The Organizing and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has placed a life ban on all the four clubs, owners and officials involved in the 146 goals score line scandal of the play-off matches for the Nigeria Nationwide league.
In an interview with the media in Abuja on Monday, the First Vice President of the NFF, Chief Mike Umeh, who also serves as the Chairman of the NFF O and D Committee, condemned the incident.
Umeh said: “It was embarrassing to the nation hence the strong stance the committee has taken.
“It is unacceptable. This is a scandal of huge proportions. After thorough investigations, it has been discovered that all four clubs deliberately engaged in the fraud.
“We had invited all four clubs but only Aruba FC and Plateau United Feeders showed up. It was no doubt a fraudulent conspiracy among the teams. The winners were desperate to win while the losers were also desperate to lose.
“We are recommending the immediate ban of all four clubs for a period of 10 years. The captain of Aruba FC, who deliberately scored two own goals, will also serve his life ban.
“Similarly, the match commissioners and officials have been banned for life for their part in this show of shame.
“We are also recommending the life ban of the owners of the four clubs: Plateau United Feeders, Akurba FC, Nasarawa, Police Machine FC, Adamawa and Babayaro FC, Gombe, for their part in the scam.
“In the same vein, we are recommending sanctions for Nationwide League Board Member, Mr. Tanko Bawa, because he was found wanting in the whole drama but we are leaving his case to be decided by his board.”
Umeh also said that all the names of the culprits would be published and given to the appropriate authorities for enforcement.
He added: “This life ban would not be like others because we are going to publish the names of all the culprits together with their pictures. We will scan all their details and give it to all the leagues. The country was really embarrassed by this so we are taking it very seriously and will spare no resource to enforce it to the letter.”
In a mind-boggling show, never previously witnessed in Nigerian football, Plateau United Feeders manufactured a 79-0 victory over Akurba FC while Police Machine FC demolished Babayaro FC 67-0.
All teams were involved in promotion play-offs in which the winners would qualify to play in Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3.
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