NFF said in a statement signed by Assistant Director (Media), Ademola Olajire, that “in a mind-boggling show of shame never previously witnessed in Nigerian football, Plateau United Feeders somehow manufactured a 79-0 victory over Akurba FC of Nasarawa State, while Police Machine FC demolished Babayaro FC 67-0.”
All the four teams were involved in promotion play-offs in which the winners would qualify to play in Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3.
Chairman of the NFF Organising Committee, Chief Mike Umeh, who is also NFF 1st Vice President, was alarmed when informed and promptly directed that the teams at the centre of the scandal be suspended, pending further investigations and sanctions to be meted to those found guilty.
“It is unacceptable. This is a scandal of huge proportions. The four teams involved are suspended immediately and indefinitely, pending further sanctions. We will investigate this matter thoroughly and get to the bottom of it,” Umeh was quoted in the statement.
NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, also assured that the Organising Committee would mete out severe sanctions on all persons and institutions indicted by the investigation.
“For now, that centre referee is suspended. The teams involved, their players and officials, match officials, coordinator and anyone found to have played some role in this despicable matter would be severely dealt with,” Sanusi said.
In the same vein, the General Manager of Plateau United FC of Jos, Bitrus Bewarang, yesterday, suspended the technical crew of its Feeder team for bringing the name of the club to disrepute.
This was contained in a statement signed by the club’s Media Officer, Albert Dakup.
Bewarang said the suspension was because of the feeder team’s embarrassing conduct during the nationwide division three play-offs in Bauchi which saw the team beat Akurba FC 79-0 in the final match, adding that the result of the match is a clear case of match-fixing and the club will not be a party to it and winning at all cost.
Bewarang who is also the National President of Nigerian Football Coaches Association stated that as one of the few Nigerians championing a corrupt free league, he would not fold his hands and watch some unpatriotic individuals further drag the image of the beautiful game to the mud.
He added that Plateau United would cooperate with the NFF to unravel the mystery surrounding the outcome of the match, while the club would set up a committee to investigate the incident and punish those found wanting.
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