Abuja, August 12, 2016 – The Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) has imposed sanctions on a number football of clubs for breaching rules governing league football in Nigeria.
The NFF’s Disciplinary committee announced the decision after a meeting in Abuja.The affected clubs are Go-Round FC, Kogi United, ABS FC, First Bank FC, Juvenile FC and Avalon FC. In the matter between Go- Round FC Vs Remo Stars FC, the committee decided that the match should be continued from the point that it was abandoned which is the commencement of second half.
It added that the match should be officiated by a different set of match officials considering the fact that the match commissioner and referees report shows a total disagreement of sequence of events, adding that the match should be played in Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu at a date to be communicated by the Nigeria National League under closed doors.
“Go-Round FC shall observe a ban of three closed doors in line with Article 4.3(2) of the NNL Rules and Regulations V’’, the committee said and recommended that the official report which indicts the Match Commissioner in person of Prince Sunday Samson Akpan from Akwa Ibom be referred to the NFF Ethics Committee for further action.
The committee also recommended that Remo Stars FC shall pay a fine of N500,000 for abandoning the game without the consent and approval of the appointed match officials.
“Go-Round FC shall pay a fine of N1,000,000 only for not providing adequate security for the match. In line with Art. 4.3 VIII’’, the committee said.
On Kogi Utd FC vs Jigawa Golden Stars FC, the committee noted the attack on match officials after the match by fans of Kogi United and hence upheld the close door ban already pronounced by the NNL for three home matches against Kogi United.
“The Committee fines Kogi Utd the sum of N500,000 to be paid to the NNL as a result of assault on the match officials… There was no evidence before the committee to substantiate the claims by the match officials of items that were claimed to have been lost.
“This was further compounded by the lack of Referee’s report as it was confirmed that the referee did not submit his report to the NNL’’, the committee said.
On Cofine FC VS ABS FC, the committee noted that ABS FC failed, refused and neglected to honour its League match for no justifiable reasons and found ABS FC guilty as charged and noted that ABS FC had contravened Art. 4.2(1).
”Any club that fails to honour its fixture obligation without any reason acceptable to the League shall be fined the sum of N1,000,000.00 payable to the League within 14 days”.
The Committee upheld the interim decision of the Nigeria National League and affirmed the award of 3points and 3 goals to Cofine FC in line with Art. 4.2(2).
The Committee noted that Club Management should ensure that players indebtedness are addressed promptly without further delay to avoid such an ugly scenario as in the case of ABS FC where players protested their non-payment of outstanding debts.
On Bayelsa Utd FC Vs First Bank FC, the committee found First Bank FC guilty as charged and noted that First Bank FC had contravene Art. 4.2(1) which states that any club that fails to honour its fixture obligation without any reason acceptable to the League shall be fined the sum of N1,000,000.00 payable to the League within 14 days.
The committee upholds the Interim decision of the Nigeria National League and affirms the award of 3points and 3 goals to Bayelsa FC in line with Art. 4.2(2). The Committee noted that Club Management should ensure that funds required by teams are promptly released to prevent the scenario as in the case of First Bank FC where lack of funds prevented the team from honouring a scheduled league match.
On Phoenix A.C Ekiti FC VS Juvenile FC Ogun, the Committee found Juvenile FC guilty of intimidation and harassment of the match officials which contravened Art. 4.07 2 and adopted the decision of NNWL1 and awards 3 points and 3 goals to Phoenix A.C FC.
The committee awarded N200,000 to be paid by Juvenile FC for both the medical expense and cost for the destroyed Video Camera of Phoenix FC.
The Committee upheld the decision of the NNWL1 on player Onwuka Michael of Juvenile FC and affirmed that he remains suspended from 7 league games starting from 1st July, 2016.
On Bussdor UTD FC Vs Ebonyi UTD FC, the committee noted that matters on the eligibility of players is outside its purview and that such matter should be channelled to the appropriate committee which is the NFF Players Status Committee.
With regards to Avalon FC Offa Vs Bids Lions FC, the committee condemned in strong terms the attitude of Avalon FC Fans by attacking Match Officials and visiting team after their match against Bida Lions FC.
The Committee upheld the decision of the NNWL1 which states “that Avalon FC are banished from their home ground to FCT Abuja for three home matches. The committee fined Avalon FC N100,000 payable to the NNWL1.
The committee noted that the submitted claim of Bida Lions FC, adding that the hands of the committee is tight to award the payment of any claim to Bida Lions FC considering the fact that the submitted claims had irreconcilable differences.
“The committee wishes to notify clubs appearing before it with financial claims to ensure that their claims are corroborated with sufficient and convincing evidence rather than frivolous evidence’’, it said.
On Makwada Warriors FC Vs Asa Football Academy, the committee noted that the matters as presented by ASA Football Club should be referred to the NFF Organizing Committee.
In attendance are Musa Amadu, Esq (Chairman), Prof. Olufemi Adegbesan (Vice-Chairman), Chike Onyeacho, Esq. Adamu Sani Osmond Esq, Kevin Omoujine, Esq, Damon Nandam Dashe, Esq, Christian Emeruwa, Ph.D
