![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")
Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino is leaving the MLS club for “personal reasons” a club source told AFP.
The former Barcelona and Argentina coach led the team to the top of the regular season standings this season before a shock exit to Atlanta United in the first round of the playoffs.
Martino, widely known as ‘Tata’, joined Inter Miami last June as part of the transformation of the club that took place with the arrival of his compatriot Lionel Messi.
Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup, a joint tournament between MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs, in his first season in charge.
This year Inter Miami dominated the regular season, winning the Supporters’ Shield for the team with the best overall record — an achievement which led FIFA to hand them a place in next year’s Club World Cup.
But Miami lost out to Martino’s former club Atlanta in a best-of-three opening round to the MLS Cup playoffs in what was a major upset.
The source did not indicate what the “personal reasons” were that led to the decision for Martino to leave before the end of his contract.
The club announced on Tuesday that Martino would hold a press conference on Friday alongside club co-owner Jorge Mas and President of Football Operations Raul Sanllehí.
Martino made his mark as a coach in Paraguay, leading the national side to the runners-up spot in the 2011 Copa America.
After impressing at Newell’s Old Boys in the Argentine league he had a season in charge of Barcelona in 2013-14 before taking over the Argentine national side for two years and then joined Atlanta in 2016.
He won the MLS Cup with Atlanta in 2018 and then took over Mexico where he was in charge from 2019 until November 2022.
