Heavy
penalty awaits the dramatis personae in the show of shame involving four clubs
in the Nigeria Amateur League. Matches involving the clubs namely Plateau
United Feeders and Akurba FC on the one hand, and Police Machine versus
Babayaro FC on the other produced a combined record 146 goals.
The match
between Plateau Feeders and Akurba FC ended 79-0 in favour of Plateau while the
other match between Police Machine and Babayaro FC recorded a 67-0 scoreline in
favour of Police Machine.
“This is a
national disgrace of the highest proportion. We are number one in Africa and we
are held highly all over the soccer world. Why should we stoop so low? Were
they playing basketball or football?” Chief Mike Umeh, First Vice President of
the Nigeria Football Federation and a member of NFF Disciplinary and Organising
Committee asked, in a chat with Sports Vanguard.
Chief Umeh
said the D and O Committee was still expecting the match commissioner’s
report. “We are yet to get the report but I can assure you that every
individual involved in those matches; the referees, match commissioners, club
officials, players, even the state FA officials and everybody that had a role
to play in the two games have some explaining to do,” Umeh said.
He
wondered why whether match officials were sleeping when one of the matches
recorded over 50 goals in the first half alone. “In a game of 45 minutes? Is
that possible? That means they were scoring more than a goal in one minute,”
Umeh questioned.
He
explained why the football house can’t take any arbitrary decision on the
issue. “Although the four clubs and the results have been
suspended, we are yet to take the final action as regards this case. The
Amateur League has a board and not until they submit their report to the
Disciplinary and Organising Committee, there is not much we can do.
As if
echoing what chief Umeh said, NFF Director of competitions, Mohammed Sanusi
said.
“The teams
involved, their players and officials, match officials, (tournament)
coordinator and anyone found to have played some role in this despicable matter
(will) be severely dealt with.”
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