NFF crisis: Giwa slams FIFA, dissolves state FAs

Factional President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Giwa, has taken a swipe at world soccer ruling body, FIFA while maintaining that he is not ready to back down on his ambition to take over the Glass House.

Giwa said that FIFA was being hypocritical, insisting that there are substantial provisions in the world football governing body’s statutes that allow for civil court’s intervention in football matters.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Giwa said, “Article 1.1 of FIFA Statute and Article 1.1 of NFF Statute are very clear. Both organisations admitted to subservience to national laws of nations. In FIFA’s case, they agreed to be subservient to Swiss laws and the NFF to Nigerian laws.

“There are several cases where civil issues in the management of football have gone to courts. The most recent is that of Egypt where a court also sacked the FA which has been obeyed.

“However, FIFA’s letter of yesterday (Monday) demanded if such provision was provided in our Statute. In respect of Article 1.1 of both FIFA and NFF, they were provided for. It states: Nigeria Football Federation is a private organisation of an associative nature in compliance with the laws of Nigeria. It is formed for an unlimited period.

Read also: NFF Crisis: Dalung faults Giwa’s appointments

“The court was our last resort as respectable citizens of this nation. We had patiently followed all the laid down processes. We got the orders of the court and that gave us the rights and the power to do what we are doing. Today, the law of the land is on our side. We had come to equity and our hands are clean.

Meanwhile, Giwa has dissolved the States Football Association board while condemning the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung’s comments on his decision to make some appointments without waiting for the outcome of the appeal filed by the Amaju Pinnick’s board.

“He (Dalung) is a party to the suit and having dropped the Tweets on his Twitter handle, we are aware of his statement,” Giwa added.

“All state Football Associations stand dissolved. Existing board members in the states are free to re-contest their positions.

“There shall be an Extra-Ordinary Congress of the appointed state caretaker committee in Abuja on Wednesday where decisions shall be reached and communicated to the nation in due course”, he said.

While Giwa was addressing the press, NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick and Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko, were at the Africa Women Championship qualifier match where the Super Falcons defeated Senegal in Abuja.

 

 

 

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