FIFA Sanctions: NFF Apologises To Nigerians As Pinnick Orders Probe 

ISRAEL TAIWO 

President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick has apologised to football loving Nigerians over Tuesday’s disciplinary action FIFA handed on Nigeria for fielding an ineligible player against Algeria in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Constantine on Friday, 10th November 2017, thus awarding the match to Algeria.

A miffed NFF boss,  Pinnick has directed that an internal inquiry be instituted immediately and persons found culpable be dealt with. “We accept the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to fine the NFF and award the match to Algeria.

“However, this is a grave error and somebody must be punished. We apologize 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,” stated Pinnick

The NFF said Tuesday’s evening that before the hammer fell,  FIFA had rejected Nigeria’s defence on the issue.

However, the sanction does not in any way hurt Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, as the Super Eagles had picked the ticket from Group B ahead of the clash in Constantine.

The decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee which sat on the matter read, inter alia: “The Nigeria Football Federation is liable for having breached art.55 par.1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the 2018 Regulations of the FIFA World Cup Russia.

“The match played within the frame of the preliminary competition of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017 is declared to be lost by forfeit by Nigeria (3-0).” The NFF was also fined the sum of 6,000 Swiss Francs.

The match ended 1-1. Following the decision, Nigeria’s total points tally reduced by just one, to 13, while Algeria moved from 2 to 4 points.

FIFA had hinted the NFF about the disciplinary proceedings, following the use of defender Abdullahi Shehu in the said match. Shehu had received a yellow card in the match against Zambia in Uyo on 7th October 2017 (the match in which victory guaranteed Nigeria a place in Russia), making it a second for him in the qualifying race, following an earlier yellow card against Swaziland in the preliminary round. Traditionally, yellow cards issued in previous rounds of the qualifying race are cancelled going forward, but the principle did not apply for the latest series.