The League Management Company (LMC) has clarified that Nembe City were returned to play their home games at the Krisdera Stadium, Omoku to allow their appeal against the banishment to Benin to be heard by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Organising and Disciplinary Committee.
Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar issued this clarification and noted that decisions of the League body on disciplinary matters are never final but subject to the ruling of the relevant organ of the NFF.
He also disclosed a second consideration which arose from concerns raised by the Edo State Football Association over the logistics challenges of hosting the match. He noted that given the timing of the Edo State
response, it was not possible to move the match to any other venue with the away team already on their way for Match Day 29 fixtures.
“We have consistently stated that our decisions are preliminary rulings that are subject to that of the NFF Committee, specifically, the Organising and Disciplinary Committee, remarked Abubakar, adding, “this explains why we always state that our rulings are without prejudice to whatever decision the NFF may arrive at on disciplinary matters”.
The COO continued, “We were also informed by the Edo FA that they lacked the logistics to host another guest club in addition to Bayelsa United that are already playing their home games in Benin. At this point, it was not going to be workable to contact another state FA and still have weekend match played as proposed especially with the away team already on the road”.
The LMC affirmed that it remains committed to applying the rules firmly at all times within the ambit of its powers as stipulated in the NFF Statutes.