The Director of Football, Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC, Alloy Chukwuemeka, has said that the decision of the Organising and Disciplinary (O&D), Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation was not in the best interest of the game.
Chukwuemeka told journalists at his Toprank hotel in Abuja that he was reliably informed that while the disciplinary committee sat in Abuja, the verdict was written from Government house in Abeokuta.
He recalled why the entire members of the Ogun state executive council, the speaker and all members of the Ogun state house of Assembly with over 800 delegates stormed Ilorin last Sunday for the aborted match.
He added that the verdict of the disciplinary committee were taken outside the provision of the NNL rules, and that the only reference made to the rules in article 4.2 (1) was grossly misinterpreted.
He expressed fear that a bad precedent may have been set if the judgement stands, as any visiting club could refuse play on ground of flimsy security reason and the match must be replayed.
The Director of football explained that the Gateway officials admitted in writing even at the sitting that there was no incident of harassment before, during and after the botched match, so he wondered where the committee came about intimidation and harrasment of the visitors who never complained of any assault.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Premier League Club Owners, buttressed the point that the verdict was a hatchet job greased by the Gateway Utd FC, as the committee ordered for the change of match officials who never officiated the match nor found wanting in officiating.
Chukwuemeka said his club reserved the right to throw it's gate open for free to fans, or reduce the gate fees or even increase it depending on the nature of the match, hence he wondered why the amount of gate fees for a match could be used as a basis to order a replay of a walked over match.
He said the article 4.2 (1) quoted in the judgment says 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 in addition to all reasonable expenses incurred by the opponent. If the match is rescheduled the erring club shall pay all expenses in respect of the match.
Chukwuemeka then queried why Gateway FC was not asked to pay all expenses incurred for the botched match on Sunday to his club.
After the Ogun Commissioner's action in Ilorin on Sunday, he wondered why the committee set aside article 1.9(3) of the NNL rule book which says Top Government functionaries viz – Commissioners, Special Advisers, etc shall not be part of club management and shall not be part of day to day running of the club.
He expressed worry why the committee did not consider article 3.4(1) before arriving at its judgment which says a minimum of 50 law enforcement agents must be present before the start of any game. However, Match Commissioners may commence matches if satisfied with the security available on ground.
He also reminded Nigerians what article 4.2(10) says which states that on no account must a club refuse to play a scheduled match on grounds of inadequate security if the appointed match officials are satisfied with the security arrangement. Any club violating this Article shall be liable to a fine of N500,000.00 to be paid within 14 days and 3 points 3 goals shall be awarded to their opponents, but noted that the committee set aside this.
The Director of football who was visibly shedding tears described the disciplinary committee verdict as a rape on football rules, setting a bad precedent, great injustice, highly insensitive, absurd, and great disservice to the development of football in the country.
Reports say a meeting of the management of ABS was going on in Abuja to consider the next line of action, either to appeal or accept the disciplinary committee's verdict.
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