The world soccer governing body, Fifa, has again threatened to sanction Nigeria, should it implement the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State which sacked the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
FIFA, in a letter signed by Fifa acting Secretary General, Markus Kattner
and addressed to Amaju Pinick, chairman of the sacked NFF board, noted that implementing the Jos Court ruling would amount to interference in the internal affairs of the NFF.
Recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, had last Friday ruled in favour of the 2014 ruling by Justice Ambose Allagoa, annulling the Warri Congress that produced the Amaju Pinnick-led Board of the NFF.
Fifa in a letter emailed to Pinnick, dated April 11, 2016, noted that Chris Giwa’s petition to the Court of Arbitration on Sports, CAS, had since been dismissed.
Kattner in the letter warned that appropriate Fifa authorities might invoke relevant sanctions which may include suspension of NFF from Fifa activities should the Nigerian Government go ahead to implement the Jos Court ruling.
“We acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated 8 April 2016 with regard to the ruling of the Federal High Court in los which apparently nullified the elections of 30 September 2014 of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
“In this respect, and first of all, we would Iike to remind you that according t0 articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes, all members associations have t0 manage their affairs independently and with no
influence from third parties In addition and according to article 68 of the FIFA Statutes, recourse to ordinary courts of Iaw is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations.
“Furthermore, it is the duty of each member association to ensure that these provisions are implemented by its members and possibly take sanctions against those which fail to respect these obligations.
“In view of the above, the decision of the Federal High Court in Jos, if implemented, would likely be considered as an interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.
“Lastly, we would like to stress that the plaintiff in question already filed an appeal in relation to the same matter with the highest judicial Sport authorities, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and that said appeal was dismissed by the CAS on 18 May 2015,” Kattner said in the letter.
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