By Lizzy Carr
Management of Warinje Football Club of Bauchi has appealed against the decision of the Nationwide League One (NLO) that seems to disqualify it and award the match played against Berretta FC of Gombe.
The Club has cal the attention of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to intervene in order to prevent injustice against it.
It could be recall that Berretta FC of Gombe had lost the match played in Lafia by 3 goals to nil in favour of Warinje FC, but protested the result claiming that Warinje FC fielded an ineligible player in the match.
The notice of appeal reads: ‘Take Notice that the Respondent herein being dissatisfied with the decisions more particularly stated in paragraph 6 herein contained in the Decision of the Nationwide League One (NLO) on the matter between Berretta Football Club, Gombe and Warinje Football Club, Bauchi, dated 31st May 2024, do hereby appeal to the NFF Disciplinary Committee upon the grounds set out herein under following”
Part of the decision of the NLO complained of is the whole decisions contained in the decision arrived at on 31st May, 2024, NNWL/LGMT/23/111, 2024. (Berretta Football Club, Gombe and Warinje Football Club, Bauchi).
The reasons and grounds of appeal included error in law by the NLO considering (Principle of fair hearing guaranteed under section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution as severally amended) when they held without considering the response in sanctioning Warinje FC, Bauchi.
Warinje FC expressed surprise that while the appeal process has not been fully exhausted, NLO has released fixtures for the next stage of the competition which excludes it.
It therefore wants the fixtures to be halted until the outcome of the appeal is out and justice is served as required by fairness.
The Club however insisted that it did not field an ineligible player as all the due processes were followed in getting the said player to play for it in the competition.
In a letter addressed to the Operating Officer of the NLO titled ‘RE-PROTEST ON ELEGIBILITY OF PLAYER KEMIN JOSEPH WHO FEATURED FOR WARRINJE F/C AGAINST BERRETTA FC ON THE 28TH MAY, 2024.
Warinje FC wrote that, “We present to you the compliments of the Chairman Management and players of Warinje FC for the NLO by the entire management competence and smooth not limited by including that of the Coordinators”
According to the chairman and founder of Warinje FC, Abubakar A. Maiauduga, the said player is officially registered by the organizers and appropriate fees paid.
“We followed due process in registering the player which was done through the State Coordinator, Umaru Abdulmumini,and therefore urged that the Coordinator should bear the consequence, if any and not the Club.”