![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery wants to sign two players from Real Madrid – Belgium winger Eden Hazard, 31, and Spain defender Nacho Fernandez, 32. (El Nacional – in Spanish)
Villa could make a 14m euro bid for Barcelona and Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie, with Fulham also interested in the 25-year-old. (Sport – in Spanish)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will hold meetings with the club during the World Cup to discuss his future plans. (Mail)
Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says the club will hold talks with 19-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who has been linked with several of Europe’s top sides, about his future after the 2022 World Cup. (Bild, via Mail)
Barcelona, who know it will be difficult to sign 32-year-old Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City in January, are also looking at Leicester City and Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, 25. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
Barcelona failed to make it into the last 16 of the Champions League but the Nou Camp club’s president Joan Laporta says he has not questioned Xavi’s position as manager. (Sport – in Spanish)
AC Milan are aiming to agree a deal with Chelsea to sign their 29-year-old Morocco winger Hakim Ziyech in January. (Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia)
AC Milan will not consider offers of less than 100m euros (£87.5m) for Portugal forward Rafael Leao in January as they struggle to make progress in talks to agree a contract extension with the 23-year-old. (Calciomercato – in Italian)
Chelsea boss Graham Potter has total backing from the club’s owners despite suffering three straight defeats in the Premier League. (Athletic – subscription required)
Roma director Tiago Pinto “cannot accept” England manager Gareth Southgate’s reasoning in leaving striker Tammy Abraham, 25, out of his squad for the 2022 World Cup. (DAZN, via Football Italia)
Germany defender Antonio Rudiger, who left Chelsea to join Real Madrid in the summer, says Barcelona tried to sign him but moving to the Nou Camp side was not a possibility for the 29-year-old. (AS – in Spanish)
Italy midfielder Marco Verratti, 30, is close to signing a contract extension until 2026 with French champions Paris St-Germain.(Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko’s contract with Inter Milan runs out next summer and the 36-year-old says he wants to stay with the Serie A side. (Calciomercato – in Italian)
