department and the entire nation.

The Italian trio of Daneile Orsato (referee), Ciro Carbone (assistant referee) and Alessandro Giallatini (assistant referee) will take charge of the opening game between hosts Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday. Let the games begin – within the rules, of course.

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Warner’s foul on Qatar’s World Cup bid

Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner, right, hands the MVP trophy to France’s Florent Sinama-Pongolle, centre, at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad. At left is ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter. –

At noon Sunday, the first ball will be kicked off at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

While there is no national team in the competition, recent events in TT dredges up the controversy as to how the smallest nation ever became host to one of the biggest sporting events.

Late last week when TT’s apex court, the Privy Council, in London, ruled that former FIFA vice president Jack Warner could face extradition to the United States for a barrage of racketeering and bribery charges.

The decision to chose Qatar made in 2010 as host nation for the 2022 games has been questioned and linked to allegations of bribery and corruption by those FIFA officials who voted for the Gulf nation.

Ex-FIFA head Sepp Blatter recently admitted choosing Qatar was a bad choice.

International media reports have linked Warner, who was barred by FIFA for life in 2015 after his grand jury indictment in the US, as being instrumental in the bid which allowed Qatar to get the nod to host this year’s tournament.

In 2020, documents released by the US Department of Justice’s in the indictment filed in the US District Court of New York’s Brooklyn Office set out the allegations in relation to the 2018 and 2022 voting bid for Russia and Qatar.

Jack Warner at a press conference ahead of the FIFA U20 World Cup, in Cairo, Egypt in September 2009.-

It said, “On or about December 2, 2010, in Zurich, Switzerland, the FIFA executive committee selected the host sites for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, in separate rounds of voting for each edition of the tournament, with each executive committee member casting an equally weighted vote. “Under the voting rules, if no bid received a majority of the votes cast, the bid receiving the fewest votes was eliminated and another vote was held.

“The process was repeated until one bid received an outright majority of the votes. Russia received a majority of votes in the second round of voting for the 2018 World Cup. Qatar received a majority of votes in the fourth round of voting for the 2022 World Cup.

The indictment went on to add, “Several executive committee members were offered or received bribes in connection with their votes. For example, the defendant Ricardo Teixeira (the former leader of football in Brazil), Nicolas Leoz (former president of the South American Football Federation) and co-conspirator# 1 were offered and received bribe payments in exchange for their votes in favour of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.”

Warner’s name was mentioned next, “In addition, the defendant Jack Warner was promised and received bribe payments totalling US$5 million and Rafael Salguero was promised a US$1 million bribe in exchange for their votes in favour of Russia to host the 2018 World Cup.”

The US Department of Justice documents explained the 2018 and 2022 World Cup vote schemes.

“In or about and between 2009 and 2010, bid committees working on behalf of various nations prepared presentations in support of bids to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

In this 2015 file photo, forme FIFA vice president Jack Warner leaves the Port of Spain magistrate court after his appearance on an extradition request by the United States. – ANGELO MARCELLE

Ultimately, bid committees representing Russia, England, a joint bid by Spain and Portugal and a joint bid by the Netherlands and Belgium submitted bids to host the 2018 World Cup, and bid committees representing the United States, Qatar, Japan, South Korea and Australia submitted bids to host the 2022 World Cup.”

Warner recently told Trinidad online news outlet AZP News he thought it was Russia’s time to host the World Cup.

“Where I failed I should have told England very early of what my intention was. I did not do that and therefore they were led along to believe I was supporting them. I failed, I erred and I apologise profusely for that but I thought it was Russia’s time to host a World Cup and I have no regret.”

Warner’s name was linked to Qatari football administrator and ex-head of the Asian Football Confederation Mohammed Bin Hamman in 2014. Warner was then head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf). A FIFA ethics judge named both men as having contravened rules regarding payments.

At the time, a FIFA statement said: “The subject of the criminal complaint is the possible misconduct of individual persons in connection with the awarding of the hosting rights of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups investigated by Michael Garcia (chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee investigatory chamber).

