FIFA Warns Nigeria Again
WORLD football body, FIFA, has asked Nigeria to ensure that the August 21 election date into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) holds, adding that the two suspended chairmen of state's football Associations should be re-instated.
In the event of failure to do this, FIFA will invoke the relevant section of its statutes place sanction on Nigeria.
In a letter dated 29th July 2010, and signed by FIFA's Deputy Secretary General, Markus Kattner and addressed to the Interim President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, the world body hinted that it had been briefed on moves by Nigerian politicians to influence the outcome of the August 21 elections.
''We have learnt that the Nigeria governmental authority are meddling in the internal affairs of the NFF and that they might try to interfere with the upcoming elections of the new NFF board. We refer to the removal of two state chairmen football associations by the governmental authorities and to the alleged intention to postpone the elections schedule for 21 August 2010,'' stated the letter.
Kattner reminded Nigeria of previous correspondences where it had warned of the consequences of interference of a third party and advised that the road map leading to the elections in accordance with the NFF statutes, be followed.
''As such, the removed chairmen must be re-instated in their functions and the elections must take place on 21 August 2010 as established ny the NFF Executive Committee and formally approved by the NFF Congress on 9 July 2010.''
Failure to do these, Kattner wrote that Nigeria will be sanctioned in compliance with article 13 par. 1g and the article 17 of the FIFA statutes.
''For this reason, we kindly ask you to take all relevant steps with government officials in order to avoid a potential crisis and its adverse consequencies on football activities in Nigeria,'' concluded the letter.
In the event of failure to do this, FIFA will invoke the relevant section of its statutes place sanction on Nigeria.
In a letter dated 29th July 2010, and signed by FIFA's Deputy Secretary General, Markus Kattner and addressed to the Interim President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, the world body hinted that it had been briefed on moves by Nigerian politicians to influence the outcome of the August 21 elections.
''We have learnt that the Nigeria governmental authority are meddling in the internal affairs of the NFF and that they might try to interfere with the upcoming elections of the new NFF board. We refer to the removal of two state chairmen football associations by the governmental authorities and to the alleged intention to postpone the elections schedule for 21 August 2010,'' stated the letter.
Kattner reminded Nigeria of previous correspondences where it had warned of the consequences of interference of a third party and advised that the road map leading to the elections in accordance with the NFF statutes, be followed.
''As such, the removed chairmen must be re-instated in their functions and the elections must take place on 21 August 2010 as established ny the NFF Executive Committee and formally approved by the NFF Congress on 9 July 2010.''
Failure to do these, Kattner wrote that Nigeria will be sanctioned in compliance with article 13 par. 1g and the article 17 of the FIFA statutes.
''For this reason, we kindly ask you to take all relevant steps with government officials in order to avoid a potential crisis and its adverse consequencies on football activities in Nigeria,'' concluded the letter.
