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NFF Crisis: FIFA reiterates intention to ban Nigeria on Monday

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World football governing body, FIFA, has further reminded the leadership of sports in Nigeria of its decision to suspend the country from football activities.

The Bureau of the FIFA Council had in a media statement on its official website on Tuesday given the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) till August 20, 2018 to resolve its leadership issues or face a ban.

The soccer body reiterated its stance on the ultimatum in a letter addressed to Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who had requested to visit Fifa’s offices in Switzerland for the purpose of discussing the crisis rocking Nigeria’s football.

The Nigerian embassy in Switzerland had on behalf of the Minister written the letter requesting the meeting, but FIFA, in a letter signed by general secretary, Fatma Samoura, turned down the request citing that the president Gianni Infantino is indisposed at the moment.

Read Also: NFF Crisis: FIFA may ban Nigeria next week

“We refer to the correspondence dated 15 August 2018 from Ambassador of Nigeria in Switzerland, H.E Baba Madugu, the contents of which have received our full attention,” reads the letter from FIFA.

”In this respect, while we are of the seriousness and urgency of the matter, we regret to inform you that we are not in a position to respond favourably to your request for an appointment. Intact, the FIFA president is indisposed during the proposed period.”

The NFF has been experiencing some trying times lately as Amb. Chris Giwa and his collaborators have twice invaded the Glass House with the backings of orders from local courts – a development that is against FIFA laws.

FIFA also stated in the letter: “Moreover, we would like to recall that one member of the proposed delegation, Mr Chris Giwa, is currently under a worldwide ban, in accordance with the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee dated 10 January 2017 to extend to the five-year ban from taking part in any football-related activity imposed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee on 12 May 2016.

“In this context, we would like to seize this opportunity to remind you as the per the decision rendered by FIFA’s bureau of the council on 13 August 2018. In the event, the NFF offices are not handed back to the legitimate NFF under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick by Monday, 20 August, 2018 at 12.00 (CET), the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect for contravening binding obligations of the FIFA statues.

“The suspension would only be lifted once the NFF, under Amaju Melvin Pinnick and general secretary, Mohammed Sanusi confirm that they were given back the effective control of the NFF and its offices.”

 

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