Nigerian top flight side, Kano Pillars have been relegated from the NPFL for the first time in over 20 years.
This is coming after the NFF Appeals Committee upheld the decision to deduct three points due to the debacle in their match against Dakkada FC.
This was confirmed in a statement released by the NFF on their website on Saturday.
Recall that Kano Pillars were punished for improper conduct during a league game with Dakkada at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, on 23rd June, 2022.
During the game Kano Pillars former chairman Surajo Yahaya assaulted Assistant Referee 1, Daramola Olalekan, after visitors Dakkada scored a late equaliser against the home team.
Also, a camera, Sony HD Full HD 1920×1080, belonging to Dakkada was damaged by angry Pillars fans.
Following the incident the League Management Company (LMC) deducted three points from Kano Pillars which leaves them on 42 points, five adrift of safety with one game left to play.
However, Pillars appealed the decision but the NFF rejected which means Pillars have been relegated to the lower division.
The statement from the NFF read:
“The Committee found as a fact that Kano Pillars FC did not challenge findings No. 5 of the decision of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, which is the assault on the Asst. Referee 1 by the former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC.
“That Dakkada Int’l FC admitted that their camera was not totally destroyed, but the memory card was removed and the microphone destroyed, but the recording was saved on the internal memory of the camera and same was forwarded to League Management Company and it is in the League Management Company’s record.
“The Committee found as a fact that the League Management Company’s letter dated 14th July, 2022, was contemptuous of the NFF Appeals’ and Disciplinary Committees and their representative, Uche George Egbe, refused to withdraw the letter when demanded by the Appeals’ Committee.
“Finding No.5 of the Disciplinary Committee, which was not appealed against by the Appellant, was what the Committee found as the main crux of the disruption of the match by the attack of the Kano Pillars former Chairman on Asst. Referee 1, as shown in the pictorial evidence presented before the Committee. In view of the above, the Appeal fails.
“On the issue of the destroyed camera, the Committee agrees that the memory card was removed and the pouch of the microphone was destroyed, as such, this constitute damage to property, therefore, the appeal fails.
“The decision of the Disciplinary Committee is hereby upheld. Consequently, the appeal is hereby dismissed.
“On the League Management Company’s letter dated 14th July, 2022, addressed to the General Secretary, Nigeria Football Federation, having found that the letter is contemptuous, League Management Company is hereby barred from sending such letter to the Nigeria Football Federation. League Management Company has been cautioned several times, as the letter was trying to sway the decision of the NFF Appeals’ Committee.
“An appeal against this decision shall lie to Court of Arbitration for Sports, Lausanne, Switzerland. (Art. 70 of NFF Statutes 2010.)“
