Pinnick: Diplomacy will resolve NFF crisis

‎Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has said that though the country’s law is superior to that of world football governing body, FIFA, but because Nigeria signed off to be a member of the association, it must comply with their rules.

But he said Nigeria will employ diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

FIFA rules protect their members from government interference, and a suspension bars teams and officials from taking part in international matches and events.

According to FIFA Statutes, member associations have to manage their affairs independently and without influence of any third parties as clearly stipulated in articles 13, par. 1 and 17.

FIFA had initially threatened to sanction the country on Monday if the crisis rocking the NFF was not resolved after a high court in Jos sacked the board of the NFF, declaring illegal the election of the Pinnick-led board.

FIFA have now extended the deadline to ban Nigeria from all football competitions to Friday, October 31, 2014 and Pinnick expressed optimism that something positive will happen.

“The country is very passionate about football development. So we will do our best in making sure that we do the right thing, we do our best, taking all interests into cognizance to ensure that this does not repeat itself,” he said.

‎”It is not every four years we should keep having crisis in the NFF. We’ll perfect the legislations, the NFF Act which also says that we shouldn’t go to court; we should go to CAS if you have cases, and so on and so forth. Those are the things we are setting out to achieve.

“Normally, you are not supposed to go to ordinary court for football matters but you can go if you wish because the Nigerian law is supreme. There is no way you will relegate the Nigerian law. But because we have signed on to FIFA you are meant to respect FIFA legislations. If we had not signed on to FIFA we would say go to hell, but we have signed on to FIFA and CAF. It’s like an association you have signed on to and therefore you need to respect its laws, but not at the detriment of your own law which of course is supreme and that is why you exist.

“So, it is a situation that you have to manage tactfully and that is what we are doing; not wanting to say Nigerian laws are not important in this regard, they are. But you should look at the bigger picture. But then, I believe Giwa will see reasons why he should withdraw the case and concentrate on the one in CAS. If the one in CAS favours him, it’s his luck, but if it doesn’t then he should work with us, that’s what I told him yesterday.”

Nigeria have until 12 noon Friday to put its house in order and avoid FIFA hammer.