66th FIFA Congress: Pinnick was Arrested by Mexican Police

*He never attended the FIFA Congress

*How he lied with his picture with Infantino

It is authoritative that Nigeria could not present any representation at the 66^th FIFA Congress in Mexico due to the lingering crisis in the massive west African nation’s football environment.

At the double check by www.gongnews.net, Nigeria was not on the roll call of attendees. When the news of Nigeria’s absence struck the news beat in Mexico-City during the closing ceremony of the FIFA activities, enquiries were made to find out from official documents of FIFA which proved the body led by erstwhile Amaju Pinnick did not participate.

When www.gongnews.net sought the opinion of those who attended the ceremonies. No one saw anyone from the nation of the “Super Eagles.”

It was when we contacted the FIFA headquarters in Zurich that a staff confided in us saying, “Mr. Amaju Pinnick was arrested by the Mexican police at the point of entry. He never attended the Congress. Go and check the attendance register. Where did the story of the attendance come from?

 

She added, “the other day, we read in the newspapers where the former Nigerian FA President exhibited a picture he took at the elective congress where Infantino emerged as if that picture was taken in Mexico. We only laughed too.”

Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional hosted the opening ceremony of the 66^th FIFA Congress on Thursday 12^th May. The biggest event was the FIFA football legends who played a match against a Mexican all-stars team at the famous Azteca stadium. That was on Wednesday evening.

The FIFA Congress then moved to Centro Banamex. This meeting was very historical given that this is the first to be presided over by the new President, Gianni Infantino. It also makes a whole lot for the African continent with the appointment of Fatma Samoura as the new Secretary General.

Nigeria’s two other representatives, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and his erstwhile General Secretary, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, who were named as attending the Congress evidently did not leave Nigerian nor pretended to have attended the historical Congress in Mexico.

 

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico was said to have been very instrumental to his release with active lobbying from the Nigerian sports officials.

Efforts made to reach him on his Nigerian numbers did not yield results to get his own side of the report.

By Femi Ijalaiye, Mexico-City

66th FIFA Congress