Dr. Felix Owolabi has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC), to call Chris Giwa to order.
Giwa, who is the owner of Giwa FC, is fighting to take over the leadership of the NFF from Amaju Pinnick and recently obtained an order by a Jos Court, to resume as the substantive president of the federation.
Owolabi was, however, reacting to Giwa FC’s failure to show up for their Week 14 fixture against Wikki Tourists in Ilorin, where the club had been banished to, following their fans’ attack on match officials in a game against Enugu Rangers.
Giwa FC also refused to honour the remaining 16 minutes of the match against Rangers in Abuja.
“The question is what did the rules say when we have such situation on our hand? If the decision to banish them to Ilorin was in the rules, I think all he should have done was to appeal the decision, but for keeping silent, it means they have accepted the decision,” Owolabi said.
“Their failure to follow the verdict, the next line of action as stated by the rule book must be applied. “We must not lay a bad precedent that might affect the league in the future. Any team that failed to follow the rules must be severely punished.”
According to Article 13.27 of the NPFL Framework and Rules, “if a club fails to honour two consecutive matches without an acceptable reason to LMC such club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled.”
Also, Article 13.28 stated that “if a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the League season without an acceptable reason to the LMC such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled.”
Owolabi added: “The LMC should allow the hammer of law to fall on the team for failing to play the two games. They have to be consistent with their decision making so that the case of favouritsm will not come up.
“If you give a verdict today and it was not obeyed by the party involved, if such happen in the nearest future and you decided to apply same rule, people will remind you of your inconsistency years back and that might lead to anarchy.”
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