16-08-2023 Breakfast Bites - the FIJI & PACIFIC SPORTS NEWS Podcast S06E46 #TeivovoSports #TeivovoDigital #TeivovoRugby

Bula, Ma’lelei, Talofa and Welcome to Season 06 Episode 46 of Breakfast Bites by TeivovoSports.com – a wrap of Pasifika people’s sports news on a bright and warm Wednesday morning 16 August 2023.Coming to you with tons of hanisi from the 180th meridian in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. At the FIFA Football World Cup semi-final yesterday: Spain stunned Sweden 1-2 at Eden Park in Auckland last night to reach their maiden FIFA World Cup Final in a thrilling upset; given Spain are competing in just their third-ever World Cup, have never gone beyond the Round of 16 before, and they had never beaten Sweden in 11 previous games.Australia will now face England in the second semi-final tonight in Sydney.In other football news, Neymar is joining the Saudi Pro League in a deal that will cost nearly US$300Million, including a US$98.5M transfer fee. Al-Hilal lured the Brazilian superstar from Paris Saint-Germain with an US$88M annual salary for the next two seasons.In background buzz today I dive into the case of Fiji Football Association Vice-President, Aiyaz Musa jailed for four years in Auckland this week for importation of drugs.In Rugby: Social media has exploded at the BREAKING NEWS that England Captain, Owen Farrell has had his red card against Wales at Twickenham last Saturday, rescinded by a disciplinary panel.Farrell was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on a Welsh player that was later upgraded to a red card in England's 19-17 win.Fans are shocked at how easily Farrell got off the hook, particularly given his disciplinary record, which includes a five-match ban in 2020 for a high tackle.In fact, the disciplinary committee said Farrell was free to play again immediately, when he should have faced a mid-range sanction of a six-week suspension, but this would have ruled him out of some of England's pool games at the Rugby World Cup in France, starting 08 September.World Rugby has 48 hours to appeal the Farrell decision, purely under their much vaunted “player welfare” policy – will they?Former All Black and now Tongan international, George Moala has been ruled out of the RWC2023 after he was slapped with a 10-week ban for a red card tip tackle against Canada in Nukualofa last week.Where is the justice in all this? It seems like there is one rule for Englishman and another rule for Pacific Islanders?In rugby league: Tevita Pangai Jr has dropped a bombshell on the Bulldogs, retiring from the NRL at the end of this season to pursue a boxing career.The Tongan enforcer joined the Bulldogs at the start of the 2022 season following stints with the Broncos from 2016 to 2021 and the Panthers for one season.The 27-year-old leaves with a year left on his deal, so in a silver lining for Canterbury it frees up A$750,000 in their salary cap which they could use to launch a raid on Samoan strong man and Broncos gun, Payne Haas.The BIG NRL Round 25 games this weekend: Tomorrow sees the Cowboys vs the Sharks in Townsville. On Friday the NZ Warriors vs Manly in Auckland followed by the Eels vs the Roosters at Fort CommBank and on Saturday also at CommBank Stadium the Dolphins are in a must-win game against Wests Tigers.In SportsBiz: Privately owned, Luxembourg-based CVC Capital Partners — which owned Formula 1 prior to Liberty Media’s takeover, raised more than US$28Billion for its ninth private equity fund, targeting Europe and the Americas.CVC Capital Partners’ varied sports-related interests include equity stakes in: Bruin Capital, France’s soccer governing body, Indian Premier League’s Gujarat Titans, La Liga, Premiership Rugby, Six Nations Rugby, Sports Illustrated, Reebok, United Rugby Championship, Volleyball World and the WTA.CVC Capital Partners is one of the largest private equity firms in the world with about US$153Billion assets under management. In combat Sports: No trash talk. No drama. Just two deadly serious, focused fighters and undisputed champions, at their media conference yesterday afternoon in New York City to promote their pay-per-view fight - Canelo Alvarez versus Jermell Charlo on 30 September at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.Canelo “Saul” Alvarez (59-2-2, 39 KOs) was expected to face Jermall Charlo’s brother, 72.6Kg titleholder Jarmall Charlo. However, promoters threw everyone a curve when they announced the smaller, but more accomplished sibling would be the opponent.Canelo has been at or near the top of all pound-for-pound lists while Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) has steadily climbed them, the result of a series of high-profile victories.Meanwhile Aussie champ, Tim Tsyzu is hanging around cheering for the Matildas.In Background Buzz today I dive into the conviction of a Kiwi drug dealer with big connections to Fiji Football, FIFA and the Fiji First Party – one Umarji Aiyaz Mohammed Musa.Smack bang in the middle of the FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by New Zealand, Aiyaz Musa, as he is more commonly known, was convicted and jailed in the Auckland District Court last week, to four years imprisonment for “importing and exporting illicit drugs” in 2017.Musa was an elected Fiji FA Vice-President and also a member of the FIFA Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee since May 2021.Fiji FA Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Yusuf confirmed to Radio New Zealand that Aiyaz Musa had resigned two days earlier from the Fiji Football Association and FIFA. “He resigned from all positions on 7th August 2023,” Yusuf said.Former Fijian Sports Minister, Rajesh Singh said “FIFA and Fiji Football Association have always been promoting drug-free organisations. How did Musa became Vice-President of the Fiji FA and hold such an important position with FIFA?”More seriously for Fiji, are lingering questions about Musa’s HyperChem Pharmacies business in Fiji, and how much Aiyaz Musa influenced the Fiji First government.Not only was HyperChem Pharmacies politically favoured during the COVID epidemic in Fiji, but did it also provide some kind of cover for Musa’s drug activities across the Pacific?Also, how much did Aiyaz Musa donate to Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Saiyed-Khaiyum’s Fiji First Party?As current deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Federation Party, Biman Prasad raised in Parliament back in December 2021, in response to former Attorney General Saiyed-Khaiyum urgently pushing legislation through, favouring Musa and HyperChem.Biman Prasad asked whether the bill was designed to assist a particular pharmaceutical importer operating a chain of pharmacies with close links to the Fiji First Party: ‘Is it to help a particular businessman establish a COVID testing facility at Nadi Airport,’ he asked?Prasad also pointedly asked, if the bill would “camouflage the illegal importation of prohibited medicinal products by the owner of a pharmacy chain allegedly involved in controversial dealings?”Prasad also asked - without naming them at the time, whether Aiyaz Musa and HyperChem, were on Interpol’s Red Notice list?Sayed-Khaiyum totally fudged the questions and drifted onto another topic. As usual, Bainimarama was clueless to what was going on – or was he?For TeivovoSports.com I’m Culden Kamea – please hit the like and subscribe buttons below if you want to receive more Pasifika sports highlights on Breakfast Bites.Mahalo, Kakite and tank you all too mas for all your love and support.#TEIVOVORugby #TEIVOVODigital #TeivovoRugby #TeivovoDigital #rugby #rugby7s #FijiRugby #rugbyunion #rugbyleague #Raka #team #rugbytraining #sports #FRU #Fiji #womensrugby #rugbygirls #wrugby #ladiesrugby #womeninsport #woman #rugby #rugby7s #FijiRugby #rugbyunion #rugbyleague #fitness #weightlifting #training #team #rugbytraining #sports #rakavi #DevelopmentFiji