NFF Drama 3: Fifa Rejects August 26 Poll, Warns Nigeria Toy With Another Ban

Fifa has again warned Nigeria to move in time to avoid successive suspensions in less than two months.

In a letter dated Friday, August 29 and signed by Fifa secretary general, Jerome Valcke, Fifa said it do not recognise the election of Tuesday, August 26, which ushered a Chris Giwa-led executive into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offices, despite receiving “the ministry of sports recognition”.

The world football governing body warned the outcome of the aforementioned election be disregarded, adding the Giwa-led ExCo vacate the NFF elective positions before midnight on Monday, else face another Fifa hammer.

“We will not recognise the outcome of the abovementioned elections and should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on Monday 1 September 2014, we will bring the case to the appropriate Fifa body for sanctions, which may include the suspension of the NFF,” read the letter addressed to the NFF secretary general Musa Amadu.

Nigeria Football Federation Could Be Banned for a Second Time in Less Than Two Months.

Giwa and his executives resumed office a day after the controversial election before paying a courtesy visit to the minister of sport Tammy Danagogo, who endorsed their election.

The immediate consequence of a Fifa ban on Nigeria would mean Nigeria will not be able to carry on with preparations for next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers and automatically forfeits the right to defend the title it won in 2013.

This has created much “uncertainty” in the Nigeria football clime, with league matches across the country suspended till further notice after, referees, club managers and players agreed to boycott until “sanity is restored”.

In the letter, Fifa also accepted the decision of the majority congress, where 39 out of 44 members have resolved at an ad hoc general assembly for NFF ExCo elections to now take place on September 4.

Fifa previously suspended the NFF following direct interference by government, after a court sitting in Jos sacked the duly elected NFF executive committee led by Aminu Maigari, while the sports minister subsequently appointed a civil servant to head the federation as sole administrator.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..