Mixed reactions trail Galadima's nomination

By Ifeanyi Ibeh with agency reports


November 28, 2010

Four years ago, Ibrahim Galadima became one of the least popular people in the country for his comments after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Nigerians who were only then coming to terms with the fact that the Super Eagles were not going to the Mundial in Germany got furious that the head of the football house was quoted as saying that qualification for the biggest football event in the world was not Nigeria's "birthright."

Such was the public uproar that not a lot of eyelids were batted when the then sports minister Ismaila Sambawa decided to nullify the outcome of the polls re-electing Galadima as the NFF boss.

However, just over a week ago, the man under whose tenure Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since making a debut appearance at the tournament in the United States of America back in 1994 was nominated as the country's representative ahead of next February's elections into the executive committee of Africa's football governing body, CAF.

And if Galadima or anybody in the NFF thought four years was enough to make the majority of Nigerians forget the memories of that 2006 World Cup failure, they were proved wrong because as soon as news of his nomination emerged, criticisms came from all directions.

Old sins still fresh

From former footballers like Emeka Ezeugo, Nduka Ugbade, Steve Abarowei and Jonathan Akpoborie, to football analyst Bode Oguntuyi, as well as sports writer Dare Esan, the general opinion was that the Kano based businessman was not good enough to fly the country's flag at the polls taking place in Khartoum next year. He will be up against the respective heads of the football associations of Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Kwesi Nyantakyi and Jacques Anouma.

The Galadima critics opined that other candidates such as former Nigerian internationals Segun Odegbami and Adokie Amiesimaka, as well as a former handler of the Super Eagles and FIFA technical instructor Adeboye Onigbinde would have been better placed to vie for a spot in the executive arm of the continental body.

"There are lots of other Nigerians who can represent us and do a better job like Odegbami, Adokie and even Onigbinde," Oguntuyi told NEXT in Lagos. "These are people I believe that can elevate Nigeria's status in CAF and FIFA but I guess they were not even considered in the first place by those that nominated Galadima."

"A lot of politicking takes place within CAF and FIFA but these organisations also know the importance of having technocrats and that's why we need the likes of Adokie and Odegbami who can represent Nigeria in CAF and FIFA the way the late Patrick Okpomo did," added Esan, editor of Nigerian sports daily, Complete Sports, recalling the late secretary general of the Nigerian FA, Okpomo, who died in 2004.

Efforts by NEXTSports to get the acting secretary general of the NFF, Musa Amadu to comment on how Galadima's name emerged from the discreet selection process proved abortive as the NFF scribe refused to comment on the matter offering instead to speak on the issue at some other time.

Subsequent efforts also failed to yield positive fruits as NEXTSports was informed by an official in the NFF secretariat that Amadu, along with a handful of board members had journeyed to Germany for last Thursday's international friendly between the Super Falcons and their German counterparts.

Galadima also refused to comment on his nomination when NEXTSports got in touch with him but he had earlier told the BBC why he decided at this point to come out of his shell.

And according to him, winning a place on CAF's executive committee would give him the chance to help rebuild the organisation's image and salvage the continent's dignity especially in the light of the recent suspension of four of the continent's top football administrators by FIFA, including Nigeria's Amos Adamu.

Project Galadima

"It's not a Galadima project but that of Nigeria and Africa," Galadima told the BBC.

"There are several aspects of the African game that require development. Our youth and club football needs to develop and the women's game must take a professional path as well." He then added: "The entire set-up needs change, which I hope to bring on board. The NFF has put me forward with the backing of the sports ministry in Nigeria not because I'm the best amongst several millions.

"They are confident I can represent Nigeria and the continent to the best of my ability." The decision of the NFF and the sports ministry didn't however go down well with Adamu whose seat Galadima will be vying for at next February's CAF Congress.

This is because Adamu recently launched an appeal against his three-year suspension by FIFA over a cash-for-votes scandal and felt the NFF's decision could lead to confusion if his appeal is successful at the end of the day.

There are however a cross section of individuals, mostly those who have had a first-hand experience of working with Galadima who believe his nomination is a step in the right direction.

