Football Rule-Makers to Consider Reducing Games to 60 Minutes Forwarded by Verdict Man United

World football’s rule-makers are to consider a proposal to reduce each half of a game to 30 minutes in a bid to prevent time-wasting.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab) has outlined a raft of radical proposed changes to the rules of the game in a new strategy document titled Play Fair! Adopting two halves of 30 minutes with the clock stopped when the ball goes out of play is one of dozens of ideas put forward by Ifab in an attempt to make football more attractive.

Among the ideas up for discussion is that of a player being allowed to pass to themselves at a free-kick, corner and goalkick, a stadium clock which stops and starts along with the referee’s watch, and allowing a goalkick to be taken even if the ball is moving.

Other ideas up “for discussion” include referees blowing for half-time or full-time only when the ball goes out of play, and a penalty kick being either scored or missed/saved, with players not allowed to follow up to score, in order to stop encroachment into the penalty area.

30 FOOTBALL FANS ELECTROCUTED WATCHING MAN UNITED, ANDERLECHT MATCH IN CALABAR by Swagga D

No fewer than 30 persons watching the Europa League football match between Manchester United and Anderlecht perished in Calabar on Thursday evening.
A survivor told one of our correspondents that a transformer near the viewing centre located in the Iyang-Esu area of the Calabar Municipal Local Government Area exploded during the match and this caused a high-tension cable to drop on the viewing centre.

The survivor said amid sobs, “It happened during the match between Manchester United and Anderlecht. I heard a deafening bang. I rushed out to see what was happening. When I turned back to go inside the viewing centre, I saw a cable coming  down on the centre and this electrocuted the viewers in the hall.

“It was a horrible sight to behold. I wish I didn’t come out to watch the match. Come to think of it, I have DStv at home but I enjoy watching matches at viewing centres. I could have been dead. I can’t believe that the people I was chatting and joking with a few minutes ago are all gone in a most anguishing way. This world is vain.”

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said more than eighty persons were in the hall when the cable came down.

The resident said, “The whole thing happened within a minute or two. It happened about 9:48pm. Those that died have been taken to the mortuary. A few that survived have been taken to hospitals.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River State Command, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident.
She said the number of casualties would be confirmed on Friday (today).
Manchester United reached the Europa League semifinals for the first time after beating Anderlecht 2-1 on Thursday.

MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE...

TOP 30 PLAYERS WITH MOST ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE MEDALS by M. Auwal

1. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) = 13

2. Paul Scholes (Manchester United) = 11

3. Gary Neville (Manchester United) = 8

4. Denis Irwin (Manchester United) =7

5. Roy Keane (Manchester United) = 6

6. David Beckham (Manchester United) = 6

7. Nicky Butt (Manchester United) = 6

8. Phil Neville (Manchester United) = 6

9. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) = 6

10. Rio Ferdinard (Manchester United) = 6

11. Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United) = 5

12. Andrew Cole (Manchester United) =5

13. Wes Brown (Manchester United = 5

14. John O'Shea (Manchester United) = 5

15. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) = 5

16. Patrice Evra (Manchester United) = 5

17. Nemenja Vidic (Manchester United) = 5

18. Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) = 5

19. Michael Carrick (Manchester United) = 5

20. Brian McClair (Manchester United) = 4

21. Eric Cantona (Manchester United) = 4

22. Gary Pallister (Manchester United) = 4

23. Silvestre Michael (Manchester United) = 4

24. Edwin Van Der Sar (Manchester United) = 4

25. Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United) = 4

26. Anderson (Manchester United) = 4

27. Luis Nani (Manchester United) = 4

28. John Terry (Chelsea) = 4

29. Didier Drogba (Chelsea) = 4

30. Steve Bruce (Manchester United) = 3

TODAY'S PAPER TALK (BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN UPDATES) by Sallax

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER  FINALS RESULTS

FT Borussia Dortmund 2 - 3 Monaco
FT Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Leicester City
FT Bayern Munich 1 - 2 Real Madrid

EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER FINALS

20:05 Ajax ? - ? Schalke 04

20:05 Anderlecht ? - ? Manchester United

20:05 Celta Vigo ? - ? Genk

20:05 Lyon ? - ? Besiktas

⚽Manchester United's trip to Belgium is the highlight of the #UEL quarter-finals - all four are LIVE on SuperSport tonight.

