![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")
Paris St-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi is considering returning to his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys. (UOL, via Mirror)
Chelsea and Portugal forward Joao Felix, 23, wants to make his loan deal from Atletico Madrid permanent this summer. (Fijaches – in Spanish)
Arsenal have opened talks with France centre-back William Saliba, 21, over a new contract. (Football Insider)
Al Nassr have made contact with the representatives of Paris St-Germain and former Spain defender Sergio Ramos over a potential move before next season. (Marca – in Spanish)
Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella is on Liverpool’s shortlist of summer targets, with the 26-year-old Italy international having been watched by the Anfield club’s scouts. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)
Liverpool are interested in signing Bayern Munich and the Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, 20, to play alongside England and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, 19. (Express)
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is considering buying Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. (L’Equipe)
Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham are among the Premier League clubs monitoring Mainz and Germany midfielder Anton Stach, 24. (90min)
France forward Marcus Thuram, who will be out of contract at Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer, has been offered to Barcelona, while Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Manchester United and PSG have also been linked with the 25-year-old. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)
Newcastle target Matheus Franca has signed a new contract with Flamengo, who rejected the Magpies’ offer of £17.5m for the 18-year-old Brazil midfielder in January. (Sun)
Fulham, Everton, Leicester and West Ham are interested in Roma and England defender Chris Smalling, 33. (90min)
Newcastle United are plotting a summer move for Wolves’ 25-year-old English centre-back Max Kilman. (Football Insider)
LA Galaxy have moved for Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, 18, after a proposed loan to Palmeiras collapsed. (Goal)
Brazil could bring in ex-Spain and Barcelona manager Luis Enrique to replace Tite rather than Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. (Fijaches – in Spanish)
Portuguese left-back Nuno Tavares, 23, says he will return to Arsenal at the end of the season when his loan spell at Marseille concludes. (Goal)
