Nigerian Football face suspension from FIFA
In Europe and especially in England when the national team drops out of the FIFA World Cup, normally the team and manager face the repercussions by being axed or dropped.
But in Nigeria things are a lot more drastic. Nigeria were knocked out of the World Cup in the first stage yet again, and after that the country’s president Goodluck Jonathan announced that he is suspending his team from international football for at least 2 years. However, according to FIFA rules they are not allowed to do that and if the self imposed ban is not lifted by Nigerian president, Nigerian Football may face suspension from FIFA.
Jonathan’s wrath also fell on the football association and he dissolved the entire board and put in an interim board to run the federation. Although FIFA rules clearly specify that a country’s government should not be involved directly in the operations of the football body and following the actions of Nigerian government FIFA has the right to suspend the national football team from the international football federation.
Nicolas Maingot who is the communication director for FIFA said that, FIFA have reacted promptly and have sent an official warning letter to Nigerian government. FIFA has given them till 6 pm Monday to withdraw the suspension imposed on Nigerian football that would see them miss FIFA and CAF tournaments in next 24 months.
Nicolas added that if they fail to comply NFF will be suspended, and the interim federation set up by the government will also not be recognized by FIFA.
Dr Amos Adamu (also from Nigeria) who is a member of FIFA’s executive committee will be heading to Nigeria on Monday, for a last ditch effort to have talks with Nigerian government.
Nigerian presidential adviser Ima Niboro said that the president has the interest of Nigerian football at heart, and he only made that decision to buy some time and get things in order at the back end of football in Nigeria.
Niboro added that the President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered that the national team should not be part of any international competition for next 2 years, and intends to make several changes in the board and the team.
It is not just FIFA who have reacted strongly against the decision by the Nigerian president, Nigerian Football Supporters Club, has also condemned the action and have said that such drastic measures will never help Nigeria football. In fact it will push them further down. NFSC said in a statement that the team needs to play as much of international football as they can, as that is the only way for a team to improve. The statement went on to say that self imposed ban will do no good to the team and neither will it improve the NFF in any way.
NFSC chairman Otunba Yisa said that a good solution and a midway ground could have been to let go of some of the senior players, and blood in new talent. Making them play a number of international friendly matches which will give them more exposure to international football and will improve their game.
The new Nigerian Football Federation’s chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima said that the government only acted on the consensus of football fans from all over the country. According to the chairman Super Eagles had been underperforming for a long period now and it was high time that some drastic actions were taken.
Now Monday will be a defying day in Nigerian football, should the government accept the FIFA warning it will all go back to normal. But if they decide to stick with the ban on the national team, Nigerian football should brace themselves for some serious actions by FIFA.
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