Sharks, Dolphins (Rivers) Kwara Utd, Bukola Babes (Kwara)-NPL clubs of controversy
- Details
- Category: Sports
- Written by David Ngobua
- Hits: 896
The tension which has continued to trail today’s local derby between league leaders, Dolphins FC and Sharks FC also of Port-Harcourt has once again brought to the fore the issue of single ownership of clubs in the same competition which undoubtedly is an abuse of FIFA regulation on club ownership.
Sharks FC and Dolphins are funded and managed by the Rivers State government as they are administered from the office of the State Sports Commissioner.
This is in flagrant violation of Art 9 of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations, which specifically prohibit a single natural or legal entity from direct or indirect ownership of multiple clubs, in the same competition.
Apart from Rivers State, Kwara State can be said to be guilty of the same offence even as it is claimed in some quarters that Bukola Babes is owned and sponsored from private purse by the present Governor of the State, Bukola Saraki.
To some extent, JUTH FC and Plateau United of Jos are mentioned when discussing clubs of controversy in the Nigeria Premier League but theirs is slightly different because JUTH FC is said to be funded directly by the agency that has set it up.
FIFA’s reason for prohibiting a single natural or legal entity from direct ownership of multiple clubs in the same competition is meant to forestall clubs collusions as was allegedly attempted last season by the two Rivers State Premier League Clubs.
It is alleged that in attempt to save Sharks from relegation, the State government attempted to force Dolphins to lose a match to their city rivals but at least three players in Dolphins resisted the move only to face dire consequences later.
Although the deal did not sail through, the allegations further buttressed FIFA’s point just as it rendered credence to calls for the Nigeria Football Federation and the NPL to enforce the FIFA regulation.
For now, despite the barrage of protests against the clubs of controversy, they are still competing in the league.
The danger in this practice apart from the fear of collusion is the tension that is generated each time these clubs meet in their local derbies.
As Sharks and Dolphins don’t see eye to eye, it is the same story with Bukola Babes and Kwara United. Plateau United and JUTH also present the Nigerian league organizers with the same challenge.
Speaking to Trustsports, fiery sports critic and former Gombe State FA Chairman, Shaibu Gara-Gombe said apart from violating FIFA regulation on ownership of clubs, the affected States are simply using the clubs as conduit pipes to siphon public funds.
He said such States hand over the clubs to their cronies who mismanage public funds even as the clubs’ players and officials continue to languish in poverty.
Gara-Gombe said he does not see any sense in a single State funding two Premier league clubs when they cannot give professional treatment to even a single club.
He maintained that apart from mismanagement of funds, the existence of State owned clubs in the same competition breeds unhealthy rivalry as typified by the ever strained relationship between Dolphins and Sharks of Port-Harcourt.
“States that have insisted on funding more than one club know what they are up to. They are simply using these clubs as conduit pipes to siphon public funds.
“Apart from entrusting the clubs in the hands of their cronies who mismanage public funds with impunity, the practice breeds unhealthy rivalry.
Gombe therefore said there should be a time table for government to completely disengage from funding of football.
He said if government is funding almost all the clubs in the Nigeria Premier League yet clubs are indebted to the tune of over N2.5b, it means the whole essence is to steal public funds.
Former NPL board member, Barrister Ray Nnaji toed a different path as he said as expensive as running two clubs can be, States like Rivers and Kwara are contributing to the growth of football in their respective states.
He said healthy city rivalry is good because in the days of Enugu Rangers and Vasco Da Gama, football was a beauty to behold.
Nnaji said FIFA’s position should not be viewed on the surface as he insisted that it may have deeper meaning which many do not know.
According to him, the fear of match fixing should not be enough reason to discourage States from sponsoring two clubs in the league as he insisted that once fixtures are carefully planned, it will block the chances of any form of collusion.
I don’t see anything wrong with it. Such States are contributing to development of football and should not be discouraged. The issue of match fixing can be tackled if fixtures are done in such a way that both clubs will not have any opportunity to play accord matches”, he noted.
Sharks FC and Dolphins are funded and managed by the Rivers State government as they are administered from the office of the State Sports Commissioner.
This is in flagrant violation of Art 9 of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations, which specifically prohibit a single natural or legal entity from direct or indirect ownership of multiple clubs, in the same competition.
Apart from Rivers State, Kwara State can be said to be guilty of the same offence even as it is claimed in some quarters that Bukola Babes is owned and sponsored from private purse by the present Governor of the State, Bukola Saraki.
To some extent, JUTH FC and Plateau United of Jos are mentioned when discussing clubs of controversy in the Nigeria Premier League but theirs is slightly different because JUTH FC is said to be funded directly by the agency that has set it up.
FIFA’s reason for prohibiting a single natural or legal entity from direct ownership of multiple clubs in the same competition is meant to forestall clubs collusions as was allegedly attempted last season by the two Rivers State Premier League Clubs.
It is alleged that in attempt to save Sharks from relegation, the State government attempted to force Dolphins to lose a match to their city rivals but at least three players in Dolphins resisted the move only to face dire consequences later.
Although the deal did not sail through, the allegations further buttressed FIFA’s point just as it rendered credence to calls for the Nigeria Football Federation and the NPL to enforce the FIFA regulation.
For now, despite the barrage of protests against the clubs of controversy, they are still competing in the league.
The danger in this practice apart from the fear of collusion is the tension that is generated each time these clubs meet in their local derbies.
As Sharks and Dolphins don’t see eye to eye, it is the same story with Bukola Babes and Kwara United. Plateau United and JUTH also present the Nigerian league organizers with the same challenge.
Speaking to Trustsports, fiery sports critic and former Gombe State FA Chairman, Shaibu Gara-Gombe said apart from violating FIFA regulation on ownership of clubs, the affected States are simply using the clubs as conduit pipes to siphon public funds.
