Fédération Internationale de Football Association has slammed a two-year ban on the coach of Cofine Football Club, Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom, Remi Amadi, from all football-related activities for alleged match-fixing.
Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in a statement on Tuesday said the ban was imposed by world football governing body FIFA.
“The world body’s Disciplinary Committee conveyed this decision to the NFF, and it is a consequence of a similar ban imposed on the coach by the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee at its meeting of August 16,” he said.
Olajire added that the NFF Integrity Unit had forwarded the said decision of the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee and all the relevant documentations to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
“This was done through a letter dated Aug. 25, requesting the Committee to extend the sanction to have a worldwide effect, in accordance with Article 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
Cofine FC has been fined N500,000, with the results of all the matches they have played so far at the Calabar center of the NLO Division 1 playoffs cancelled.
In a recorded telephone conversation (largely in Igbo), Amadi was heard trying to negotiate the outcome of their match against Bussdor United – who were practically out of contention for a promotion ticket after losing their first four matches – with head coach of the Owerri-based side Emeka Okoronkwo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the worldwide effect was activated by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee at its meeting of October 5. (NAN)
