TheCable

The disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has overturned the verdict of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to deduct points from Remo Stars and Wikki Tourists. 

The committee overruled the decision of the league management body in a hearing at the NFF headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

On April 5, Remo Stars were sanctioned with three points and three goals deduction over the alleged assault of Ndubuisi Ukah, the referee, in the dressing room — which led to the disruption of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game against Gombe United.

IMC named Ekene Adams, Remo Stars general manager, as the alleged assaulter and thereafter banned him from all NPFL activities for the rest of the season, while the club was fined N1.2 million.

However, at the NFF hearing, the disciplinary committee adjudged that “there was no available evidence” for the alleged assault.

The body added that “the physical appearance and medical condition of Ekene as shown in the match day video — and as he appeared before the committee — revealed that he was on oxygen support and so may not have the capacity to raise a hand to hit or violently assault another as claimed by the referee”.

The committee then held that the initial ruling of points deduction is set aside. It also reduced Remo Stars’ fine to N500,000.

Similarly, on April 12, Wikki Tourists were sanctioned with three points and three goals deduction after the club fans assaulted match officials during a game against Bayelsa United.

IMC claimed that all four match officials were assaulted during the game. It added that the club was fined a cumulative sum of N2.5 million.

The NFF disciplinary committee overruled the points deduction “for the want of evidence and further confirmation via (phone calls) by the match commissioner and the centre referee wherein they stated and confirmed to the Committee that there was no assault on any match official as stated in their match reports.”

The club’s fine was also reduced to N500,000.

Wikki Tourists seat bottom of the log in Group B of the NFFL abridged league with 9 points from 14 games while Remo Stars are currently sixth in Group A of the NPFL abridged league with 21 points from 15 games.