FIFA calls for arbitration panel to resolve NFF dispute

The world football ruling body, FIFA, has recommended the establishment of an arbitration panel to solve the disputes engulfing Nigeria football.

Tammy Danagogo, Nigeria’s sports minister, had promised to fast-track the setting of a functional Court of Arbitration for Sports in the country when he spoke to TheCable in July, 2014.

Now FIFA has reiterated the need for such a court to resolve all the disputes in Nigeria football and specifically the one that arose from the September 30 elections in Warri.

Ike Igbokwe, who contested for 1st vice president position of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the elections, submitted a request to NFF requesting for an arbitration panel to resolve issues on the election.

He was rebuffed by the Amaju Pinnick-led board.

And FIFA has said it has no authority to resolve the crisis insisting it was an internal affair and resolved to accept in entity the verdict of a ‘competent body’ set-up to rule over the appeals’ verdict against seeking redress at a regular court.

In a letter signed by FIFA’s director of legal affairs Marco Villiger and head of corporate legal Oliver Jaberg respectively, it acknowledged the receipt of Igbokwe’s letter on NFF’s rejection of its request for an arbitration panel.

“We acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated 12 January 2015, and have duly taken note of its content,” its statement made available to Goal read.

“A copy of the aforementioned correspondence is forwarded to Nigeria Football Federation for its information.

“After a thorough analysis of the facts reported in your correspondence, we have to inform you that this seems to be an internal matter, which does not come under the remit of Fifa.

“As a consequence of the above, Fifa is not in position to intervene in this matter. Finally, we kindly draw your attention to the fact that this information is only of a general nature.

“And, therefore, without prejudice to any decision that any competent body may be called to pass in this or similar matters in the future,” it concluded.

During NFF executive committee meeting on January 8, the board quashed request from Igbokwe to set-up an arbitration panel insisting ‘the majority report of the appeals committee was adopted by the executive’.

Effort to get Ademola Olajire, NFF’s assistant director of communications, to respond to the latest development proved futile.