![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 "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
Real Madrid are set to tempt Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, 19, to sign for them by suggesting the chance may never come around again. (Telegraph subscription required)
Liverpool are monitoring a host of Galatasaray players including French defender Sacha Boey, 22, Denmark centre-back Victor Nelsson, 23, and Turkish wingers Kerem Akturkoglu, 23, and Yunus Akgun, 22. (Sun)
Paris St-Germain are considering moving for Chelsea’s Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 33, next summer. (Foot Mercato – in French)
Manchester United are confident Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, will stay at the club in January because of a lack of interest in the Portugal forward. (ESPN)
Newcastle United have held talks with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama over the potential signing of 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, who would be expected to cost £30m. (The i)
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers accepts that England midfielder James Maddison’s good form will lead to offers for the 25-year-old in January. (Mail)
Chelsea are set to appoint Christopher Vivell as technical director after the German was sacked by RB Leipzig. (Telegraph – subscription required)
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s position is uncertain and the south coast club are looking at former RB Leipzig manager Domenico Tedesco and Manchester City assistant boss Enzo Maresca as possible candidates to replace the Austrian. (Mail)
Napoli’s Mexico winger Hirving Lozano, 27, could end up at Manchester United or Everton next season, his former agent has suggested. (Gonfia la Rete – in Italian)
Ex-Liverpool and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez and newly appointed Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso were among the names considered to replace Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest before the club decided to offer him a new contract. (Mail)
Tottenham will pay Juventus £30.7m to sign Sweden winger Dejan Kulusevski, 22, on a permanent deal. (Calciomercato – in Italian)
Barcelona vice-president Eduard Romeu is confident the club could find a way to bring Paris St-Germain’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, back if they wanted to. (90min)
Ex-England captain David Beckham’s son Romeo, under contract at Inter Miami, is training with Brentford’s B team following the end of the Major League Soccer Next Pro season. (Guardian)
Leicester are finalising a deal to sign Poland goalkeeper Bartlomiej Drągowski, 25, from Italian side Spezia in January. (Meczyki – in Polish)
Atletico Madrid have signed a £17.5m deal to turn 31-year-old France forward Antoine Griezmann’s loan from Barcelona into a permanent transfer. (Marca – in Spanish)
France midfielder Houssem Aouar, whose contract with Lyon runs out in summer 2023, is expected to leave the French club, with Roma, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis and Sevilla interested in the 24-year-old. (Calciomercato – in Italian)
Crystal Palace forward Junior Dixon has been scouted by Everton and Borussia Dortmund, while Belgian club Genk are also interested in the 17-year-old. (Telegraph – subscription required)
