FIFA Sanction: Waiting for Pinnick News

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FIFA Sanction: Waiting for Pinnick

By Daily Sports on December 18, 2017

Wonders, they say, shall never end, and in Nigeria those in authorities learn about geology on the eve of earthquake. It can safely be taken further thus, in Nigeria, administrators and heads of government be it at the Federal or State level learn nothing and forget nothing. Every segment of the Nigerian society is impunity personified. I don’t want to sound like what many will term alarmist. I see nothing concrete other than what we have often been fed with in things like in past being the lot of Seyi Akinwunmi Panel on the above.

One of the reasons that would aide it to inanity will be after all since it did not affect our 2018 World Cup qualification then those concerned with the embarrassing act should go home and sin no more. That is Nigerian and it is like entrenched in the system.

Already the NFF Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi that was widely quoted to have acknowledged knowing about Shehu, in one swoop has denied ever saying so, therefore the ding –dong search by Akinwunmi Panel continues. There will be no Clue. The unknown ‘Soja’ saga is in sight in this yet again clear situation where the culprits are not hidden.

In Nigeria, you don’t call a spade by its name; Amaju Pinnick is just following antecedents. He does not want to be called unprintable names in a matter that is dead on arrival. He has to play along the status quo way otherwise he will step on powerful toes of a section of the country.

You know where he comes from, the section of the country that produced former President Goodluck Jonathan are not born to preside over the affairs of the nation hence all sorts of and manner of means was employed and deployed to ensure his rein was ungovernable the fall out of what the entire citizenry is suffering today.

That is the way we are in this enclave not even in any kind compares with George Orwell’s animal kingdom.

Pinnick knew what he did. Let Seyi Akinwunmi’s window dressing kind of panel sit and let it be on record he did set up Panel that looked into it. He has fulfilled all righteousness to avoid blame.

I am to be proved wrong if heads roll and that would damming all consequences and waiting for the worst. As a matter of fact no government can touch him for any action he can muster against those that once again brought this international ridicule on the football administration in the country and by larger extension the entire country.

Let me be honest with you, if it is those day The Delta State born does not give a dam. I expect him to go all out and bring to book those that wanted to rock the boat for him and probably rubbished his record as the first to record ever smooth football qualification at that level Nigeria has ever witnessed.

In my candid opinion, Amaju Pinnick should go all out to rid NFF of those elements still masquerading as genius there after being part and parcel of inglorious activities in the football house. Methinks that these set of individuals are the headache of Pinnick and haven left them until this time meant he has not ready for a clean sweep of the ever stinking house.

Though, it is widely believed that most of them have ‘Abraham’ as father but this day light sabotage or administrative lapse must serve as a launching pad to do the needful.

The embarrassment is killing enough and it not only portrayed Pinnick NFF led executive committee as an unready and lacks acumen and ability to keep accurate records in the system it also showed that Pinnick is not fully in control or suffering from the syndrome of being carried away unnecessarily.

He should go on and step on toes no matter how powerful it or they may be. He is firmly covered by FIFA in case of any government interference in the internal affairs of NFF.

This must not be swept under the carpet as usual because those involved in the administrative ineptitude are sacred cows. He should know that it would have become the shame of Pinnick if they have succeeded in their tricks and callous act It is grievous offence and they must be called to order by bringing them to book and public knowledge for Nigerians to know those group of saboteurs that nearly caused nightmare for them by neglecting their duties of proper record keeping. If Pinnick allows this to go the same way other very grievous panels have go, he will join the catalogue of the unsung whose name are dumped by history and who are being hunted today by their past deeds against humanity and football growth in the nation. They are legion and Pinnick as naughty bas he is by his natural may likely step up and strip those silly elements in NFF whose handiwork over these years have been to sing different tune when others are in the same page and one accord brought by the round leather game.

But if he fails to act appropriately, history would not only judge him very harsh for not being sincere where he should but he will be stoned by fans of the game for decisively conniving with the enemies within that have retarded the steady development of the most single crowd pulling sport in the world in the country He would also ingloriously join the league of those that are forgotten and unsung, too.

