Abandoned match: J.Atete, ABS ordered to play remaining 11 minutes

THE Nigeria Football Federation appeal committee has overturned the decision of Organizing and Disciplinary (O&D) Committee of the Nigeria National League (NNL) on the abandoned tie between J. Atete FC and ABS.

The O&D had earlier in a ruling awarded three points and three goals to ABS, but the appeal committee has asked both club to play out the remaining eleven minutes left in the game at the National Stadium Abuja on a date to be designated by the NNL Secretariat.

The match which took place at the Sapele Township Stadium was disrupted in the 77th minute when some irate fans invaded the pitch forcing the center referee to end the match with result at 1-1 at the time.

Gateway FC, Crown FC and Bayelsa Utd are the other clubs  vying for the the sole promotion ticket from the division B2.

Already the group is the last to be decided following the conclusion of other lower league groups, which has seen Remo Stars, Gombe United and Katsina United secure promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League.

FINDINGS OF NFF APPEALS’ COMMITTEE IN RESPECT OF THE APPEAL LODGED BY J. ATETE FC AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE NFF DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE MATCH BETWEEN J. ATETE FC V. ABS FC

1.  The Appeals’ Committee observed that the two clubs did not pay the protest fees of N200,000 each as confirmed by the Secretariat of the Nigeria National League. See, Art. 5.5(1), Rules and Regulations of the Nigeria National League 2015/2016. There was no basis for the Disciplinary Committee to have entertained the case.

 2. The Appeals’ Committee decided to hear the Appeal in order to do substantial justice to the case.

 3. The Match Commissioner’s Report shows that he allowed the game to commence with Nine (9) Police Personnel and as such cannot be seen to complain about inadequate security later. See Art. 3.4(1), Rules and Regulations of the Nigeria National League 2015/2016.

4. This error of judgment of the Match Commissioner led to the inability of security to control the unrest that ensued and therefore cannot be visited on any of the parties

5. The Match Commissioner and the Referee did not indicate in their various reports how long the disruption lasted, in order to trigger off the provision of Art. 4. 3(1), Rules and Regulations of the Nigeria National League 2015/2016 and the subsequent encroachment.

DECISION

1.  The decision of the Disciplinary Committee is hereby set aside.

2. Both Clubs are hereby ordered to pay the sum of N200,000 each as protest fee for the proceedings of the Disciplinary Committee on or before Tuesday, 25th October, 2016.

3. The Match of week 13 played on Saturday, 24th September 2016 between J. Atete FC and ABS FC that stopped at 79th minutes is hereby ordered to be concluded by playing the remaining eleven (11) minutes at FIFA Goal Project Pitch, Package B, National Stadium, Abuja on a date to be designated by the Nigeria National League Secretariat.

4. The remaining eleven minutes shall be officiated by new sets of match officials.

5. The Nigeria National League Secretariat shall bear the cost of the participation of the match officials and provision of security while the two (2) Clubs shall bear their respective costs.

6. There can be no appeal against this decision (Art. 70, NFF Statutes, 2010)