NFF statutes violators could face outright ban, Pinnick warns

[FILES] Pinnick. Photo: TWITTER/THENFF

Outgoing President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA council member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, at the weekend, warned that incorrigible violators of the FIFA –approved NFF statutes risk several sanctions, which could include and may not be limited to an outright ban from participation in the beautiful game.

Pinnick, who is also a member of the CAF Executive Committee, made this statement in the light of further threats by certain forces within the football ecosystem to drag Nigeria Football to court for nothing more than peaceful conduct of the 77th yearly general assembly that was held in Lagos on Thursday.

“I want to say that enough is enough. We have tolerated these individuals for much longer than necessary. I am leaving the position of NFF Presidency in a few weeks, but I am still a member of the FIFA Council and I can talk about Nigeria Football anywhere. It is time to call the bluff of these persons. Their actions not only malign and defame the NFF; they also de-market the NFF to a certain degree.

“If the NFF holds a General Assembly, they go to court. If the NFF does not hold, they go to court. Every single day, they want to go to court. It is their right, but it is also the right of the NFF to curtail such excesses. FIFA clearly stipulates that football matters are not meant for civil courts, and further infractions by anyone will be met with the stiffest of sanctions, including but not limited to outright ban from the game.”

Article 69 (1) of the NFF statutes 2010 stipulates, “NFF, its members, players, officials and match and player’s agents will not take any dispute to ordinary courts, unless, specifically provided for in these statutes and FIFA regulations. Any