10th July, 2014
The National Sports Commission, NSC, says it has received the news of the suspension of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, by FIFA on the grounds of an alleged court order which the world football body has interpreted as government’s interference in the affairs of the football house.
While urging soccer loving Nigerians and the stakeholders of the game to remain calm as effort to put the crisis under control is in progress. “The NSC wishes to state that the said court action brought against the NFF was an internal crisis within the football family and has nothing to do with government.”
“While FIFA has stated that unless the court action is withdrawn, the suspension of the NFF will not be lifted, it is pertinent to state that neither the NSC nor government is involved in the court process.”
However, the NSC wishes to state that the suspension of the NFF is a procedural practice by FIFA each time it feels that there is an alleged interference by government, be it the executive or judiciary, in the affairs of its affiliate bodies.
In a statement made available to P.M. NEWS Sports Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Sports Minister, Alfred Taye Akinyemi, the NSC called on Nigerians to remain calm as efforts are being made to ensure that the suspension is lifted as soon as possible; as appropriate representation has been made to FIFA to present the true situation of the crisis within the football family.