The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has upheld the decision by the League Management Company (LMC) to expel Giwa FC from the Nigeria Premier League.
This was the resolve of a meeting at the NFF headquarters in Abuja on Monday. The committee decided the Jos-based club would pay a fine of ₦10,000,000 to the LMC, in line with rule B13. 25 of the NPFL Frame Work and Rules, the sum of ₦650,000 to offset the expenses of the match officials to the LMC and the sum of ₦1, 000,000 to offset the expenses incurred by Enyimba FC , their opponents in the NPFL Week 18 game.
The Jos-based side were banished to Ilorin to play three home games after wild fans disrupted a league game involving the home team and Rangers in May.
They however failed to honour their home games at Ilorin and decided to travel for away games at other venues, which breached league guidelines.
The committee noted that despite the opportunity afforded to Giwa FC to appear before the panel to defend themselves, the club failed to show up.
A statement from the committee read: “The committee finds Giwa FC in breach of Rule B13.28 of the NPFL Frame Work and Rules which states that ‘If a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without an acceptable reason to the LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the league and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled’.”
The NFF Disciplinary Committee said Giwa FC made no appearance before it despite being duly served a formal invitation to the hearing.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
Giwa FC was directed to play those 3 home games in Ilorin following the disruption of the #NPFL match against Rangers in Jos.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
Giwa FC failed to honour #NPFL games against Wikki (MD14), Akwa Utd (MD16) & Enyimba (MD18) without acceptable reasons.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
Giwa FC was expelled from the #NPFL in May after the club failed to honour 3 cumulative matches this season.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
The NFF Disciplinary Committee also states that Giwa FC will pay N1m to offset the expenses incurred by Enyimba… https://t.co/PC6sipJKyJ
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
Giwa FC will also pay N650,000 as expenses for match officials, says the NFF Disciplinary Committee.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
NFF Disciplinary Committee upholds N10m fine on Giwa FC in line with #NPFL Frame Work and Rules.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
Breaking…Giwa FC stands expelled from the NPFL, LMC decision sustained by NFF Disciplinary Committee.
— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) June 13, 2016
Meanwhile, four Giwa players – Charles Henlong, Amos Gyang, Chris Madaki and goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo have been cleared to play for Kano Pillars in the second round of the Nigeria league, according to officials.
“We have got the clearance of four players of Giwa to play for us,” Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa told AfricanFootball.com.