“In particular there seem to be grounds for suspicion that, in isolated cases, international transfers of assets with connections to Switzerland took place, which merit examination by the criminal prosecution authorities.”

Both men were suspended and vociferously maintained their innocence.

The Qatar 2022 organising committee has repeatedly denied any involvement in corruption during the chaotic and ill-defined World Cup bidding race, and sought to distance itself from Bin Hammam, the UK Guardian newspaper wrote.

Warner, who resigned from football for life in June 2012, again maintained his innocence on Thursday.

Hours after the Privy Council’s decision went public, he said in a statement, it was “unfathomable” for a US district attorney to commence a prosecution against him “based solely on the fact that monies payable to me passed through the American banking system.”

Warner said he has no bank account or property in the US, nor has he done any business there.

“Furthermore, it is incredulous that allegations of misconduct arising out of a FIFA meeting held in Trinidad could be prosecuted in the United States whereas, in Trinidad itself it does not constitute criminal activity.”’

A defiant Warner also said, “I have lived in this country for nearly eighty years, and I am confident that I will continue to receive the love, affection, and respect that people from all walks of life have always extended to me. I am certain I will prevail in the end.”

Although extradition proceedings in the magistrates’ court can now resume, Warner said he has advised his attorneys to continue to press the remaining stages of the extradition proceedings.

Warner challenged the process by which the extradition proceedings against him were being carried out and sought to quash the authority to proceed (ATP) signed by the Attorney General in September 2015.

This was after the US made its request to have the former football jefe extradited to face some 29 charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. The US’s request was made on July 24, 2015.

After the 2015 general election, then-attorney general Faris Al-Rawi offered to allow Warner to make representations, but only on the condition the deadline for receipt of the ATP would be extended with his consent.

Warner refused to agree to the condition. His attorneys said he was not given sufficient time to make representations nor was he provided with disclosures of any evidence the US intended to use to secure his extradition.

The ATP gave the magistrate the green light to begin committal proceedings.

Warner surrendered to fraud squad officers on May 27, 2015, after learning of a provisional warrant for his arrest.

After the ATP was signed giving the go-ahead for extradition proceedings to start, Warner was banned from all football activities for life by FIFA.

He and 13 other FIFA officials were indicted in the US.

According to the US charge sheet against him, Warner is accused of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and bribery; and allegedly, from the early 1990s, “began to leverage his influence and exploit his official positions for personal gain.”

He also allegedly accepted a million-dollar bribe from South African officials in return for voting to award them the 2010 World Cup and allegedly bribed officials with envelopes each containing cash.

He was one of 14 charged in connection with a 24-year scheme to allegedly “enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.”

On Thursday, Warner said FIFA was an independent association not affiliated to any government or country.

“At all times it sought, in the interest of football, to offer opportunities to the widest cross section of the international community to host the World Cup.

“Particular attention was paid to developing countries who have been denied economic opportunity partly because for long periods they were under colonial domination.”

He said FIFA gave preference to South Africa, Russia and Qatar to host World Cup finals.

Warner said, “Naturally, the United States of America and the United Kingdom who had previously hosted the World Cup were not selected despite sustained lobbying.

“They were therefore not pleased and thereafter began a campaign against FIFA which resulted in the arrest and prosecution of several executive committee members of FIFA who had assembled for a meeting in Zurich.”

Warner said several European countries, including France and Switzerland; several Latin American countries, including Brazil, and several African and Middle Eastern countries have refused to extradite their citizens.

“Trinidad and Tobago is therefore an outlier,” he said on Thursday.

Warner is a former UNC minister. He was described as a politician, businessman and former FIFA vice president who was charged by the prosecuting authorities in the United States with crimes spanning more than three decades.

Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, found this description to be significant and specifically referred to it in a press release on the Privy Council’s ruling.

Armour also said the law must now be allowed to take its course and that “the rule of law and due process are alive and well in TT.”

And while Warner’s name has been vilified, football stakeholders locally said he contributed significantly to the growth of the sport here and in the Caribbean.

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