Hooliganism: Wolves to take case to FIFA

Soccer hooliganism reared its ugly head in Ilorin at the weekend. An Assistant Referee in the Kwara United/Warri Wolves league match, CID Duruna was so battered that he ended up in the hospital and would be a guest of the medics for more days if not weeks.

At the close of the first half which ended goalless home fans descended on the assistant referee and pumelled badly. He was accused of bad calls and he got the beating of his life.

[caption id="attachment_412016" align="alignright" width="250"] BATTERED... Durunna[/caption]

Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi who was visiting his home state was at the stadium to watch the game. He had initiated the reformation going on now in the Nigerian league and his aides say he watches league matches any time it is possible for him to do so. What happened was, therefore, a huge disappointment to him.

We gathered that his presence at the stadium in Ilorin, however, saved the life of Duruna. The minister intervened and was said to have rescued the referee from further ordeal. Alex Chukwuemeka, the Secretary of the Club Owners Association was also said to have assisted in rescuing the referee who was wounded in the head, lip and a tooth smashed. “He may not be able to eat meet for a long time,” a league official joked.

The centre referee was said to have taken to his heels and refused to start the second half when he saw what was happening to his assistant referee. And Duruna was already in the hospital.

“We must join hands to put a stop to soccer hooliganism in Nigeria,” Delta State FA Chairman, Amaju Pinnick said, adding “Kwara defeated Lobi, Sharks and Heartland all in away matches and hell was not let loose. This is a minus to what the minister has been doing on the league.”

Julius Ogunro, the Personal Assistant to the minister tersely said that “the minister is not happy about what happened in Ilorin.”

“We want the League Management Company to take action. They will be encouraging hooliganism if they don’t take drastic measures against the incident,” Etu Moses, the spokesman of Warri Wolves said.

Surprisingly, Wolves were asked yesterday to report to Ilorin to replay the match. Amaju reacted this way: ‘’The rules must be applied to the letter. We will not replay that match. We are ready to take this case to CAF and FIFA. If that will be our contribution to the development of our league it will feel good.

This cannot happen in decent climes and football countries. We should be awarded the match. Our football cannot develop this way. It is not about Warri Wolves. It is about Nigerian football. And it is on this basis that we are ready to go to any length for justice to reign.’’

 

 

FIFA appoints Bassey to preside over Tunis war

Respected Nigeria official, Etubom Paul Bassey, has been appointed by world football-governing body, FIFA, as Match Commissioner for the potentially-explosive 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Tunisia and Cape Verde in Tunis on Saturday, 7th September.

Until a couple of weeks ago, the match was set to be a non-issue, but after FIFA penalised Equatorial Guin ea for fielding an ineligible player in their qualifying matches against Cape Verde, the Portuguese Island off the west coast of Africa gained three valuable points and moved into a position in which they are mathematically capable of overtaking Tunisia and earn the pool’s ticket into the 10-team final
elimination round.



With seven points to Tunisia’s nine, the Blue Sharks will depose the Carthage Eagles and jump into the pot for the Draw that takes place in Cairo on 16th September, if they win at the November 7 Stadium, Rades, outside Tunis.

Cape Verde made a sensational debut at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, reaching the tournament quarter finals at the expense of Angola, and had   naivety to blame for their defeat to
Ghana’s Black Stars.

The centre referee for the game is Gambian Bakary Papa Gassama, to be assisted by Eritrean Angesom Ogbamariam (Assistant Referee 1), Rwandan Felicien Kabanda (Assistant Referee 2) and another Gambian, Maudo Jallow as 4th Official.

FIFA lifts suspension of Cameroon’s Football Association

Abuja - The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has lifted its suspension of the Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT), given that the conditions previously set have been met.

A statement on the Website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday read that FIFA took the decision on Monday, July 22.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that FIFA had on July 4 suspended FECAFOOT with immediate effect over government’s interference.

In view of this, FIFA’s Emergency Committee had set up a normalisation committee, to revise the FECAFOOT statutes and organise elections for new officials by March 31, 2014

The statement added that the normalisation committee that was appointed has since resumed its duties at the FECAFOOT headquarters.

It added that FECAFOOT’s clubs, officials and other representatives can immediately resume their activities, which had been interrupted

``As requested by the FIFA Emergency Committee, the normalisation committee appointed on July 20, has taken up its duties on July, 22 at the FECAFOOT headquarters, with FIFA and CAF observers present.

``The lifting of the suspension means that FECAFOOT’s clubs, officials and other representatives can immediately resume their activities, which had been interrupted.

``The same applies for the resumption of the courses and various programmes provided by FIFA, CAF and other member associations.

``FIFA and CAF will continue to closely monitor the situation, particularly in relation to the revision of the FECAFOOT statutes,’’ the statement added. (NAN)