commissioners , officials get
life bans
THE Organising and Disciplinary
Committee (O &D) of the Nigeria
Football Federation ( NFF ) has
placed a life ban on four clubs –
Plateau United Feeders, Akurba
FC of Nasarawa , Police Machine
FC of Adamawa and Babayaro FC
of Gombe – their owners and
officials involved in the 146 -goal
match - fixing scandal that rocked
Nigerian football a fortnight ago .
The high nature of the score line ,
which occurred during qualifying
matches for the Nigeria
Nationwide League , attracted
global attention including that of
the Federation of International
Football Associations , (FIFA) .
In a chat with the media in Abuja
yesterday, 1 st Vice President of
the Nigeria Football Federation
( NFF ) Mike Umeh, who doubles as
the Chairman of the NFF O &D,
said: " It was embarrassing to the
nation hence the strong stance
the committee has taken. "
" I was visibly shaken by the
incident when I was informed and
promptly directed that the four
teams at the center of the
scandal be grounded , pending
further sanctions on all involved.
" It is unacceptable . This is a
scandal of huge proportions . After
thorough investigations, it has
been discovered that all four
clubs deliberately engaged in the
fraud .
" We had invited all four clubs but
only Aruba FC and Plateau United
Feeders showed up. It was no
doubt a fraudulent conspiracy
among the teams . The winners
were desperate to win while the
losers were also desperate to
lose .
" We are recommending the
immediate ban of all four clubs
for a period of ten years . The
captain of Aruba FC, who
deliberately scored two own
goals , will serve a life ban .
" Similarly , the match
commissioners and officials have
been banned for life for their part
in this show of shame," Umeh
disclosed .
Club owners and their
administrative staff were also not
spared by the Disciplinary
Committee as they all got life
bans .
" We are also recommending the
life ban of the owners of the four
clubs : Plateau United Feeders ,
Akurba FC, Nasarawa, Police
Machine FC, Adamawa and
Babayaro FC, Gombe for their
part in the scam.
" In the same vein , we are
recommending sanctions for
Nationwide League Board
Member , Mr Tanko Bawa because
he was found wanting in the
whole drama , but we are leaving
his case to be decided by his
board , " Umeh explained .
Umeh also said that the names of
all the culprits would be
published and given to the
appropriate authorities for
enforcement .
" This life ban would not be like
others because we are going to
publish the names of all the
culprits together with their
pictures . We will scan all their
details and give it to all the
leagues . The country was really
embarrassed by this , so we are
taking it very seriously and will
spare no resource to enforce it to
the letter, " Umeh concluded .
In a mind- boggling show never
previously witnessed in Nigerian
football , Plateau United Feeders
somehow manufactured a 79- 0
victory over Akurba FC while
Police Machine FC demolished
Babayaro FC 67- 0 .
All teams were involved in
promotion play -offs in which the
winners would qualify to play in
Nigeria Nationwide League
Division 3.
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