KANO PILLARS: ALL EYES ON NFF APPEALS COMMITTEE
Pillars Mounting Pressure for Judgment to be Reversed
NFF Appeals Committee in Serious DilemmaThe World Watching and Waiting
It is no more news that the Organising and Disciplinary Committee (O&D) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), having found Kano Pillars guilty of running foul of the rules, have deducted three points from the points accrued by the Sai Masugida.
It is also on record that the embattled NPFL club has appealed the judgment, calling for a reversal of the rulling of the O&D by the Appeals Committee.
However, if feelers from the camp of Kano Pillars are anything to go by, they still believe the ruling (deduction of three points from their points) can still be up turned by the Appeals Committee.
This writer, gathered from an authoritative source, that the management of Kano Pillars, led by former NFF President, Ibrahim Galadima, supported by the government of Kano State, are pulling the strings, pulling all resoorces to force a reversal of the O&D decision.
This writer reliably gathered that the Appeals Committee members are already in serious dilemma on how to go about the issue, going by the offence committed by Pillars and the overwhelming positive reactions that greeted the ruling of the O&D.
"Serious pressure is being mounted on the NFF Appeals Committee to overturn the judgment of the O&D to put Pillars in a vantage position to survive the drop as we head for the last fixtures of the season.
"As we speak, the leadership of the League Management Committee (LMC), is silently divided as few personalities are working to save Pillars from an imminent demotion, while majority are not in anyway in support of such", revealed the source.
Continuing, the source hinted. "The Appeals Committee, is in a big fix, having taking a critical look at the incidences leading to the disciplinary action taken against Pillars.
"There is no way out for Kano Pillars if normal procedures are followed and that is what has put the Appeals Committee in serious dilemma, knowing fully what the implications of a counter decision could be.
"The members of the Committee are aware that the judgment passed on Pillars by the O&D is justified, going by the fact that they are guilty in all ramifications, hence the overwhelming acceptance of the action taken against them, not only by football stakeholders but league followers home and abroad", the source added.
It will be noted that the NFF O&D, hammered. Kano Piilars with a deduction of three points from their points, in addition to other disciplinary measures after the club violated the rules having being involved in fiasco twice, first during their matchday 23 encounter against Katsina United and secondly against Dakkada FC during their rescheduled matchday 31 game.
Below is excerpts from the judgment.
"The Committee having found that Kano Pillars FC officials destroyed camera (Sony HD Full HD 1920x1080) belonging to Dakkada Int’l FC and lost valuables belonging to Uchenna Iyioke hereby activates the three (3) points suspended sentence contained in the summary jurisdiction of the League Management Company between Kano Pillars FC and Katsina United FC in matchday 23 fixtures dated the 17th day of April, 2022. Particularly paragraph 5(k) to wit: “In the event of any further similar breach of the League Rules, Kano Pillars FC shall forfeit three (3) points from the points accruing to the club in addition to any other sanctions that may be deemed appropriate”.
Based on this, it looks so diificult for the ruling to be overturned as this will amount to subversion of justice and undue favour for Kano Pillars, which will go a long way in, apart from setting a bad precedent, paint the football ruling body and the league organisers in bad colour.
The question is. Will the NFF through the Appeals Committee allows itself to be cajoled into taking a decision that could bring shame to the game in Nigeria?.
Time will tell.
OLATUNBOSUN JAMES, ENUGU
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