![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")
The new stoppage-time rules implemented by English football this season to reduce time waste are “absurd” and will not be adopted in UEFA competitions, according to Zvonimir Boban, the European governing body’s chief of football.
Following FIFA’s lead at the men’s and women’s World Cups, England’s referee body announced in July that officials would add time lost to goal celebrations, substitutions, and injuries.
The goal is to expand the amount of time the ball is in play, with games now routinely lasting more than 100 minutes.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester United defender Raphael Varane, and FIFPRO, the global players’ union, have all criticized the new method, claiming it will raise player workload in an already hectic schedule.
“It’s absolutely absurd,” said Boban, a former AC Milan and Croatia midfielder, addressing reporters in Monaco.
“In terms of player welfare, it’s either a small or large tragedy because we’re adding nearly 12, 13, and 14 minutes.”
“When you play 60, 65 minutes—and I can speak from experience, especially as a midfielder—the last 30 minutes of the game are when you get tired. Then someone arrives and adds another 15 minutes.
“How many times have we complained about the calendar and having too many games? We are not paying attention to the players and coaches. It’s insane. We will not do this because it is too much. Our policies are distinct.”
UEFA’s chief refereeing officer, Roberto Rosetti, backed Boban, stating that the governing body has been working for five years to enhance the amount of time the ball is in play throughout its championships.
“There is something more important than the accuracy of additional time,” Rosetti explained. Why is the Champions League so popular? Because it’s intense and great, the players never stop playing.
“We tell our referees to speed up the restart of play instead of focusing on stoppage time.”
