Kano govt wants withdrawal of penalties against Pillars
The Kano State government has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) to rescind their earlier decision to award three points and three goals to Enyimba FC of Aba over their abandoned match against Kano Pillars in Kano.
The NFF Organising and Disciplinary (O& D) Committee at the end of its meeting in Abuja last Thursday night announced the banishment of Pillars to Lokoja for the rest of the season, a fine of N2 million and award of three points and three goals from the match to Enyimba.
But Special Adviser to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Sports, Mallam Shuaibu Gara Gombe, who made known the position of the Kano State government in a telephone interview with Daily Trust yesterday, also announced plans by the management of the club to appeal the decision of the NFF Organising and Disciplinary Committee.
He said, though the club agrees to abide by the final ver- dict of the appeal committee, it is the opinion of the state government that if the club is guilty of an offence, it should be punished in line with laid down rules and regulations.
According to him, the state government through the club’s management would file the appeal based on the facts made available to it, as the Government of Engineer Kwankwaso is committed to finding a lasting solution to the issues affecting Pillars’ good run in the league.
“In the first place, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is interested in ensuring that all cases relating to Pillars are resolved. In doing so, we will appeal the O and D judgment based on the facts available to us. We are not going to be confrontational; we are not going to quarrel with the NFF and LMC.
“We know that there are problems and we will do everything to improve relationship between Pillars and the NFF. Therefore, we are appealing to the NFF and LMC to reconsider the decision; you don’t kill an ant with a sledge hammer.
“Again, if we are wrong, we should be punished in line with what is on ground for such offences, but a situation where we are punished heavily for the offence, instead of being reprimanded calls for appeal,” Gombe said.
He also announced plans by the state government to embark on massive enlightenment of supporters in the state on the rules governing the game so as to avoid reoccurrence of such incidences.
“For our supporters, we are going to start massive education on the rules and regulations of the game, we are going to make corrections where necessary,” he said.