![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")
Eden Hazard has reportedly not travelled with the squad after suffering a knock against West Brom.
Oscar remains a doubt for Chelsea because of a virus.
Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong serves a one-match suspension on Wednesday as a result of accumulating five bookings this season.
Jan Kirchhoff could be given his first start for two and a half months, having made two substitute appearances since returning from a hamstring injury.
Hazard along with Diego Costa have been Chelsea’s star players under Antonio Conte. Hazard has scored eight goals in 15 appearances this season.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Sunderland beat Chelsea 3-2 in May to end an 11-match league run without a home win in this fixture (D2, L9).
- Chelsea have won 19 of the last 23 Premier League meetings and haven’t lost successive games against Sunderland since March 2001.
- However, Sunderland are currently unbeaten in three home matches against Chelsea in all competitions (W2, D1).
Sunderland
- Sunderland are vying to win three Premier League games in a row at the Stadium of Light for the first time since February 2012.
- They still have the worst home record in the division, with seven points from seven matches and a goal difference of minus four.
- The Black Cats have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 Premier League games.
- Jermain Defoe is the only player to have scored against Chelsea with four different Premier League clubs.
- Only three players have scored a league goal for Sunderland this season: Defoe (8), Victor Anichebe (3) and Patrick van Aanholt (2).
Chelsea
- Chelsea have won nine successive Premier League games for an unrivalled fifth time. It is their best run of results in a single season since January to April 2007, when they also won nine in a row. They won 11 successive matches over two seasons between April and September 2009, and 10 in a row in a single season in 2005-06.
- The Blues could win five consecutive away matches for the first time since April last year.
- Chelsea have earned 67 points in 2016, the most in the division prior to the midweek fixtures.
- They have kept a league-best nine clean sheets, just one shy of their total for the whole of last season
- Diego Costa has scored with six of his last nine shots in the league. He has either scored or set up a goal in 15 of his last 17 Premier League games – only failing to do so against Manchester United and Arsenal this season.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Sunderland manager David Moyes: “We were on a good run and we wanted to keep it going. It wasn’t to be. We’re now back at home and we’ll try to pick points up.
“People will try and find a way of beating Chelsea’s system, but it’s not just the system – they have real quality players.
“If we can get an atmosphere like last season against Chelsea it will give us every chance, and it would be terrific.”
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte: “We all know Sunderland are at the bottom of the table, but if you look at the last five games you can see Sunderland are fifth in the table.
“They took nine points and for this reason it’s important to pay great attention, to be focused, and to be concentrated from the start of the game until the end.
“I know this league and it’s very tough to win every game. To have nine wins in a row is fantastic. I hope to continue this.”
