General

FIFA sets new deadline for NFF to avoid ban

September 3, 2014 8:06 pm

FIFA have set a new deadline of September 8 for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to end the crises engulfing it, otherwise the country will automatically be suspended from all games and events.

FIFA’s full statement on its site reads:

“Following the decision by the FIFA emergency committee, FIFA has today, September 3, 2014, sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirming that the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect should there still be persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on August 26, 2014, and occupying their offices on Monday, September 8, 2014, at 08.00 (Central European Time).

“The decision follows events linked to the NFF general assembly held on August 26, 2014. While the said general assembly was duly convened by the NFF executive committee to adopt a new roadmap leading to the NFF elections, some members proceeded to hold elections in the absence of the NFF president, who was being held by security forces for questioning.

“In a letter sent on August 29, 2014, FIFA confirmed that it would not recognise the results of the aforementioned elections and that the matter would be brought to the respective FIFA bodies should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on September 1, 2014. On expiry of the deadline, some people were still claiming to have been elected and were occupying the NFF premises.

“Given the current circumstances, the FIFA emergency committee has decided to set a new deadline of September 8, 2014, at 08.00 CET. Should the new deadline not be respected, the NFF will be automatically suspended until the board claiming to be elected vacates the premises of the NFF and the NFF general secretary is able to perform his work without interference.

“The NFF executive committee, as it was composed on August 25, 2014, meaning under the presidency of Aminu Maigari, should then convene as soon as possible a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF office-bearers.”