And once again it will intend being only in Nigeria such abnormality has taken firm roots unabated. The instituted norm has been when it occurs, whoever that heads the place quickly comes out to make wide statement laced with strong worded allusion to illustrate his ‘frustration’ and most often shed crocodile tears as if it hurts him most. We are aware of these gimmick all these years and so the public always take their Panels, Commissions and what have you with a pinch of salt. Let me state categorically that setting up panel of whatever nature to investigate the immediate and remote causes of this kind is never new to Nigerians which made many to call it an attention diverting measure by those in authority for tempers to cool and the supposedly burning issue forgotten, which at the end of the day report would be submitted even white paper on it published and issued yet nothing comes out of it. It is sad it is only in Nigeria but further shameful that this present Federal government administration cries loudest that it is fighting corruption and other vices they claimed, but such vices have been under multiplication since its arrival on the scene. A clearer case of kettle calling pot black. Haba, Nigeria!

But in this case under discourse, the onions are on Pinnick to set the tone because he has date with history. He is in a vintage position to be or not to be. How he would cleverly and strongly handle the end result of this FIFA sanction as a result of administrative negligence by some top shots in NFF would further make or mar him. He is under public glare and he will not afford to cajole.

There is one of such right on our hands now. The silly mistake by NFF officials on the concluded 2018 World Cup qualifier game against Algeria. The last we played in our group which was though formality but was like what has taken its deep root in Nigeria was taken for granted.

The act of not keeping record in Nigeria reared its naughty ugly head. A player that had yellow cards which knocked him off to play the next match was fielded and the desperate and roundly bruised Algeria got hold of that avoidable administrative lapse by NFF, reported to FIFA and the hammer fell.

Trust, Pinnick’s NFF like what has been happening in the larger polity has since done what we are used to here. We are waiting. But this column thinks it is the usual Nigerian way of doing things even if it had cost us the World Cup ticket, nothing happens!

To many objective observers and keen watchers cum followers of the activities in NFF, this an opportunity for Pinnick to bring those his arrogance to bear to curb this ugly scenario. He has all it takes to let the hammer fall at the end of Seyi Akinwunmi’s Panel of Inquiry. He should prove many wrong that it is one of those panel we have witnessed over time.

It will interest you dear readers to once again go through the very first reaction of Pinnick on this Monumental national embarrassment by the few click that have over these odd years seen themselves as the untouchables in the NFF system. Daily Sports captured it aptly… ENJOY!

FIFA sanctions Nigeria •Pinnick vows to punish NFF officials responsible

World soccer ruling body, FIFA on Tuesday sanctioned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for fielding an ineligible player, Shehu Abdullahi in the match between Algeria and Nigeria on 10 November 2017.

For this action, the football governing body announced on it’s website that Nigeria have forfeited their last 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Algeria and have also been fined the NFF.

The Super Eagles drew 1-1 in Algeria, but by this ruling they will finish on 13 points from six matches with their undefeated record tarnished.

Thus they remain qualified for Russia 2018 as Zambia finished second on eight points.

Cyprus-based Shehu Abdullahi was booked in a second round playoff against Swaziland in 2015 and was also cautioned in another qualifying match against Zambia in October 2017 and ought to have missed a final qualifier against Algeria, but he played the game.

According to FIFA, the match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick has directed that an internal inquiry be instituted to investigate whose neglect of duty led to Nigeria being fined.

“We accept the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to fine the NFF and award the match to Algeria,” Pinnick said in a media statement released by the Nigerian Football Federation’s media department on Tuesday.

“However, this is a grave error and somebody must be punished. We apologise to Nigerians for this and assure that this will not in any way derail or even distract us in our well-laid plan to ensure that the Super Eagles have a great outing in Russia.

“At the same time, I want to assure that persons responsible for this slip would not be given just a slap on the wrist. We are actually looking at a re-organization of the Technical Department. The Technical Committee will henceforth play serious superintending role on all details, no matter how minute, in technical matters.

