Ministry reads out riot act to NFA, Clubs over resumption of league

By Oluwakemi Ishola 

The Federal Minister  of Youth and Sports Development,  Mr. Sunday  Dare  has read out the riot acts to the Nigerian Football Federation  and club owners that no stadium  would be opened  for any football game without strict adherence  to the sports protocols, even as there must be total  implementation of the  club licensing control before the new football season can resume.  

According  to a statement signed  by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr Gabriel Aduda,  “ We are happy that the ban on sports has been  lifted  after so many months of inactivity  due to the Covid-19 scourge . The Ministry is not oblivious  of the challenges  that would be encountered in organising  football matches.  We canot take anything for granted.  As a way of safeguarding  the lives of our players, coaches, officials  and fans, approval must be sought and given before any game is played. The Ministry would ensure that  all protocols   and guidelines  are obeyed as directed by PTF and NCDC.”

The Ministry has set up a COVID-19 monitoring and approval team  which would  ensure compliance before any game is played.

Aduda warned that the Nigerian domestic  league would not resume until basic conditions are fulfilled. ” We have a responsibility  to  enforce the implementation of the club licensing control as stipulated in the statues setting up the Nigerian  Professional  Football League .The domestic League will not commence until the regulations and controls  bothering on financial and licensing control are enforced. The NFF must  enforce these regulations and controls  as stipulated, otherwise  the Nigerian Professional and  Amateur  Leagues would not be approved to  resume.These include proper licensing of players, Insurance for players and coaches , compliance  with  FIFA rules on players contract and transfer, running  the clubs as professional endeavour  among others.

The statement   directed the NFF to  communicate  these decisions to the  clubs to forestall any  crisis.

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