⚽The 2016/17 PFA Young Player of the Year nominees: Dele Alli Harry Kane Michael Keane Romelu Lukaku Jordan Pickford Leroy Sane

⚽The 2016/17 PFA Player of the Year nominees: Eden Hazard Zlatan Ibrahimovic Harry Kane N'Golo Kante Romelu Lukaku Alexis Sanchez

⚽Cristiano Ronaldo last night became the first player ever to score 100 goals in European club competitions.

⚽Antoine Griezmann converted from the penalty spot to give Atletico Madrid a slight advantage over Leicester City. #UCL

⚽If David De Gea moves to Real Madrid this summer, Manchester United will want Toni Kroos in return. (Source: Independent)

⚽Arsenal are in talks with Juventus boss Max Allegri, as uncertainty over Arsene Wenger's future continues.

⚽Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was dropped for Sunday's win at Sunderland because of a disagreement with boss Jose Mourinho, not because the goalkeeper was injured.

⚽Galatasaray will fly to England this weekend to try and seal a deal for Wilfried Bony, who is out in the cold at Stoke.

⚽Ryan Sessegnon will reject a Premier League switch by signing a pro deal with Fulham next month. Sessegnon has been persuaded to continue his education at Craven Cottage and will pen a long-term contract on his 17th birthday

⚽Everton will make a move for Virgil van Dijk this summer but the Southampton defender is expected to be at the centre of a transfer tussle, with Chelsea and Manchester City also keen.

⚽Manchester United face having to win this season's Europa League if they are to keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Friends of the Swedish striker believe he will leave Old Trafford in the summer if United fail to return to the Champions League.

⚽Leonardo Bonucci is "fascinated" by the Premier League. The Juventus defender has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City, whose manager Pep Guardiola has called him "one of my favourite ever players".

⚽Arsene Wenger looks set to stay at Arsenal, informing his closest aides at the club's London Colney HQ about his plans to sign a new two-year deal, while planning face-to-face talks with players over contract extensions.

⚽Chelsea are reportedly preparing a summer swoop for Sporting Gijon defender Jorge Mere.

⚽Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez has reportedly ruled out a move for Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara.

⚽Newcastle have made Stoke centre-back Ryan Shawcross their top transfer target if the Magpies secure promotion to the Premier League this season.

⚽Real Madrid and Spain striker Alvaro Morata sees himself playing under Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

⚽OFFICIAL: Nominations for Women’s Player of the Year: • L. Bronze • K. Carney • J. Ross • J. Scott • C. Weir • E. White

⚽Didier Drogba has joined United Soccer League side Phoenix Rising - which he'll also co-own.

⚽OFFICIAL: Slaven Bilic has confirmed Michail Antonio is out through injury for the rest of the season.

⚽Sadio Mane has vowed to give his all to return to action "even better than before" and expressed his gratitude to Liverpool fans for the messages of support he's received.

⚽Manchester City Women’s trio Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott and Jane Ross head the nominees for this season’s Women’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

⚽Chelsea Ladies forward Karen Carney, Birmingham City Ladies striker Ellen White and Liverpool Ladies midfielder Caroline Weir complete the six-strong shortlist for the main award.

⚽Three Manchester City players - Nikita Parris, Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh - are also in contention for the Women's PFA Young Player of the Year prize.

⚽PFA chief executive, Gordon Taylor, said: "The PFA Awards is always a special occasion and one of the biggest nights in football's social calendar.

⚽Manchester United's Paul Pogba says his "mountain" transfer fee has led to unrealistic expectations as he emphasised his role as a midfielder, not an attacking player.

⚽Borussia Dortmund fans say they have no concerns about security ahead of tonight's Champions League match against Monaco.

*LOCAL UPDATES*

⚽Coach Michael Osei in advanced talks with Medeama

Medeama SC are set to announce Coach Michael Osei as their new head coach in the coming days, Kickgh.com can report.

⚽Japanese trainer Kenichi Yatsuhashi has expressed interest in coaching giants Asante Kotoko.

