World’s football governing body, FIFA, has threatened to sanction Nigeria again if the ruling of a Jos Federal High Court in Plateau State sacking the Amaju Pinnick as the President of the Nigeria Football Association is implemented.
Such sanctions, FIFA said, could include a ban on Nigeria from international football.
The position of FIFA was contained in a letter by its Acting Secretary General, Markus Kattner.
Kattner in the latter addressed to Pinnick and dated April 11, 2016, expressed surprise that Chris Giwa could resort to a court action after he had taken his case to the highest judicial sport authorities, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and lost there.
FIFA said it was not pleased that football issues could be taken to normal courts when its law forbids such.
This is not the first time FIFA will threaten to sanction Nigeria over the face-off between Pinnick and Giwa.
The last time Giwa forcefully took over the NFF secretariat in Abuja, FIFA pronounced a ban on Nigeria.
It took the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the face-off, with FIFA lifting the ban thereafter.
The letter by Kattner reads in full:
Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick
President
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
E-mail: nigeria_fa@yahoo.com
Zurich, 11 April 2016
ASG/pco
Verdict of the Jos Federal High Court
Dear President,
We acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated 8 April 2016 with regard to the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos which apparently nullified the elections of 30 September 2014 of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
In this respect, and first of all, we would Iike to remind you that according to articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes, all members associations have to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties In addition and according to article 68 of the FIFA Statutes, recourse to ordinary courts of Iaw is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations.
Furthermore, it is the duty of each member association to ensure that these provisions are implemented by its members and possibly take sanctions against those which fail to respect these obligations.
In view of the above, the decision of the Federal High Court in Jos, if implemented, would likely be considered as interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.
Lastly, we would like to Stress that the plaintiff in question already filed an appeal in relation to the same matter with the highest judicial Sport authorities, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and that said appeal was dismissed by the CAS on 18 May 2015.
We thank you for taking note of the above and kindly ask you to keep us informed of any
development.
Yours sincerely,
FIFA
TI. (l Markus Kattner
Acting Secretary General. [myad]
