The Organising and Disciplinary Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it will not rescind its decision to annul the result of the Spotlight FC versus Plateau United match.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee’s decision led to the promotion of Adamawa United FC to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The decision had catapulted the Yola side from the Nigeria National League (NNL) ahead of rivals Plateau United FC of Jos.
Plateau United had beaten hosts Spotlight FC 2-1 in Katsina to end the season on 29 points with Adamawa United who defeated hosts Supreme Court FC in Abuja same day.
Plateau United had however topped the group with superior goals difference.
Adamawa United had, however, protested to the NFF that the match in Katsina did not start on time contrary to NNL’s decision that both matches be played simultaneously.
Iyke Igbokwe, Vice-Chairman of the committee, told NAN in Abuja on Tuesday that pieces of evidence gathered against the match were too serious to be ignored.
He said the clubs would be informed about the decision once the NFF Executive Committee gives its approval.
“What happened is that some of these clubs want to be smarter than their shadow. The league body had ordered that all the last matches be played simultaneously at all venues.
“But some clubs delayed their own matches so that they can hear the result of other clubs before they finish their own. That is wrong.
“In this Spotlight FC versus Plateau United match, the officials of that match collaborated with Plateau United to delay that match and they came to tell us that the match started by4 p.m.
“They never knew that NNL secretly sent in the President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) to monitor the match. So, we called the match officials and they said the match started by 4 pm.
“But when we called the NNL and the NFF secret assessors, they told us that the match started around 4.10 p.m., and 4.13 p.m. respectively.
“So, at that point, whatever they played was not in conformity with what the league body asked for,’’ Igbokwe said.
He disclosed that a five-year-ban has been proposed to the NFF for the match officials to serve as a deterrent to others.
Igbokwe expressed dissatisfaction with the reason given by the match officials that the match was officiated without a timer.
He said the committee arrived at a “no replay’’ conclusion since the other match between Supreme Court and Adamawa United, which ought to go simultaneously, had been concluded.
Meanwhile, Bitrus Bewarang, the Chairman of Plateau United FC, said the club was yet to be issued any letter by the committee regarding its decision.
He said the committee’s decision was regrettable, noting that the mistake of the match officials should not be visited on his club.
“You can’t cancel a match and say the league season had been concluded. Definitely, there must be a winner and a loser, or you announce a replay. Nobody should be shortchanged.
“We are waiting for their letter, before we know the next step to follow,’’ the former Super Eagles assistant coach said.
NAN
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