Giwa FC has been expelled by the League Management Company (LMC) for failing to honour three consecutive home games for the 2015/2016 season.
The club is owned by Giwa, who is laying claim to leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The expulsion of Giwa FC, according to the LMC, was a series of infractions.
According to the LMC, “...we recall your letters dated 25th and 28th April 2016 wherein you refused to comply with the said sanction based on a purported court order and directive from the NFF. We also recall our letters to you dated 27th and 29th April 2016, advising you that there was neither a court order nor directive from the NFF with the effect of directing your club not to comply with the said sanctions and further advising you to honour your fixture obligations. We further recall the clear warnings given to you in the said letters as well as in the respective summary jurisdiction notices, as to the implication of your failure to honour your fixture obligations. Nonetheless, you failed to honour match days 14 and 16 fixtures.
“In the present circumstances however, it would suffice to state that no reason whatsoever has been adduced in your current letter (dated 17th May 2016) for your failure to honour the match day 18 fixture now under reference. As a result, there is no basis for a consideration of any reason for your failure. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, your letter also failed to provide any cogent basis for the LMC to exercise its power to reschedule a match under Rule B13.10, especially as the provision requires a club to make such application not less than 72 hours before the time fixed for the match, whereas your letter was delivered less than four (4) hours to the time fixed for the match.
“Giwa FC is in for breach of NPFL framework and rules for failing to honour three cumulative fixtures without acceptable reason,” it said.
“The three fixtures Giwa FC failed to honour being in Ilorin against Wikki Tourist for match day 14, Akwa United for match day 16 and Enyimba for match day 18.
“Giwa FC was banished to Ilorin to play three consecutive home games after disturbances in its match day 12 game with Rangers of Enugu which was not concluded in Jos. Giwa FC’s letter to have its game against Enyimba rescheduled failed to meet NPFL provision requesting for a shift in game 72 hours before the said game holds.
Also Giwa FC will also pay a fine of N250k as expenses for stadium hire, security and other logistics incurred for the match vs Enyimba.
“For failing to honour the fixture with Enyimba, Giwa FC will pay a fine of N10 million. Also Giwa FC wil forfeit all monetary earnings due to it this season from the LMC.
LMC will review the matter of registered players currently contracted to Giwa FC. LMC has also said all clubs that have played Giwa FC to date will be fairly compensated in proportional basis.”
Giwa FC has a right to appeal or accept this decision within 48 hours. They are the second club to be expelled after the Ocean Boys of Bayelsa in 2012.
Giwa FC has a right to appeal or accept this decision within 48 hours. They are the second club to be expelled after the Ocean Boys of Bayelsa in 2012.