One of those who see the move in a positive light is former NFF executive member Taiwo Ogunjobi, who worked as the FA's scribe under Galadima.

"I think Galadima's nomination was well thought out and I am hopeful that he will represent the country very well on the CAF Executive Committee board," said Ogunjobi in a chart with Supersport.com.

"He is a man of integrity and having worked very closely with him some years back, I can say without hesitation that his candidature will bring good tidings to both the image of the country and indeed the development of the game both in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa," he added.

Another is former member of the Federal House of Representatives Lumumba Adeh. "I want to call on all well meaning Nigerians to give total support to Galadima's candidature. The government has a special role to play because it is going to involve diplomacy and stuffs like that."

Age-old syndrome ruining the league

Alaba Balogun of 3Sc charges at Peter Bako of zamfara united in a premiership match played on Sunday 13th November 201 at Kano pillar stadium Kano. Photo by 4to-sports

By Ifeanyi Ibeh


November 28, 2010 12:53AM


The 2010/2011 Nigerian Premier League season has been on for close to a month now and a couple of impressive performances have been recorded by clubs as they attempt to justify the ‘huge' resources expended on them by their sponsors.

But it appears the pressure to achieve success is gradually beginning to lead to the re-emergence of a disease that is as old as organized league football in Nigeria - the win-at-all-costs syndrome.

After the opening weekend of the new season, the Nigerian league and its organizers, the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) justifiably received applause for the series of impressive results recorded by clubs, mostly those playing away from home.

Kano Pillars set the ball rolling with a 1-1 draw against Kaduna United in the opening game of the season on November 6 before Dolphins travelled to Jos the following day, to post a 1-0 win over Plateau United. Newly promoted JUTH also achieved a respectable 1-1 draw against Sharks in Port Harcourt courtesy of a goal in added time by their Ghanaian import James Amankwei, while Zamfara United played out a goalless draw away to Bukola Babes.

Even Lobi Stars received commendation from Enugu Rangers' coach Alphonsus Dike after leaving Enugu, and with their heads up high, on the back of a 3-2 loss to the Flying Antelopes. The following weekend was even better for the away sides as six of the ten scheduled games ended in score draws most notably the encounter in Kano between Zamfara United and visiting Shooting Stars that saw the home side grabbing a very late equalizer through an own goal by the Ibadan side's Festus Iyonu.

Even more remarkable about the second round of matches was the fact that all the other drawn games ended 1-1 with the visitors coming from behind to draw level against their hosts, while the latest goal recorded on the score sheet, besides the Zamfara equalizer, was the 82nd minute goal by Omoh Ojabu which decided the outcome of the game in Port Harcourt between Dolphins and Rangers.

Then came last weekend's third round of matches and a whole lot that everyone was beginning to forget suddenly returned to the consciousness of followers of the Nigerian league.

Although Sunshine Stars recorded an away win - a 1-0 victory over Plateau United- while Heartland and JUTH recorded draws away from home, the weekend was blighted by the lone goal victory of Kwara United over Kano Pillars with the home side's winning goal arriving in the 95th minute courtesy of a penalty conversion by Isiaka Olawale. This was after the visitor's had seen their goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai sent off by the referee.

"It's so sad to lose a game in such manner; it wasn't fair on my players," recalled Salisu Yusuf, the Kano Pillars coach. "We had done everything we could and deserved to come out with a draw from that game but the referee felt otherwise and I wouldn't completely blame him for doing that; it happens all the time in our league." According to Mr Yusuf, a former Nigerian international, the match which was played at the Offa Township Stadium did not have enough security personnel on ground.

Inadequate security

"I don't think the security provided by the home team was enough to guarantee the safety of the officials and that is something the NPL should look at in order to forestall a recurrence this season," Yusuf added.

Under the rules and regulations of the ongoing Premier League season, it is the joint responsibility of the state FA and the Premier League club under its jurisdiction to provide security at match venues.

Article 3.4 (1) of the rules and regulations, which is specific about security at match venues on match days highlights that ‘a minimum of 50 law enforcement agents are required before the start of a game. However, the Match Commissioner shall commence matches if satisfied with the security available on ground.' It also stated in Article 3.4 (2) that ‘security personnel shall be detailed to match officials and the away team.' "Those are the rules," Emeka Nwani, the head of media of the NPL told NEXT. "The state FAs and the clubs under their jurisdiction must provide security at match venues.

