ABUJA – The Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Tuesday upturned the decision of the match officials, which awarded the maximum three points to Giwa FC against Nembe City.
Match officials in the week 18 fixture in Jos had awarded three points and three goals to Giwa FC in the absence of Nembe.
The bus conveying the Nembe team to Jos for the game had broken down in Enugu and made it impossible for the club to honour the match.
Iyke Igbokwe, the Chairman of the committee told NAN after its meeting that the match officials took their decision ignorantly.
According to Igbokwe, “Article 39.29 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rules is clear on this matter, which stipulates that such match will be replayed the next day, if a team has problems on their way to honour a match.
He said that rule was not applied in the case of Giwa versus Nembe match.
“The match official did the walkover in spite the Nembe’s effort to send an official to the match venue before the commencement of the game.
“So, we have ordered a replay of that match; the LMC should organise the league match as they organise other matches,’’ he added.
The meeting also took a decision on the Nigeria National League (NNL) game between Remo Stars and Stationary Stores of Lagos.
Three players of Remo who allegedly assaulted the referees who handled the match were unbanned after serving out their seven match ban.
Igbokwe also said they were unbanned after their letters of remorse to the NNL were considered.
He said that Stores would be asked to provide the supporters that attacked an Assistant Referee for disciplinary actions to be taken on them.
Also, FRSC FC were fined N200, 000 for their fans’ attempt to beat up match officials in their match against Wikki Tourist in Bauchi which ended 0-0 in Keffi, Nasarawa.
The Road Safety team were also warned to desist from such act in the future.
The protest brought by Yobe Desert Stars against Learning FC of Jos was thrown out for lack of merit.
Also, Yobe’s red card appeal on its player in their match against Court of Appeal was rescinded.
Igbokwe told NAN that a referee had given a red card to a Yobe player, who did not play the match and it was clear that the player in question did not play in the encounter.
“The centre referee made an innocent mistake on the advice of the reserve referee, whom he depended on to give him the correct jersey number of the player he gave a red card.
“So, having seen the clear evidence and facts on ground, we awarded the result of the match to Desert Yobe Stars,’’ he added.
The disciplinary committee, however, upheld the NNWL decision banishing Ogbomosho FC to Benin after a case was established that they assaulted match officials in their match against Grey International.
Ogbomosho FC were also ordered to pay the expenses of the match officials they injured.
The committee also upheld the NNWL decision on report of the match between Wunti FC and El-Kanemi babes which also involved assault on match officials.
Three cases were adjourned for further investigation out of the 10 that were looked into.
Among them were the cases involving Plateau United FC against Mighty Jets of Jos and the DSS FC of Kaduna against Ranchers Bees, for allegedly fielding ineligible players.
Igbokwe said the cases were adjourned to give room for thorough investigation.
“What we try to do at the disciplinary committee is to ensure that those rules that they made for themselves are applied to the later.
“No father will kill a son for making a mistake, but to correct, teach and educate him on the rules of the game and then punish where necessary.
“This is to serve as deterrent to future offenders, because it is said that you don’t spare the rod to spoil the child.
“It is a service to Nigerian football; if you are chosen out of a million to serve the nation, then you should do your best. (NAN)
