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FIFA Suspension: Sport Journalists Say It’s Unjustifiable

Renowned sports journalists have reacted to the  suspension given to Nigeria by  FIFA, on what the governing body has termed as  ”government interference” in the … Continue reading FIFA Suspension: Sport Journalists Say It’s Unjustifiable


deji omptoyiboRenowned sports journalists have reacted to the  suspension given to Nigeria by  FIFA, on what the governing body has termed as  ”government interference” in the country’s football administration.

The sports ambassadors,  Deji Omotoyinbo, Bimbo Adeola and Harry Iwuala, who were guests on Sunrise, on Saturday, agreed that the government will continue to have a say in the management of football in the Nigeria since it provides funds for the sport.

On the suspension, they believe the sport ministry and the football administrators should be blamed as the same scenario plays out every four years in which the country is embarrassed with the crisis that results into FIFA sanctioning the country.

‘’The thing is embarrassing because every four years we come to this circle as government and the people they use to topple themselves, don’t take any learning from this’’. Harry Iwuala said

‘’You get in there and begin to think you are well seated, not wanting any other person to come in which eventually invites the government to come in again to cause a lot of ruckus, embarrass themselves and the country’’.  Harry declared

On the interference, Iwuala said government must find a nicer way of   being in control, not the juxtapose style arrest basically with due process.

On his part, sports commentator, Deji Omotoyinbo, described the issue as a ‘’storm in a teacup’’ as the trend, unsurprisingly, is the same every four years and unfortunately for Nigeria it usually comes up after a World Cup year because the four year cycle of the NFF ends at the World Cup.

He is of the opinion that FIFA and CAF is not under any government as they are a government to themselves so they can say they don’t want any interference in the affairs of their affiliates from that perspective.

He, however, noted, that technically speaking, the affiliate bodies operate in countries that are governed by the rule of law and as such, are subject to the laws of the land.

‘’Take Nigeria for instance, where what is being done to other sports is criminal as football get a monthly subvention of a hundred and fifty million naira every month apart from what is derived from competitions’’.

While not defending the government that sometimes does things wrongly, Omotoyibo insisted that FIFA is saying that their affiliate bodies can be protected from any probe in their country even when they (the bodies) depend on their government for funds.

He said if FIFA does not want interference in certain parts of the world, then they should fund their affiliate bodies completely as anyone who wants to force themselves into the football body(ies) will still go back to the same government to collect money and they (the government) have a right to ask questions on how the money is used.

On if the NFF is autonomous, the sports journalists said there is no such thing as autonomy as they get their funds which is budgeted for and approved by the National Assembly and are expected to be accountable.

On the solution, Bimbo Adeola said the government should just hands off football if the obnoxious FIFA statute, as it relates to Africa continues, so that football will fund itself as so much money is not accounted for.

‘’Nigeria Football Federation is the only organization I know of in the world where US$90,000 develop wings and fly, where $250,000 is missing in their vault in their office and nothing happens, nobody goes to jail for it and they go to competitions with their cronies on the bill of Nigeria and nobody bats an eyelid ’’. Bimbo Adeola declared.

On if football can fund itself in Nigeria, Deji Omotoyinbo, said it is possible as the league attracts a decent sponsorship from corporate bodies adding that all the country ought to do is to develop domestic football.

They concluded that people who are professionals with a track record should be given the opportunity to manage the affairs of football in Nigeria effectively.