Several NPFL clubs who are indebted to their former employees players and coaches have called the bluff of the authorities of the Nigeria Football Federation and the Nigeria Professional Football League to settle all debts within “a period of grace ” which elapsed on Friday, September 27 2024, Sports 247 reports.
A landmark judgement by the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee ordered Enyimba, Akwa United, Plateau United, Kwara United, Elkanemi Warriors, Lobi Stars, Abia Warriors, Wikki Tourists and Heartland FC to settle their respective debts they owe former players and coaches whose contract was unilaterally terminated, illegally.
The committee went ahead to place a transfer ban on these teams in case they failed to clear their respective debts within the stipulated time.
The indebted clubs failed to obey the orders and also failed to abide by the punishment stipulated by the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee as they freely swam in the waters of impunity, supervised by the NPFL hierarchy, transferring old players and welcoming new ones.
The committee reacted to the open display of impunity by the NPFL clubs and wrote to the leadership of the NPFL, not allowing the newly signed players to play in the new season.
Defiantly, the NPFL licensed the players to play on Match days, dancing to the whims and caprices of the clubs which have proven to be bigger than the laws of the land.
This crass official disobedience to constituted authority, alerted the NFF leadership as the president, Ibrahim Gusau was able to mediate between indebted clubs and the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee.
The President was able to get three weeks of grace for the indebted clubs to clear their debts or face the full consequences, which means they will be stopped from using the newly signed players with immediate effect till they make the payment.
Our investigation shows the grace period ended at the close of work last week Friday, 27 September 2024 and all indebted clubs also defiantly paraded their newly signed players, continuing their usual business of putting the league to disrepute while the NPFL secretariat watches on.
Seventy-two hours after the clear exhibition of lawlessness by the club, the NPFL, NFF and the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee are yet to issue a statement, leaving the indebted players and coaches to their fate, in the abyss of endless hopelessness.
It’s unfortunate, that the effrontery of the indebted clubs is not only directed at the NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee but also at the NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, who magnanimously approved the 3 weeks extension requested by the debtor clubs to pay up all outstanding remunerations to the creditors.
All eyes are on the NFF Annual General Assembly which will be held in Asaba on Friday 4th October 2024, will this act of impunity by the NPFL clubs make it to the agenda?
Will the act of rubbishing all the great jobs of the members of the NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee be considered? Many questions begging for answers.