“It is important that all committees and departments at the NFF should move at the same pace as the Executive Committee.”

After some days Pinnick made good his words by setting up a – four-man panel headed by his First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi if you have missed it in other dailies, your soar away www.dailysportsng.com is on top of this incident and reported it thus.

FIFA sanction: Akinwunmi heads 4-man panel

NFF’s 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, has been named head of a 4-man panel to unravel the issues behind the slip that led to Nigeria forfeiting the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Algeria in Constantine on 10th November 2017.
The concluding match of Group B of the African series for Russia 2018 ended in a 1-1 draw, but FIFA on Tuesday awarded all three points to Algeria following Nigeria’s use of ineligible defender Abdullahi Shehu in the encounter.
NFF Executive Committee members Ibrahim Gusau and Felix Anyansi-Agwu are other members of the panel, with Mohammed Nasir Saidu, Chairman of Sokoto State Football Association, to serve as member/secretary. “The Committee has two weeks to submit its report. It will have the responsibility of thoroughly investigating how the slip came about and those who were responsible, recommend appropriate sanctions and also make other recommendations that will forestall this kind of error in the future,” NFF President Amaju Pinnick announced at an early morning meeting with NFF Management and Staff in Abuja on Wednesday. Pinnick also charged the Legal Department of the Federation to henceforth work closely with the Legal Committee to ensure the enforcement of the Code of Conduct enshrined in the contract of all Coaches, and directed that a separate document be developed to be signed by the Head Coach and Team Administrator of every National Team embarking on any assignment.
He added that henceforth the NFF would visit any violation of the code with stiff sanctions as enshrined in the code and the Coaches’ respective contracts.
“People will as from now take responsibility for their actions, inactions, misconduct, negligence and downright ineptitude. We cannot continue to go on this way. What happened was a major gaffe and we will no longer condone this level of indolence and unseriousness.
“People must change their general attitude and their approach to work henceforth, or be ready to face sanctions.”
Pinnick also charged the heads of different departments and units to be much more alive to their responsibilities, while directing that extant rules and regulations be fully enforced to deal with erring members of Management and Staff.

The above are the two stories that will put either positive or otherwise question mark on Pinnick when the Panel submits its report on this nagging issue. The world is keenly watching what would come out of this and note it for or against Nigeria. Pinnick’s action or inaction on this matter would have far reaching consequences on whatever integrity left on Nigeria. It is why he must not look sideways or pleads that will come from their masters’ voices.

One is not preempting whatever will be the outcome, I’m firmly standing on the premise of my long years on Sports Beat as a Reporter and what has gone under the bridge. NFF is mini Nigeria. Its politics is like attempting to touch high tension wire, which of course is suicide mission. It goes on and on. What will shock you most is that what goes up in NFF does not come, which dares the nature law. This is how it operates in Nigeria. Did I hear you call it Mafia or cult way of operation? For me it goes beyond that aspect. It is always odd here. A crook, crock, crude and country without a well defined system. The above has made Nigeria not to grow like its pairs all these years and the nation still crawls.

It would be recalled that Super Eagles defender, Abdullahi Shehu was not eligible to play the final World Cup qualification game against Algeria but was fielded via heinous and avoidable administrative error. The crux of the whole matter revolves around the, I don’t care attitude of those up there which nearly put paid to the outstanding hard work, determination and commitment of the technical crew and the players. If it borders on their allowances or to share dollars, none of them would forget to put their names. That is Nigeria for you, a country without a defined and well tailored out system but shamefully in intensive struggle and war against itself.

So as we are waiting for Pinnick, as this is a burning issue cropping up in the tail end of the year preceding the much expected World Cup year, our discussion shift to Twitter, WhatsAPP, Facebook and LinkedIn. As we anxiously wait for Pinnick let us call to mind that nothing short of outright punishment to all those found culpable by the Seyi Akinwunmi Panel would be good enough. It is no more, no less. Let’s wait for Pinnick. Keeping shooting hard, till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 18, 2017