NLO playoffs: Warinje FC appeals decision to award match to Berreta FC

Management of Warinje FC of Bauchi has appealed against the decision of the Nationwide League One (NLO) to disqualify it and award the match played against Berretta FC of Gombe.

The Club is therefore calling on the attention of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to as a matter of urgency intervene in order to prevent injustice against it.

Recall that the Berretta FC of Gombe had lost the match played in Lafia by 3 goals to nil in favour of Warinje FC but protested the result claiming that Warinje FC fielded an ineligible player in the match.

The notice of appeal reads: ‘Take Notice that the Respondent herein being dissatisfied with the decisions more particularly stated in paragraph 6 herein contained in the Decision of the Nationwide League One (NLO) on the matter between Berretta Football Club, Gombe and Warinje Football Club, Bauchi, dated 31st May 2024, do hereby appeal to the NFF Disciplinary Committee upon the grounds set out herein under following”

Part of the decision of the NLO complained of is the whole decisions contained in the decision arrived at on 31st May 2024, NNWL/LGMT/23/111, 2024. (Berretta Football Club, Gombe and Warinje Football Club, Bauchi).

The reasons and grounds of appeal included an error in law by the NLO considering (Principle of fair hearing guaranteed under section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution as severally amended) when they held without considering the response in sanctioning Warinje FC, Bauchi.

Warinje FC expressed surprise that while the appeal process has not been fully exhausted, NLO has released fixtures for the next stage of the competition excluding it.

It therefore demanded that the fixture should be halted until the outcome of the appeal is out and justice is served as required by fairness.

The club however insisted that it did not field an ineligible player as all the due processes were followed in getting the said player to play for it in the competition.

In a letter addressed to the Operating Officer of the NLO titled ‘RE-PROTEST ON ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYER KEMIN JOSEPH WHO FEATURED FOR WARRINJE F/C AGAINST BERRETTA FC ON THE 28TH MAY, 2024.

Waring FC wrote, “We present to you the compliments of the Chairman Management and players of Warinje FC for the NLO by the entire management competence and smooth not limited by including that of the Coordinators”

According to Alh Abubakar A. Maiauduga Phd (Chairman /Founder, Warinje FC), “The player was officially registered by the organizers and appropriate fees paid. Find attached a copy of the receipt and other documents.

“That Warinje FC abhors due to the process of the rules and registered the player through the State Coordinator, Mr. Umaru Abdulmumini. That we urge the LO not to take any disciplinary action against the club because we can not suffer the punishment of one’s offence assuming but not conceding that an offence has been committed.

Abubakar Maiauduga concluded by stating, “We urge that the coordinator should bear the consequence if any and not the club.”