Enyimba Alleges NFF Disciplinary Committee of Double Standard, Threatens To Pull Out Of The League.

By Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR)

 

IFAB has its set of rules guiding the smooth running of Football across the globe. The application of it remains sacrosanct and anything outside of it regarded as outlaws and must be protested in line with the extant laws guiding the administration of football. 

This against the backdrop of two points dediction from.Enyimba against Doma United wherein Referee recorded 2-1 in favour of People's Elephants but was upturned without recourse to established laws.

One of the ardent league followers and writers who write profusely against poor officiating in Nigeria league, Sunday Agunbiade popularly known as Mr VA on Nigeria leading WhatsApp group, Sports World Platform has this to say :

"THE DECISION OF NFF DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE AGAINST ENYIMBA IS HARSH AND MUST BE PROTESTED"

"If the match between Jigawa Golden Stars  against Sporting Supreme scored through handball could be allowed to stand, why would the same NFF DC upturn the scoreline against Enyimba?"

"I think the decision taken by the NFF Disciplinary Committee against Enyimba is not only harsh, it's totally alien to every sporting rule. How could they cancel the goal scored by Enyimba and 2 points points deducted from People's Elephants "

"If I may ask, which of the IFAB rules support this decision? Is there any precedence to this decision before the committee arrived at this?

"It's time we called on the Nigeria Football Federation to always stick to standard practices in line with global best practices as inconsistencies will further put Nigerian football in sliding solitary doldrums."

"Enyimba can still protest this so as to put a check on this kind of broad day robbery. 

I stand by my submission. 

Sunday Agunbiade (Mr VAR) reacting.

Consequently, the Management of the league defending champions, Enyimba International of Aba has accused the NFF of being bias in docking the team two points in the match played against Doma United 

The NFF Disciplinary Committee has ruled that Enyimba be docked of the two points and the result remains as it was before the incident that led to the referee going to watch the replay from a Startimes OB van at the stadium. 

Enyimba in its reaction, accused  the NPFL board of trying to manipulate Enyimba results to favour some teams for continental slots. 

They said Enyimba will have no option than to boycott the league and withdraw their membership of the NPFL.

"We've never had it this bad before in this league.

" Overall, the NPFL's decision against Enyimba is detrimental to the league's reputation, competitiveness, and potential for growth. It undermines the trust and confidence that stakeholders have in the league administration and raises concern about the fairness and integrity of the competition". 

"The NPFL's decision against Enyimba is very bad for the league as charcoal turning into sugar". 

They pointed out Lack of consistency, disruption to the League, negative impact on Enyimba's reputation, discouragement for clubs and fans, Impact on league sponsorship and TV rights, as some of the negative impacts the decision will have on the league. 

Enyimba further pointed out that in their match against Katsina United, on the 17th of January 2024, the club was robbed by the match officials starting with the AR1 who is from Benue State when Andrew Idoko who's ball didn't even reach the goal line was declared as a goal by the said AR2. Enyimba never protested or fought the match officials for that ungodly football ruling.

"In the game between Enyimba and Sunshine Stars in Akure, a goal was awarded to the home side which never crossed the line just as in Kastina and yet The People's Elephants didn't complain to anybody about the official or what happened in the game". 

" In the lost against Kano Pillars, Enyimba were denied a clean penalty in the game and the club moved on without complaining about it and the outcome yet NPFL board did nothing about it. In Uyo against Akwa United, Enyimba were denied three clean penalties by the officials of the game and NPFL board did nothing about it as they support everything against Enyimba just to help any individual or state governments who pays them for results to satisfy their people". 

Enyimba went further to ask the centre referee of that match Nura Abdullahi who said he wrote his match report under duress and he knew those who force him to do that to mention them.