For the umpteenth time this year the world football
governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria a deadline to avoid
suspension from international football.
Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou,
has warned that Nigeria is in danger of being banned by
FIFA by Monday (today) after a court sacked the recently
elected Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee.
Indeed, it was explained that the Super Falcons were
allowed to play the AWC final match against Cameroon on
Saturday after a plea was made to FIFA executives led by
Sepp Blatter.
Last Thursday, the Federal High Court sitting in Jos gave a
ruling setting aside the NFF elections of September 30 in
Warri which had ushered in the new Exco. The court ruling
has angered FIFA officials who had warned that the country
would be banned if there were any further interference from
any civil court on purely football matters.
Hayatou told the Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo
in Windhoek, Namibia that they were fed up with events in
Nigeria.
He said, “I (Hayatou) had to plead passionately with FIFA
President, Mr. Sepp Blatter not to take action on Nigeria on
Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African
Women Championship and a ban on your country would
have been bad for the competition and our sponsors. We all
heard the news of the court ruling on Thursday, and the
football world is angry with Nigeria. That is the truth.
“The FIFA letter that came to your Federation before the
elections of September 30 was very clear about an
automatic suspension should there be any interference
with the political process, and after the elections went
ahead, we all thought you had settled your issues.”
The PUNCH learnt that at a meeting that had in
attendance Danagogo; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to
Namibia, Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi; Nigeria’s Deputy
President of the CAF Appeal Board, Amanze Uchegbulam;
CAF General Coordinator, Paul Bassey and CAF media
committee member Aisha Falode Hayatou made it clear
that Nigeria would be suspended if there was no
improvement by the start of the week.
“I appealled to FIFA to give until Monday for Nigeria to put
its act together. After that, there is absolutely nothing I
can do. It is all very disappointing because we have over
50 national associations in Africa, but a big country like
Nigeria is the one always giving us the biggest headache.
“If Nigeria no longer wants to be part of the football world,
then so be it.”
NFF president Amaju Melvin Pinnick was stopped by
security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos on his way to Namibia on
Friday night with the sports minister.
FIFA has warned that If Nigeria gets suspended, they will
not revisit the matter until their 65th Congress on May 29,
2015.
Punching.com
governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria a deadline to avoid
suspension from international football.
Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou,
has warned that Nigeria is in danger of being banned by
FIFA by Monday (today) after a court sacked the recently
elected Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee.
Indeed, it was explained that the Super Falcons were
allowed to play the AWC final match against Cameroon on
Saturday after a plea was made to FIFA executives led by
Sepp Blatter.
Last Thursday, the Federal High Court sitting in Jos gave a
ruling setting aside the NFF elections of September 30 in
Warri which had ushered in the new Exco. The court ruling
has angered FIFA officials who had warned that the country
would be banned if there were any further interference from
any civil court on purely football matters.
Hayatou told the Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo
in Windhoek, Namibia that they were fed up with events in
Nigeria.
He said, “I (Hayatou) had to plead passionately with FIFA
President, Mr. Sepp Blatter not to take action on Nigeria on
Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African
Women Championship and a ban on your country would
have been bad for the competition and our sponsors. We all
heard the news of the court ruling on Thursday, and the
football world is angry with Nigeria. That is the truth.
“The FIFA letter that came to your Federation before the
elections of September 30 was very clear about an
automatic suspension should there be any interference
with the political process, and after the elections went
ahead, we all thought you had settled your issues.”
The PUNCH learnt that at a meeting that had in
attendance Danagogo; Nigeria’s High Commissioner to
Namibia, Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi; Nigeria’s Deputy
President of the CAF Appeal Board, Amanze Uchegbulam;
CAF General Coordinator, Paul Bassey and CAF media
committee member Aisha Falode Hayatou made it clear
that Nigeria would be suspended if there was no
improvement by the start of the week.
“I appealled to FIFA to give until Monday for Nigeria to put
its act together. After that, there is absolutely nothing I
can do. It is all very disappointing because we have over
50 national associations in Africa, but a big country like
Nigeria is the one always giving us the biggest headache.
“If Nigeria no longer wants to be part of the football world,
then so be it.”
NFF president Amaju Melvin Pinnick was stopped by
security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos on his way to Namibia on
Friday night with the sports minister.
FIFA has warned that If Nigeria gets suspended, they will
not revisit the matter until their 65th Congress on May 29,
2015.
Punching.com
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