FINDINGS:

1.       The Committee found out that, the match venue was overcrowded. A 32,000 capacity Stadium was said to have admitted 70,000 spectators.

2.       That Enyimba Football Club protested the award of a penalty kick in favour of Rangers International FC at the 90 + 5 minutes of play and disrupted the game.

3.       That Enyimba Football Club players, with jersey numbers 10, 27 and 6 attacked the Assistant Referee One (AR 1) when he raised up his flag to signal for a penalty kick against their club.

4.       That Enyimba Football Club supporters encroached into the field of play and chased away the match officials.

6.       That the officials of Enyimba FC admitted in evidence that the actions of their players and fans were condemnable and not too good for the promotion of football and against the spirit of sportsmanship.

DECISIONS:

Based on the above findings, the Committee decides as follows:

1.       That the Committee adopts the Summary Jurisdiction (Form 16) contained in paragraph 1 and upholds the One Million Naira (N1,000,000) fine against Enyimba FC for failure to ensure the proper conduct of their players, officials and supporters.

2.       That the Committee disagrees with the decision in Paragraph 2 of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice form 16 that the live broadcast transmission was disrupted by Enyimba FC for want of evidence. Therefore, the Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) fine imposed is hereby set aside.

3.       That the Committee disagrees with the decision in Paragraph 3 of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16 that the supporters of Enyimba FC threw objects into the field of play for lack of evidence. The one million naira (N1,000,000) fine is hereby set aside.

4.       That the Committee agrees with the decision of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16 contained in paragraph 4 against Enyimba FC for refusal to continue with the match in protest against the award of the penalty. The 3 points and 3 goals awarded in favour of Rangers International FC is hereby upheld in accordance with Article 13.26 of the NPFL Framework and Rules.

5.       The Committee upholds the fine of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) imposed on Enyimba FC for encroachment unto the field of play in accordance with Art.13.19 NPFL Framework and Rules.

6.       That the Committee agrees with the fine of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) fine imposed on Enyimba FC for the disruption and discontinuation of the match in accordance with Article 13.24 of NPFL Framework and Rules.

7.       That the above decisions are without prejudice to the right of appeal.

In attendance: Barr. J.B.C. Obikwelu (Chairman), Barr. Wole Ademoyegun (Member), Barr. Bello Galadi (Member) and Queen W. Otarakpo, Esq. (Secretary)

CASE 2

DECISIONS OF THE MEETING OF THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION (NFF) DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE HELD ON 21^ST JUNE, 2024 ON THE PROTEST LODGED BY WARINJE FC AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE NATION-WIDE LEAGUE ONE (NLO) ON THE MATCH PLAYED BETWEEN POLICE BARRETA FC VS. WARINJE FC ON THE 28^TH DAY OF MAY, 2024 AT THE LAFIA CITY STADIUM, NASARAWA STATE.

FINDINGS:

1.       The Committee found out that Warinje FC, Bauchi responded to the letter written to them by Nation-wide League One (NLO) on 30^th May, 2024 through the Bauchi State FA, the same channel by which it got the NLO letter.

2.       That Barretta FC, Gombe followed due process in protesting against the use of an ineligible player to the NLO

3.       It was discovered that the player Gwaisam Kemin Joseph (herein referred to as the player) was issued a valid player license by the NLO to play for Warinje FC, Bauchi.

4.       The NLO confirmed that its staff that was sent to the Lafia to be in charge of the registration was an NYSC Member who is inexperienced.

5.       It was discovered that the player was on loan from Gee Lec Int’l Football Academy Jos to Deluxe FC Jos of which loan agreement expired on 11^th May, 2024, and automatically returned back to the parent club at the expiration of the loan.

6.       That the player was later released to Warinje FC by the parent club Gee Lec Int’l FC on 13^th May 2024 via a clearance letter dated 12^th of May, 2024.

DECISIONS

Based on the above findings, the Committee decides as follows:

1.       That the Committee disagrees with NLO on its finding on the eligibility of Player Gwaisam Kemin Joseph as the said player was duly registered and cleared by NLO to play for Warinje FC of Bauchi through a valid Player’s License with number 10351 dated 14^th May, 2024 as certified by NLO official before the Committee.

2.       That the Committee disagrees with NLO on its decision on double registration by the player Gwaisam Kemin Joseph as he was not guilty of double registration rather a victim of complacency on the part of the NLO.

3.       That the decision imposing a ban of one (1) year by the NLO on the player is hereby set aside.

4.       That the 3 points and 3 goals deducted from Warinje FC is hereby restored.

5.       That the fine of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) imposed on Warinje FC is hereby set aside.

6.       That the NLO should always ensure due diligence in matters affecting players’ registration as the body is advised to have a centralised Database for accurate checks and balances during players’ registration.

7.       That the above decisions are without prejudice to the right of appeal.

In attendance: Barr. J.B.C. Obikwelu (Chairman), Barr. Wole Ademoyegun (Member), Barr. Bello Galadi (Member) and Queen W. Otarakpo, Esq. (Secretary)