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Pius Ayinor
World football governing body, FIFA, has threatened to suspend Nigeria if the current crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation is not quickly resolved.
The warning was handed out to the country on Monday via a letter sent to the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, and signed by the Acting Secretary-General of FIFA, Markus Kattner.
In the letter dated April 11, 2017, FIFA said the ruling by a Federal High Court in Jos is interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and should it be implemented, FIFA will consider suspending Nigeria.
It read in part, “In view of the above, the decision of the Federal High Court in Jos, if implemented, would likely be considered as interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.”
The email from the FIFA office in Switzerland highlighted the provisions of Article 68 of the FIFA Statutes.
“We would like to remind you that according to articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes, all member associations have to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties. In addition and according to article 68 of the FIFA Statutes, recourse to ordinary courts of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations.
“Furthermore, it is the duty of each member association to ensure that these provisions are implemented by its members and possibly take sanctions against those which fail to respect these obligations.”
The Jos court said the election of the NFF executive committee of September 2014 was null and void. It further announced it would begin hearing into the case brought against the NFF on May 30 but the board, led by Pinnick, has since said they have appealed against the decision.
On Monday also, the sports minister, Solomon Dalung, reacted to the crisis through several tweets and a press statement before the FIFA letter became public.
Dalung said in part, “The Minister also wishes to state for the avoidance of doubt that the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF has a statutory 30 days of grace to exercise its right of appeal; therefore the decision of the court will only take effect if the time for the right of appeal expired without taking advantage of appeal.”
In Abuja, there was heavy presence of policemen at the NFF secretariat. The security personnel ensured that only identifiable NFF officials were allowed into the building for their normal operations. The Chris Giwa-led group had threatened to take over the NFF office as from Monday.
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Source: Punch News