"The NPL cannot take any decision on the Kwara United/Kano Pillars game until we get the official reports from both the match commissioner and the referee. But if the referee was intimidated or harassed in that game the match commissioner has the power to call off the game.

"And if this is indicated in his report three points and three goals will be deducted from the guilty club," added Nwani with reference to Article 3.7(2 and 3) of the rules and regulations.

Article 3.7 (1) states that: ‘where the match officials are harassed or intimidated,

Match Commissioners are empowered to call off or discontinue with the meetings and or the matches' while Article 3.7(3) states that: ‘upon receipt of the Match Commissioner's report, 3 points 3 goals shall be deducted from the already accrued points of the offending team, and the opponent shall be credited with 3 points and 3 goals.' "But referees are also humans, they make mistakes but it is not peculiar to Nigeria as it also happens in Europe," added Nwani referring to the last Wednesday's UEFA Champions League match between Braga and Arsenal; a match that was overseen with the experimental two additional penalty area referee's assistants.

"The referee ought to have awarded a penalty to Arsenal but he felt the player had dived and instead issued him a yellow card. That decision turned out to be crucial as Braga went on to score two goals and win the game.

Sanitizing the league

He then added that "The NPL will not sanitize the league in one year. In fact, we may need as much as five or six years to bring the league to a standard everyone will be proud to be associated with, but it is a gradual process and we're very much on track." The NPL sure appears to be on track with their efforts at sanitizing the league judging by the actions already taken by them in recent weeks.

Firstly, they fined Niger Tornadoes the sum of one million naira after their first and second choice goalkeepers appeared in unauthorized team jerseys in their game against Heartland.

The NPL also fined Rangers the sum of five hundred thousand naira after the name on the back of the jersey of one of its players in their 1-0 loss to Dolphins was discovered to have been done with the aid of a coloured pen.

"The rules are clear," continued Nwani "Rangers were fined just for simply using a coloured marker to indicate the name of a player on his jersey. The same thing happened to Niger Tornadoes.

"So if at the end of the day any team is discovered to have threatened the safety of match officials or visiting teams by not providing adequate security during matches then such a team will be sanctioned accordingly." The maximum penalty in this case, if it is proven that match

officials were harassed by club supporters or officials, even before, during or after pre-match meetings, is a fine of five million naira which according to Article 3.7(1), must be paid before the club's next home match.

Controversial Garden City derby

Undoubtedly, the biggest news from last weekend's matches was the controversial lone goal defeat inflicted on Dolphins by fierce Port Harcourt rivals Sharks.

The game was the most eagerly anticipated match of last weekend's games and was beamed live across Africa by SuperSport. Both sides actually tried to make a contest of it in the first half but it was a different kettle of fish in the second half as players of Dolphins literally went to sleep right after Sharks shot into the lead in the 64th minute through veteran forward Victor Ezeji.

Afterwards, Dolphins appeared content to leave the score line as it was as they made no effort to threaten their opponents thus fuelling rumours that the game's outcome might actually have been predetermined especially as both sides are jointly owned by the Rivers state government.

Both sides however vehemently denied the allegations while the NPL, through its chairman Davidson Owumi, stated that the league body will wait to receive the official report of the game before deciding on the next step adding that if the official report indicates that there was any sign of foul play, the NPL "will not hesitate to take action." Any action taken in this regard by the NPL will be in line with Article 4.5 which ensures that any club or clubs found guilty will be fined the sum of 20 million naira and expelled from the league.

In addition, the result of the match shall be cancelled and any individual found guilty of involvement in the act shall be banned from league related activities for a minimum period of five years.

There is however no provision in the NPL's rules and regulations guarding against the single ownership of clubs in the same competition by a single entity, which is a violation of Article 9 of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations which prohibit a single natural or legal entity from direct or indirect ownership of multiple clubs, in the same competition.

