Sofoluwe, Esu want life bans for match-fixers

The Nigeria Football Federation has been urged to deal decisively with the four amateur clubs involved in match-fixing, which produced a total of 146 goals, to serve as deterrent to other clubs in the future.

Police Machine FC from Yola obliterated Babayaro FC from Gombe by 67-0. Not to be outdone, Plateau United Feeders from Jos made it 79-0 against Akurba FC from Nasarawa.

[caption id="attachment_403251" align="alignnone" width="312"] Action recorded during a Nigerian league match[/caption]

The four teams were involved in one of eight groups in the Nigerian Amateur Division 4 play-offs, the sixth tier of domestic football in the country.

Going into the last round of games at the Bauchi centre, Police Machine and Plateau United Feeders were level on points, and goal difference was expected to determine progress.

The NFF has already placed all the clubs and match officials on suspension but speaking yesterday, former Eagles defender, Yisa Sofoluwe and Coach Godfrey Esu said that tougher sanctions should be meted out to the defaulting parties.

“This is big embarrassment to Nigeria. Those who perpetrated these acts must be banned for life”, said Esu.

For Yisa Sofoluwe, the NFF should place a life ban all the clubs, match officials and coordinators for bringing shame to Nigeria.

“It is not possible for a club to win a match 67-0. It is clear that the matches were fixed and the punishment for such an offence should be life ban.

NFF must wield the big stick this time around because our football cannot be brought to this low level of desperation and criminality”.