The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has issued directives to beneficiaries after the country’s football body received $1million from FIFA as COVID-19 palliatives.

Pinnick urged beneficiaries of the $1 million to ensure hundred percent compliance to guidelines by ensuring that all funds are paid into designated accounts.

The NFF boss, in a series of tweets via his Twitter account on Wednesday, also thanked FIFA for the kind gesture and wished FIFA’s President, Gianni Infantino, a speedy recovery from COVID-19 infection.

“Huge appreciation to football’s world governing body, @FIFAcom, for the $1 million (one million dollars) the Federation has received in the frame of COVID-19 palliatives. The money was received by the @thenff and we re-confirmed the purpose from FIFA two days ago,” Pinnick tweeted.

“@FIFAcom also sent $600,000 to the Federation for the FIFA Forward 2.0 projects in Birnin-Kebbi and Ugborodo. At $300,000 each, it will enable the mini-stadia in both centers to start at a very good pace, as we earmark completion by the end of March 2021.

“As a further breakdown, the $1 million for palliatives is composed of $500,000 for men’s football and $500,000 for the women’s game. FIFA has also promised to send the Federation an additional $500,000 sometime in January 2021, also as part of COVID-19 palliative efforts.

“On the continent, we have received confirmation from @CAF_Online that the Federation will receive the expected $300,000 from the Confederation on or before Sunday, the 1st of November.

With the $200,000 we have already ring-fenced from our sponsors’ funds for the purpose the coast will then be clear for us to start the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries, as captured in our approved template, from next week.

“Even though we are bolstered by the guidelines from FIFA strictly outlying the purposes of these funds as well as the approval of the @thenff Executive Board, we will also interface with our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, on each and every line item, to ensure the disbursements conform to global best practices.

“Beneficiaries MUST ensure 100% compliance to guidelines by ensuring that all funds are paid into designated accounts.

“I would also like to thank all beneficiaries for their patience and understanding at these trying times. Finally, I would like to wish @FIFAcom President, Gianni Infantino God’s speed as he recovers. Thank you.”

Ronald Koeman has denied suggestions Lionel Messi is difficult to manage, insisting he has a good relationship with Barcelona’s captain.

In an interview published in El Pais on Sunday, former Barca coach Quique Setien said he found it hard to handle Messi during his brief spell in charge last season.

“There are players that aren’t easy to manage, and Leo is one of them,” Setien said. “I can’t do anything if those at the club have accepted him for how he is and haven’t changed him for years.”

But Koeman defended Messi when Setien’s comments were put to him in a press conference on Tuesday. “Everyone has their opinion and I respect that but I can only say that Messi is a very, very good player, the best in the world.

I see his ambition, his character but he is not a player I have difficulty managing. “Every coach is different but for me he is the captain and I talk to him every week about things in the dressing room and on the pitch and there is a good relationship.

“I don’t agree (with Setien) but I respect his opinion and what he has experienced.” Barcelona face Dinamo Kiev on Wednesday in the Champions League, where their strong start in Group G has brought some relief from their poor form in La Liga.

Koeman’s side sit top of the group after beating Juventus and Ferencvaros but in La Liga, they are 12th, having not won any of their last four games.

“I understand the criticism. Two points from the last four games is not good and it is normal for criticism to come. I accept it and keep working to improve things,” said Koeman. Koeman also said goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is in contention to return after recovering from a knee injury.

“He’s been training with us for almost a week. He looks well,” said Koeman. Dinamo Kiev have taken only a point from their first two Champions League games and could be weakened at Camp Nou, after six players tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.

“It influences their quality but we saw last week that Shakhtar (Donetsk) came with players out and they beat Real Madrid,” said Koeman. “We can’t expect them to be impacted too much.”