Unbeaten Shooting Stars dares angry Pillars in Kano

Shooting Stars, Taiwo Hassan (R) stretches for the ball in his side's 2-2 draw against Zamfara United in Kano. Photo 4to-sports
By Ifeanyi Ibeh

League leaders Shooting Stars will tomorrow attempt to maintain their unbeaten run in the 2010/2011 Premier League season when they take on Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The Ibadan based Shooting Stars have so far this season shown considerable improvement from the side that struggled all through last season defeating Sunshine Stars (2-1) and newly promoted Bukola Babes (2-0) and were only a few seconds away from recording a memorable away win over Zamfara United before the home side grabbed a last gasp goal to secure a 2-2 draw at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

On the other hand, Kano Pillars have yet to hit any form of consistency in the three weeks old season.

Kano Pillars, league champions two seasons ago, actually started the season on a bright note with a one-all draw at Kaduna United before returning home to pip Bukola Babes 1-0 in penultimate weekend’s round of matches. They however went down by the same score line to Kwara United no thanks to a controversial 95th minute penalty conversion by Isiaka Olawale.

“We have already put that behind us,” said Pillars coach Salisu Yusuf, recalling last weekend’s controversial penalty against his side. “We are only focussing on the match against Shooting Stars.

“Everyone here knows that they have been doing well since the start of the season which is why they are on top of the table but we also know that if we get a win on Saturday we’ll both be equal on points,” stressed the former Nigeria international.

Familiar haunting ground

Shooting Stars are on seven points, three points ahead of Pillars, but have also scored twice in each of their three league games to date, and will be looking to continue on that impressive note as they make a return to an already familiar venue.

“We played there (Sani Abacha Stadium) against Zamfara and the playing surface is good for football,” recalled Shooting Stars coach Fatai Amoo. “It is very suitable for our style of football and if the boys play to their potentials I believe we can come out of this game with something.

“It won’t be, as the saying goes, a stroll in the park as our opponents are a very good side; a side that’s very difficult to beat at home. But we’ll give it our best shot,” added the former Super Eagles assistant coach.

Another big game billed for tomorrow is that between Dolphins and second-placed Gombe United, who are also unbeaten. The game comes up at Port Harcourt’s Liberation Stadium.

In other games, Bukola Babes will attempt to record a historic first ever goal in the Nigerian top flight when they welcome defending champions Enyimba to the Offa Township Stadium, while unbeaten JUTH, complete with Ghanaian import James Amankwei, who has scored two goals so far, will go in search of their first win of the season when they take on the equally unbeaten Warri Wolves at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos. Warri Wolves have in their fold Ekigho Ehiosun who has scored three goals and who jointly leads the scorers chart with Enugu Rangers’ Fred Okwara.

Crown FC will also take on Kwara United at Ilaro.

Ime Udoka rejoins San Antonio Spurs

By Ifeanyi Ibeh with agency reports


November 26, 2010





Nigerian basketball star, Ime Udoka, has rejoined the San Antonio Spurs and featured in Thursday’s 113-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 33-year-old, a 6-foot-5 guard-forward, spent last season with the Sacramento Kings, where he played in 69 games and averaged 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game.

He previously played for the San Antonio Spurs in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, where he averaged 5.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 140 regular season games, and 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 21 playoff games.

He had also, over the course of his six years NBA career, played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers but had been a free agent since been released by the Timberwolves.

“It’s great to be back, and I know the system,” Udoka told The Oregonian. “The coaches know what I do from my two years, and I know the terminology and fit right in. And I’m very comfortable with the guys.”

Since becoming a free agent this summer, Udoka had worked out with the Chicago Bulls and declined several offers to play for a European club side.

“I didn’t want to go to camp just for the sake of going to camp,” he said. “I understood it might be a little slower with a down personal year for me last year with a team that wasn’t that good in Sacramento.”

Udoka, who will be paid the veteran’s minimum of $1.146 million, signed a non-guaranteed contract, meaning the deal won’t become guaranteed unless he is still on the roster come January 10 next year.

Germany too GR-EIGHT for Falcons

By Ifeanyi Ibeh


November 26, 2010





The Super Falcons on Thursday in Germany suffered an embarrassing 8-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in an international friendly match played in the city of Leverkusen.

