News

World Cup 2022: BBC Failed To Air Opening Ceremony

Published

4 months ago

November 21, 2022

Qatar opened this year’s World Cup with a stunning opening ceremony kicked off by actor Morgan Freeman and BTS K-pop star Jungkook, along with hundreds of other performers, lights, flames and plenty of glamour, but fans tuning in via the BBC were left out of the magic as the British broadcaster chose to skip the first half-hour of the event.

Fide Info reports that at first BBC One chose to continue coverage of the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, but instead of switching over to the live performance once the match finished it aired a pre-recorded report on Qatar’s human rights record.

“It’s the most controversial World Cup in history and a ball hasn’t even been kicked,” said the Match of the Day host Gary Lineker at the start of the segment, before diving into criticism against Qatar’s treatment of women and migrant workers, free speech and a series of other issues.

“Ever since Fifa chose Qatar back in 2010, the smallest nation to have hosted football’s greatest competition has faced some big questions – from accusations of corruption in the bidding process to the treatment of migrant workers who built the stadiums where many lost their lives,” Lineker said. “Homosexuality is illegal here. Women’s rights and freedom of expression are in the spotlight.”

“Against that backdrop, there’s a tournament to be played – one that will be watched and enjoyed around the world. Stick to football, say Fifa. Well, we will – for a couple of minutes at least.”

Lineker’s opening comments were followed by a nearly 30-minute censure of Qatar from the BBC’s Ros Atkins, who eviscerated the Gulf nation on a slew of issues with a combination of interviews, footage and graphics, diving into a list of rights criticisms as well as the event’s carbon footprint.

Fans watching BBC One, as well as ITV, expressed outrage over the snub, which many called “disrespectful”.

“Outrageously disrespectful to Qatar that the BBC didn’t broadcast the World Cup opening ceremony, and instead put out more virtue-signalling guff about how awful it is. If they’re that appalled, they should bring home their vast army of employees & spare us this absurd hypocrisy,” Piers Morgan tweeted.

BBC One did note that: “Full build up and coverage of the World Cup has been available across the BBC, including the opening ceremony on iPlayer (online)”.

At least 60,000 football fans attended the live event on Sunday, with host Qatar beaten by Ecuador 2-0 in the opening match.

News

Imo State Labour Party Gubernatorial Aspirant Found Dead

Published

9 hours ago

March 25, 2023

H B. Ray

Chief Humphrey Anumudu, a Labour Party aspirant in the upcoming Governorship primaries in Imo State, has been found dead in his house.

Fidel Info reports that The aspirant died in his house in Lagos after he had returned from an LP meeting at the party national headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

A native of Mbieri Ancient Kingdom in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state, Anumudu was reportedly found dead in his house in what family sources described as a “spiritual attack.”

As a multi-billionaire businessman cum politician, he has been contesting for the governorship seat of the state since 1998.

He was said to be the true winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in the state in 1998 before the ticket was ceded to Achike Udenwa who went on to rule the state between 1999 and 2007.

Since then he had been contesting for the number one seat of the state. In 2019 he was the Zenith Labour party governorship candidate.

A close friend of the deceased said that he died around 5:30 pm on Friday.

The late politician had already paid the sum of 25 million Naira for Labour Party’s Governorship form for the November 11th 2023 Guber contest.

Chief Anumudu, a respected legal luminary and an astute politician was also the Chief Executive Officer of Globe Motors.

He contested for the Governorship election in the past under the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

News

INEC Vows To Prosecute Perpetrators Of Violence In 2023 Elections

Published

10 hours ago

March 25, 2023

H B. Ray

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to prosecute perpetrators of electoral violence in the just-concluded 2023 general elections.

Fidel Info reports that The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated this on Friday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Oyekanmi said the prosecution of electoral offenders and their sponsors will curb the prevalence of violence in the nation’s elections.

He also called for the need for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal to prosecute such offenders and their sponsors.

The INEC boss spokesman noted that if the new commission was established, electoral offenders and their sponsors would reconsider their actions.

Oyekanmi, however, said the Commission has succeeded in prosecuting a few electoral offenders, but their sponsors have been largely untouched.

He said, “Electoral violence should not be tolerated. That is why the commission has been calling for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal, specifically to try cases related to infractions associated with elections.

“In fact, stakeholders have also been calling for this tribunal for many years, especially after the 2011 general elections. I believe strongly that if perpetrators of electoral violence and their sponsors know that they will give account for their misdeeds, they will think twice.”

“The commission has succeeded in prosecuting a few electoral offenders, but their sponsors have been largely untouched. We need to change this.”