By Sam Ade, Abuja: For bringing the round leather game in Nigeria into disrepute, the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya is of the opinion that those involved in posting146 and 79 goals at different football matches same day should be made to face trial in a court of law.
Last weekend in promotion play-offs into the Nigeria Nationwide League, Plateau United Feeders beat Akurba FC 79-0 while Police Machine FC won the game against Babayaro FC 67-0. The promotional play-offs qualify the winner to play in Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3.
The lawmaker however, commended the Nigeria Football Federation for taken appropriate action by suspending the clubs involved.
His words, “I am very happy with the action of the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation First Vice President who doubles as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mike Umeh who promptly directed that the four teams at the center of the scandal be grounded pending further sanctions on all involved.
“This is a right step in the right direction because at least the suspension of the erring clubs gave us some respite in the faced of the global football community. But I think this should go beyond this. The officials, players and coaches of the four teams involved should first be arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law if they are eventually found guilty of match fixing.
“Match fixing is a very big offense and detested by FIFA. Nigeria i9s a big member of the football family and should be seen not to condone this illicit act. The erring clubs must be tried by the appropriate department of the Nigeria Football Federation and the offenders should even be handed over to the Nigeria Police”.
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