It was the worst defeat to be inflicted upon the Super Falcons by any side since their equally embarrassing 8-0 defeat to Norway at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Sweden.

It was also the first time the Super Falcons will be conceding seven or more goals since suffering a 7-1 battering against the United States of America at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, held in the United States.

The result was also the worst defeat the German side has ever inflicted on the Super Falcons since beating Nigeria 4-0 at the inaugural FIFA World Cup in China back in 1991.

German efficiency

Inka Grings opened the floodgate of goals for the Germans as early as the 5th minute, before Kerstin Garefrekes doubled the tally three minutes later.

A minute after the restart, Grings grabbed her second of the game to make it 3-0 for the Germans. It was the 32-year-old’s 61st goal for Germany on a night she was marking her 87th appearance for the national team.

Brigit Prinz, marking her record 208th appearance for Germany, then made it 4-0 for the world champions in the 18th minute, before wrapping up a one-sided half for the Germans with her second of the night in the 42nd minute; a goal that brought the 33-year-old’s internationally tally to 128 goals.

Germany coach, Silvia Neid, who back in 1991 became the first German woman to score against the Super Falcons, then introduced Alexandra Popp, leading scorer at this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany, in the second half, and she soon rewarded her coach for having faith in her by making it 6-0.

Garefrekes wasn’t, however, done yet as she then grabbed two further goals, in the 71st and 79th minutes, to complete her hat-trick and Germany’s biggest win since their 7-0 whitewash of Finland back in February at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

The heavy defeat of the Super Falcons raises doubts over the team’s chances at next year’s World Cup in Germany, but it will be recalled that the team’s handler, Eucharia Uche, had shortly after the team’s arrival from the African Women’s Championship (AWC), expressed her displeasure at the games’ timing, as it did not afford her wards enough time to recuperate from the rigours of the AWC.

Galadima is unpopular choice for Adamu's position

By Ifeanyi Ibeh


November 24, 2010




It emerged on Monday that the former boss of the football association, Ibrahim Galadima, had been nominated by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to seek election into the executive committee of Africa's football governing body, CAF.

His nomination, which also reportedly got the backing of the sports ministry, comes in the aftermath of the three-year suspension slammed on Amos Adamu by football's world governing body, FIFA. Adamu, up until his suspension, was a member of the Executive Committee of both CAF and FIFA. The suspension meant that Nigeria no longer had any representation in the decision making bodies of the two organizations.

However, every member nation in CAF is permitted to send in a nomination ahead of next February's elections into the executive committee coming up in Khartoum, Sudan. But the question on most people's minds is how did Galadima emerge as the country's candidate where he will be up against the Ghana FA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi and Jacques Anouma of the Ivorian FA? "I wonder how his name popped up in the first place because to the best of my knowledge the NFF did not meet," said football analyst, Bode Oguntuyi.

Galadima was the boss of the FA between 2002 and 2006, before his place was taken by the erstwhile head of the NFF, Sani Lulu. His exit was however under controversial circumstances as he had been re-elected for another four-year term only for the sports ministry, then headed by Ismaila Sambawa, to nullify the election's outcome.

He subsequently lost out to Lulu in a re-run of the polls, but his name remained etched in the consciousness of football followers in Nigeria for the infamous statement he made in 2005, when he said that qualification for the World Cup was not "Nigeria's birthright" while the country battled for qualification during the 2006 World Cup. The football administrator will also be remembered as someone not tainted by any allegations of corruption.

Galadima's sin

"I don't think it is fair to give such an opportunity to someone who famously said that the World Cup was not Nigeria's birthright," said Oguntuyi. "No sane administrator will make such a statement." When asked how Galadima's name emerged as the country's nomination for the CAF position, the acting secretary general of the NFF, Musa Amadu, refused to comment on the issue, stating instead that he will speak on the issue at a more opportune time.

Dare Esan, the editor of Nigeria's all sports daily, Complete Sports, feels that Galadima is not the best candidate. According to him, the likes of former internationals Segun Odegbami and Adokie Amiesimaka, as well as Adeboye Onigbinde, the former Super Eagles coach who is also a member of CAF's technical and development committee, are better placed to represent the country's interests not only in CAF, but also in FIFA.

