Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee met in Abuja Wednesday and upheld the decision of the League Management Committee (LMC) that the botched Match Day 35 fixture between Giwa FC and Nasarawa United should be played. It dismissed Nasarawa United’s appeal and ordered that the match be played on Friday, November 14 in Abuja. The Committee also upheld the NFF Disciplinary Committee’s decision on Nembe City’s appeal but reduced the ban on the club’s Coaches to the end of the season/
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee met in Abuja Wednesday and upheld the decision of the League Management Committee (LMC) that the botched Match Day 35 fixture between Giwa FC and Nasarawa United should be played. It dismissed Nasarawa United’s appeal and ordered that the match be played on Friday, November 14 at the FIFA Goal Project, Package B of the Abuja National Stadium.
The Appeals Committee noted that the match was to be played during a difficult time in Nigerian football resulting in several communication breakdowns that resulted in Giwa FC not honouring the rescheduled date for the match. In the preliminary ruling which was also upheld by the NFF Disciplinary and Organising Committee, the LMC had accepted as reasonable the defense of Giwa FC that it became aware of the communication rescheduling the fixture late.
Consequently, the Appeals Committee held that the LMC acted in fairness, good sportsmanship and in the overall interest of the League. It also ordered that Giwa FC must pay the fine of N1m as ordered by the LMC and upheld by the Disciplinary Committee, directing also that the fine must be paid before the match or Giwa FC will forfeit the three points and three goals to Nasarawa United.
The LMC had ruled in a preliminary decision of the fixture handed N1m fine on Giwa FC for not diligently following up on its earlier request for a change of date for the match scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 to Thursday, October 30 and which was granted.
The decision of the LMC was initially upheld by the Organising and Disciplinary Committee leading Nasarawa to go to the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee also ruled that LMC should write off the cost of Nasarawa United’s effort to honour the botched fixtures as ordered by the O & D.
The Appeals Committee noted that the match was to be played during a difficult time in Nigerian football resulting in several communication breakdowns that resulted in Giwa FC not honouring the rescheduled date for the match. In the preliminary ruling which was also upheld by the NFF Disciplinary and Organising Committee, the LMC had accepted as reasonable the defense of Giwa FC that it became aware of the communication rescheduling the fixture late.
Consequently, the Appeals Committee held that the LMC acted in fairness, good sportsmanship and in the overall interest of the League. It also ordered that Giwa FC must pay the fine of N1m as ordered by the LMC and upheld by the Disciplinary Committee, directing also that the fine must be paid before the match or Giwa FC will forfeit the three points and three goals to Nasarawa United.
The LMC had ruled in a preliminary decision of the fixture handed N1m fine on Giwa FC for not diligently following up on its earlier request for a change of date for the match scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 to Thursday, October 30 and which was granted.
The decision of the LMC was initially upheld by the Organising and Disciplinary Committee leading Nasarawa to go to the Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee also ruled that LMC should write off the cost of Nasarawa United’s effort to honour the botched fixtures as ordered by the O & D.
newfanzone 