Fielding an ineligible player a ‘grave error’, somebody must be punished -Pinnick

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has launched an inquiry to investigate the oversight that led to the fielding of an ineligle player in Super Eagles’ final World Cup qualifier.

Defender Shehu Abdullahi, who was supposed to serve a one-match suspension having earlier been shown two yellow cards in the qualifying series, played 90 minutes in the game against Algeria in November.

The NFF were Tuesday fined 6,000 Swiss Francs by the world football governing body, FIFA, and the point earned from the game which ended 1-1 was also deducted.

Following the sanction, Pinnick vowed that the error by the committee in charge will not go unpunished.

“We accept the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to fine the NFF and award the match to Algeria,” Pinnick said in a media statement released by the NFF media department on Tuesday.

“However, this is a grave error and somebody must be punished.”

Read Also: FIFA sanction NFF for fielding ineligible player against Algeria

The sanction however does not affect Nigeria’s qualification for the World Cup, and Pinnick has promised that this will not distract the Federation’s plans to ensure the Eagles perform well in Russia.

“We apologise to Nigerians for this and assure that this will not in any way derail or even distract us in our well-laid plan to ensure that the Super Eagles have a great outing in Russia.

“At the same time, I want to assure that persons responsible for this slip would not be given just a slap on the wrist. We are actually looking at a re-organization of the Technical Department.

“The Technical Committee will henceforth play serious superintending role on all details, no matter how minute, in technical matters.

“It is important that all committees and departments at the NFF should move at the same pace as the Executive Committee.”

 

 

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