"There are lots of other Nigerians who can represent us and do a better job like Odegbami, Adokie and even Onigbinde," he said. "These are people I believe that can elevate Nigeria's status in CAF and FIFA but I guess they were not even considered in the first place by those that nominated Galadima. A lot of politicking takes place within CAF and FIFA but these organizations also know the importance of having technocrats and that's why we need the likes of Adokie and Odegbami who can represent Nigeria in CAF and FIFA the way the late Patrick Okpomo did."

Despite World Cup no-show, Ronaldo remains football's top earner

By Ifeanyi Ibeh


Fans of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, obviously want to forget as quickly as possible the performance of the football icon at the recently concluded World Cup, but they can still hold their heads high because he remains the highest paid footballer in the world.

Excluding his numerous endorsement deals, which run into millions of pounds, the Real Madrid forward currently takes home over £11 million annually in salaries, taking him above the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic,

Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Kaka who follow in that order.

According to a list of the top fifty salary earners published by the Portuguese based agency, Football Finance, which was based on last season's earnings 25 players took home over £5 million annually.

Besides Eto'o, other Africans in the top 25 are Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Frederic Kanoute, while Chelsea's Didier Drogba was in the 26th position.

The figures are unofficial and approximate, being dependent on new contracts or renewal of each contract, they were however, the result of research carried out in over 30 publications worldwide that specialise in football.

50 highest paid players in world football

S/N
Name of player
Club
Salary (£)

1.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid
11.3million

2.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Barcelona
10.4million

3.
Lionel Messi
Barcelona
9.1million

4.
Samuel Eto'o
Internazionale
9.1million

5.
Kaka
Real Madrid
8.7million

6.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Manchester City
7.4million

7.
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
7.4million

8.
Carlos Tevez
Manchester City
7million

9.
John Terry
Chelsea
6.5million

10.
Frank Lampard
Chelsea
6.5million

11.
Thierry Henry
Barcelona
6.5million

12.
Xavi
Barcelona
6.5million

13.
Ronaldinho
AC Milan
6.5million

14.
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool
6.5million

15.
Daniel Alves
Barcelona
6.1million

16.
Michael Ballack
Chelsea
5.6million

17.
Raul
Real Madrid
5.6million

18.
Rio Ferdinand
Manchester United
5.6million

19.
Kolo Toure
Manchester City
5.6million

20.
Wayne Rooney
Manchester United
5.2million

21.
Robinho
Manchester City
5.2million

22
Iker Casillas
Real Madrid
5.2million

23.
Victor Valdez
Barcelona
5.2million

24.
Frederic Kanoute
Sevilla
5.2million

25.
Deco
Chelsea
5.2million

26.
Didier Drogba
Chelsea
4.8million

27.
Gianluigi Buffon
Juventus
4.8million

28.
Francesco Totti
Roma
4.8million

29.
Luca Toni
Roma
4.8million

30.
David Villa
Valencia
4.8million

31.
Arjen Robben
Bayern Munich
4.8million

32.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bayern Munich
4.8million

33.
Ashley Cole
Chelsea
4.8million

34.
Fernando Torres
Liverpool
4.8million

35.
Gareth Barry
Manchester City
4.8million

36.
Patrick Vieira
Internazionale
4.8million

37.
Charles Puyol
Barcelona
4.3million

38.
Andres Iniesta
Barcelona
4.3million

39.
Sergio Aguero
Atletico Madrid
4.3million

40.
Andreas Pirlo
AC Milan
4.3million

41.
Willy Sagnol
Bayern Munich
4.3million

42.
Frank Ribery
Bayern Munich
4.3million

43.
David Beckham
AC Milan
4.3million

44.
Wayne Bridge
Manchester City
4.3million

45.
Lassana Diarra
Real Madrid
4.3million

46.
Dimitar Berbatov
Manchester United
4.1million

47.
Andrei Arshavin
Arsenal
4.1million

48.
Nicolas Anelka
Chelsea
4.1million

49.
Ryan Giggs
Manchester United
4.1million

50.
Alessandro Del Piero
Juventus
4.1million