He said such States hand over the clubs to their cronies who mismanage public funds even as the clubs’ players and officials continue to languish in poverty.
Gara-Gombe said he does not see any sense in a single State funding two Premier league clubs when they cannot give professional treatment to even a single club.
He maintained that apart from mismanagement of funds, the existence of State owned clubs in the same competition breeds unhealthy rivalry as typified by the ever strained relationship between Dolphins and Sharks of Port-Harcourt.
“States that have insisted on funding more than one club know what they are up to. They are simply using these clubs as conduit pipes to siphon public funds.
“Apart from entrusting the clubs in the hands of their cronies who mismanage public funds with impunity, the practice breeds unhealthy rivalry.
Gombe therefore said there should be a time table for government to completely disengage from funding of football.
He said if government is funding almost all the clubs in the Nigeria Premier League yet clubs are indebted to the tune of over N2.5b, it means the whole essence is to steal public funds.
Former NPL board member, Barrister Ray Nnaji toed a different path as he said as expensive as running two clubs can be, States like Rivers and Kwara are contributing to the growth of football in their respective states.
He said healthy city rivalry is good because in the days of Enugu Rangers and Vasco Da Gama, football was a beauty to behold.
Nnaji said FIFA’s position should not be viewed on the surface as he insisted that it may have deeper meaning which many do not know.
According to him, the fear of match fixing should not be enough reason to discourage States from sponsoring two clubs in the league as he insisted that once fixtures are carefully planned, it will block the chances of any form of collusion.
I don’t see anything wrong with it. Such States are contributing to development of football and should not be discouraged. The issue of match fixing can be tackled if fixtures are done in such a way that both clubs will not have any opportunity to play accord matches”, he noted.
Sharks, Dolphins (Rivers) Kwara Utd, Bukola Babes (Kwara)-NPL clubs of controversy
Category: Sports Written by David Ngobua Hits: 896
The tension which has continued to trail today’s local derby between league leaders, Dolphins FC and Sharks FC also of Port-Harcourt has once again brought to the fore the issue of single ownership of clubs in the same competition which undoubtedly is an abuse of FIFA regulation on club ownership.Sharks FC and Dolphins are funded and managed by the Rivers State government as they are administered from the office of the State Sports Commissioner.
This is in flagrant violation of Art 9 of the FIFA Club Licensing Regulations, which specifically prohibit a single natural or legal entity from direct or indirect ownership of multiple clubs, in the same competition.
Apart from Rivers State, Kwara State can be said to be guilty of the same offence even as it is claimed in some quarters that Bukola Babes is owned and sponsored from private purse by the present Governor of the State, Bukola Saraki.
To some extent, JUTH FC and Plateau United of Jos are mentioned when discussing clubs of controversy in the Nigeria Premier League but theirs is slightly different because JUTH FC is said to be funded directly by the agency that has set it up.
FIFA’s reason for prohibiting a single natural or legal entity from direct ownership of multiple clubs in the same competition is meant to forestall clubs collusions as was allegedly attempted last season by the two Rivers State Premier League Clubs.
It is alleged that in attempt to save Sharks from relegation, the State government attempted to force Dolphins to lose a match to their city rivals but at least three players in Dolphins resisted the move only to face dire consequences later.
Although the deal did not sail through, the allegations further buttressed FIFA’s point just as it rendered credence to calls for the Nigeria Football Federation and the NPL to enforce the FIFA regulation.
For now, despite the barrage of protests against the clubs of controversy, they are still competing in the league.
The danger in this practice apart from the fear of collusion is the tension that is generated each time these clubs meet in their local derbies.
As Sharks and Dolphins don’t see eye to eye, it is the same story with Bukola Babes and Kwara United. Plateau United and JUTH also present the Nigerian league organizers with the same challenge.
Speaking to Trustsports, fiery sports critic and former Gombe State FA Chairman, Shaibu Gara-Gombe said apart from violating FIFA regulation on ownership of clubs, the affected States are simply using the clubs as conduit pipes to siphon public funds.
He said such States hand over the clubs to their cronies who mismanage public funds even as the clubs’ players and officials continue to languish in poverty.
Gara-Gombe said he does not see any sense in a single State funding two Premier league clubs when they cannot give professional treatment to even a single club.
He maintained that apart from mismanagement of funds, the existence of State owned clubs in the same competition breeds unhealthy rivalry as typified by the ever strained relationship between Dolphins and Sharks of Port-Harcourt.
“States that have insisted on funding more than one club know what they are up to. They are simply using these clubs as conduit pipes to siphon public funds.
“Apart from entrusting the clubs in the hands of their cronies who mismanage public funds with impunity, the practice breeds unhealthy rivalry.
Gombe therefore said there should be a time table for government to completely disengage from funding of football.
He said if government is funding almost all the clubs in the Nigeria Premier League yet clubs are indebted to the tune of over N2.5b, it means the whole essence is to steal public funds.
Former NPL board member, Barrister Ray Nnaji toed a different path as he said as expensive as running two clubs can be, States like Rivers and Kwara are contributing to the growth of football in their respective states.
He said healthy city rivalry is good because in the days of Enugu Rangers and Vasco Da Gama, football was a beauty to behold.
Nnaji said FIFA’s position should not be viewed on the surface as he insisted that it may have deeper meaning which many do not know.
According to him, the fear of match fixing should not be enough reason to discourage States from sponsoring two clubs in the league as he insisted that once fixtures are carefully planned, it will block the chances of any form of collusion.
I don’t see anything wrong with it. Such States are contributing to development of football and should not be discouraged. The issue of match fixing can be tackled if fixtures are done in such a way that both clubs will not have any opportunity to play accord matches”, he noted.