Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who played for Austria at Euro 2008, died on Thursday after his car was hit by a train, his former club Red Bull Salzburg said.

The 48-year-old died when a train hit his car while crossing the tracks in the Salzburg region, the Austrian news agency APA reported.

“We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident,” Red Bull Salzburg posted on its Facebook page.

“Our thoughts are with his family and his friends. Rest in peace, Alexander.”

Both the Austrian Football Association and Arsenal also expressed condolences.

“With him, the world of football has lost a very special person,” the Austrian Football Association said on X.

“Everyone at Arsenal is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of former goalkeeper, Alex Manninger,” Arsenal posted on X.

The cause of the accident, in which no one else was injured, is still under investigation, according to police.

Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, winning the Premier League and FA Cup.

He also played 33 times for Austria, including the 2008 Euros which were held on home soil.

Manninger started his career with hometown club Red Bull Salzburg and, in addition to Arsenal, played for teams across Europe, including Sienna, Juventus, Udinese and Augsburg.

Aged 39, he signed a short-term deal with Liverpool in 2016 but did not play.

AFP

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World Athletics has rejected an application by Turkey to switch the allegiance of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, dealing a significant blow to the athlete’s proposed nationality change ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.

The decision was contained in a document obtained by PUNCH Online on Thursday.

According to the document, the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel ruled that the application submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation would not be approved after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the request.

The panel, comprising Donna Raynor, Cydonie Motherskill and Susanne van Waert, said granting the request would undermine key regulatory principles guiding international athletics.

It noted that the application was part of a wider recruitment drive involving multiple athletes and raised concerns about its implications for the integrity of global competitions.

It added that the panel reviewed submissions from all parties, including the athlete and the Turkish federation, before reaching its conclusion.

“The Application by the TAF for Favour OFILI (the ‘Athlete’) to transfer allegiance from NGR to TUR is not approved,” the World Athletics panel stated.

World Athletics further explained that under its eligibility rules, it retains discretionary powers to reject nationality switches where broader institutional objectives are threatened.

The panel concluded that approving the move would compromise those objectives, particularly those aimed at maintaining fair competition and encouraging nations to develop homegrown talent.

They also highlighted that Turkey’s application was one of 11 submitted as part of what it described as a government-backed recruitment drive targeting foreign athletes with lucrative contracts in a bid to bolster its international competitiveness ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

According to the panel’s findings, such a strategy risks weakening the credibility of national representation by encouraging athletes to switch allegiance primarily for financial or competitive advantage rather than genuine national ties.

Despite reviewing Ofili’s grievances with Nigerian athletics authorities, the panel said the issues did not outweigh the broader regulatory concerns.

It noted that the sprinter last represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and had since acquired Turkish citizenship, signed a long-term contract and indicated plans to relocate.

However, those developments were not sufficient to justify approval under the existing rules.

The document added, “Because the Application is not approved, the Athlete is not entitled to transfer allegiance to TAF and is not eligible to represent TUR in National Representative Competitions.”

However, the ruling clarified that Ofili remains free to compete in international meetings in a personal or club capacity and can continue to live and train in Turkey if she chooses.

Ofili had announced her intention to switch allegiance in September 2025, citing dissatisfaction with the handling of her career by Nigerian athletics authorities.

The 23-year-old is one of Nigeria’s top sprinters and set a world record in the 150m in 2025.

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Ademola Lookman will face Arsenal in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League semi-finals after Atletico Madrid and the Premier League side secured their places in the last four, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Atlético booked their spot for the first time since the 2016/17 season after edging past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 second-leg defeat on Tuesday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, confirmed their progression with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Sporting CP on Wednesday to set up the semi-final clash.

Lookman proved decisive in Atlético’s quarter-final, scoring in the 31st minute of the second leg after Barcelona had overturned a two-goal deficit through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres. His goal restored Atlético’s aggregate advantage and ultimately secured their passage.

The Nigerian forward, who joined Atlético from Atalanta during the winter transfer window, has quickly become a key figure in the squad, contributing 10 goals across all competitions since his arrival.

Looking ahead to the semi-final, Lookman acknowledged the quality of Arsenal but insisted his side are prepared for the challenge that comes with facing elite opposition at this stage of the competition.

“Another strong team, another top team,” he said.

“When you’re in the semi-finals of the Champions League, whoever you get will be tough. It’s a big occasion and one we’re really looking forward to.”

His strike against Barcelona also saw him join an exclusive list of Nigerians to have scored in a Champions League quarter-final, alongside Obafemi Martins, Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen.

Atlético manager Diego Simeone reserved special praise for Lookman’s influence, highlighting his unique qualities and growing importance to the team.

“Since I’ve been in the club, we never had players like that with those features,” Simeone said.

“He’s still evolving. He’s improving a lot defensively, which makes him even more important. And, of course, he’s carrying more weight in the team.”

The Argentine also emphasised the forward’s attacking strengths and impact on Atlético’s style of play.

“He’s brilliant offensively. He’s very courageous. He’s very good on the one-on-one,” he added.

“And when we attack, we play it from the heart. The amount of running was unbelievable. His offensive importance, giving pace to the team when he was on the ball, was key.”

Despite the praise, Simeone believes there is still more to come from the Nigerian international.

“We need more from him. He has more in his tank. We’ve seen it in Nigeria,” he said.

With six goals already for Atlético and his influence continuing to grow, Lookman now heads into a high-stakes semi-final against Arsenal with the opportunity to further cement his place among the club’s key players as they pursue European glory.

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