Kotoko are without a coach after terminating the contract of Croat Zdravko Lugarusic last Sunday after 11 matches in the top-flight.

⚽On-loan Clifford Aboagye scored his first goal for Mexican side Atlas FC in their 1-1 draw with Pumas Unam at home on Thursday.

⚽Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak have dissolved the five-man strategy committee set up two years ago team to control the affairs of the club, GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal.

⚽The former Ivory Coast and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has joined the United Soccer League outfit Phoenix Rising as a player and co-owner.

⚽The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has noticed with great concern the recent acts of violence against sports journalists at the various Ghana Premier League (GPL) centres across the country

⚽Former Asante Kotoko coach Zdravko Lugarusic has advised the club’s supporters to adhere to the decisions of their next substantive coach.

⚽Officials of the Premier League Board and the Club Licensing Board have inspected the damage at the Ndoum Sports Complex, home of Elmina Sharks.

⚽Hearts of Oak have started the search for a substantive Managing Director after accepting Vincent Odotei Sowah's decision to resign from the post to concentrate on his political career.

Manchester United Fans face high Security ahead of Anderlecht Clash

Manchester United fans without tickets have
been warned not to travel to Thursday's Europa
League quarter-final against Anderlecht amid
high security around the game in Belgium.
Around 1,300 English supporters are gathering in
the Belgium capital Brussels for the game with
the city on high alert following Tuesday night's
bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus
ahead of their Champions League quarter-final
against Monaco.
There are also fears about the chances of
clashes between supporters following several
incidents involving fans of another English team,
Leicester City, in Madrid before Wednesday's
game against Atletico.
Spanish police used baton charges to clear part
of Madrid's Plaza Mayor of Leicester fans, some
chanting "Gibraltar is ours", a reference to the
recent diplomatic spat between Britain and Spain
over the British Overseas Territory.
BBC presenter Gary Lineker, a Leicester City fan
and former player, tweeted: "Just saw the
footage of some Leicester fans behaving
despicably in Madrid. The few idiots ruin it for
the decent majority. Sickening."
There has been a history of trouble between
English sides and Anderlecht stretching back to
1984 when a Tottenham Hotspur fan was shot
before the Uefa Cup final between the clubs in
Brussels.
In 2015, Tottenham fans were attacked by
Anderlecht supporters while drinking in a bar
ahead of the Europa League tie.

Lets take a Moment and Appreciate Mr. Manchester United by Okan

No I'm not talking about Wayne Rooney. Its MICHAEL FRIGGIN' CARRICK!!!

Look at his forward passes piercing through defenses, think he got 2 assists today?

Still unbeaten across all comps when he's played.

16 or 17 games, drawn two rest all won. He's a genius. 35 years old, like fine wine! Getting better and better

#OkanUtd

Jose Mourinho of Manchester United and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger have both questioned the Premier League's Christmas schedule By Kazeem

Long-time rivals Jose Mourinho of Manchester United and Arsenal's Arsene Wenger have both questioned the Premier League's Christmas schedule.

Each top-flight side will play three games between December 26 and January 4, yet the breaks between fixtures varies from club to club.

"The busy period is for some clubs, not for everyone," Mourinho said.

"If you analyse the fixtures there are clubs where there is no congestion for them. It looks like the fixtures are chosen to give rest for some and to create problems to others.

"But we are used to it because we are in the Europa League and the Europa League is the competition that creates more difficulties - we know that, Southampton know that, Tottenham will know that later. It's very difficult so for us it's just more of the same."

And Mourinho was, for once, joined in his sense of injustice by bitter rival Wenger as the Arsenal boss questioned how the festive calendar had been handled after they were assigned games on January 1 and 3.

"It's a bit surprising this year because I don't completely understand the organisation of the fixtures this season," the Frenchman said.

"Last week, after the Champions League, we played two games so that's three games a week. This week we have eight days without a game.

"After that, some teams play on the 26th and the 1st so they have a complete week's break over Christmas which is unusual.

"Then suddenly you play on the 1st and then the 3rd, just 48 hours later. I don't whether it's the television companies or the Premier League who have decided that, but it's completely unusual. It looks less congested than it did before."