NFF report on scandal out today
Coach of Bubayaro FC of Gombe, Bala Yayari, on
Tuesday refuted claims that his team lost 67-0 to
Police Machine of Adamawa during the Nigeria
Nationwide League (NNWL) promotion play-off.
The coach told newsmen in Abuja that Police
Machine had won the match 13-0 and not 67-0.
However the Nigeria Football Federation will
today make public its report on the controversial
146 goal scandal involving four amateur league
clubs.
According to Bala Yayari, “the first half ended 1-0
in favour of Police Machine with the remaining 12
goals scored in the second half making it 13 goals
and not 67 goals.
“Due to fatigue and the fact that we were down to
nine men, 12 more goals were scored in the
second half and the match ended 13-0 in favour
of Police Machine.
“Let’s apply some common sense, even if Police
Machine was scoring at the rate of one goal per
minute, how is it possible for them to score up to
66 goals in 45 minutes? It is impossible.
“I don’t understand where they manufactured or
fabricated the 67 goals from. It can only have
been done after the match,” Yayari said.
Reacting to the Coach’s statement, NFA General
Secretary, Musa Amadu wondered why there was
no formal letter written by the club to the NFA
stating that it was not 67 goals but rather 13 goals
scored in the match.
“If there was a report circulated nationally and
internationally that your team was defeated 67-0
and you heard or saw it, it is a matter of great
concern to which a response would be required.
“We would have expected that the clubs
concerned would have immediately debunked
that in writing through the Gombe State Football
Association.
“I don’t know why such an action was not taken to
address the situation immediately this
discrepancy was discovered,” Amadu queried.
He said that a committee had been set up to
“investigate this allegation and other issues
bedevilling the league.”
The Nigeria Football Federation will today make
public its report on the controversial 146 goal
scandal involving four amateur league clubs.
Sports Vanguard gathered that the Disciplinary
and Organising Committee which met for three
days, between Monday and Wednesday
submitted its recommendations to the NFF
President, Aminu Maigari for consideration.
“We submitted our report to the President who
will in turn make his final report known
tomorrow,” Chief Mike Umeh, Chairman D&O told
our reporter yesterday.
He said the NFF’s stand on the issue will be made
public today.