146 Goals Scandal: Stakeholders Applaud Life Ban Of Perpetrators

Some stakeholders in football in Nigeria, have commended Nigeria Football Association (NFA) for its verdict on the four clubs involved in the scandalous matches in Bauchi.
They said that the decision would help to ensure sanity among those involved in soccer at all levels.
All four clubs, players and match officials involved in the match fixing at the Nigeria Nationwide League promotion play-off in Bauchi were banned for life by  NFA.
In the matches, Plateau United Feeders of Plateau defeated Akurba of Nasarawa State, 79-0, while Police Machine of Adamawa defeated Bubayero of Gombe 67-0.
Abdullahi Abubakar, the FCT FA Secretary, said in Abuja that the verdict was “a bold and courageous step’’.
“It is a shame and an embarrassment as they colluded to carry out an act they knew full well was wrong.
“I am happy NFA took a decision on this as it will set as an example to others and in the future,’’ he said.
The secretary also blamed the situation on similar cases, which occurred in the past but  were not punished.
Abubakar said this was not the first time such act happened, adding that it also happened in Zamfara and Calabar, where senior teams were involved but were not punished.
“If those teams were sanctioned, it could have deterred these junior teams from doing same,” he added.
Chairman Nigerian Coaches Association (NCA) FCT Chapter, Godwin Bamigboye,  hailed NFA, saying that match-fixing was not a good thing and should not be encouraged.
“The sanction is a welcome development and I am happy with the decision. The punishment is nice approach in checking the practice,’’ Bamigboye said.
A football enthusiast, Chijioke Okoye also said the NFA decision was justified and the sanction well-deserved.
“This has brought nothing but shame to Nigerian football. Such a ban will act as a deterrent to people who may want to perpetrate such acts in future.
“The international community will also be aware that Nigeria has not condoned such acts of impunity in the game of football,’’ Okoye said.
An Abuja-based businessman, Faith Ajide,  blamed the leadership of the clubs and said that NFA should have been lenient on the players as the decision had tarnished their future.
“NFA should consider the players, as some of them may be good and talented. A lighter punishment should have been given to them.
“The leaderships of the club are the ones that deserved the wrath of the NFA,’’ Ajide said.
Another football enthusiast, Adeyemo Feranmi also blamed the officials of the match for the scandalous score lines, stressing that the life ban on the players could not be justified.
“The match officials should be able to account for the score lines of the matches, so they should be held responsible for the outcome.
“Therefore, NFA should not have disciplined the players with so much severity,” Feranmi said.
An Abuja-based business woman, Jessy Kadiri,  hailed the decision on the clubs but added that sanctioning the referees was wrong.
“It is not the duty of the referee to end a match because of the number of goals scored. If the goals scored were right, the referee had no reason to cancel the goals.
“The referee would have cancelled the goals if they came through foul-play. I think the referees did their job,” she said.