Board members of Ikeja Divisional Football Association IDFA led by Rafiu Alagbe have fined Yahweh Soul International FC a sum of N5,000 for bringing the league into disrepute.
The IDFA acted on the protest letter filed by Ramond International FC after they lost 2-0 to Yaweh soul FC recently at the ongoing Ikeja league championship.
The protest letter submitted by officials of Ramond International FC alleged that the home team, the Yahweh team failed to mark their field properly before the match which is against the rules of the league
The protest letter indicted the center referee, Afeez Obayemi for starting the match behind schedule and dragging the match to be played in darkness.
It was also stated in the protest letter that the two assistant referees that the center referee allowed to officiate the league were not qualified to be the assistant referees.
Alagbe in a chat with Sports247 disclosed that apart from the fine leveled on Yaweh team, the match would be replayed and the date would be announced by the organizers soonest.
“Having looked into the protest letter filed by the Ramond International FC, we have canceled the match, fined the home team, and suspended the center referee for three months,” he said.
Alagbe said the referee was suspended because he failed to follow the laid down rules of the league.
“Mr. Afeez Obayemi who was in charge of the match had committed many errors and the board was frowning over his officiating. Obayemi used 35 minutes for the first half and used 40 minutes for the second half.
“Aside from this, Obayemi allowed the game to be played in darkness instead of calling it off or calling the Organisers about the situation. He failed to submit the match report and employed incompetent referees to be his assistants to officiate the league. Having committed these errors as a senior referee, the board had decided to allow him to go and we are planning to report him to Lagos State Referees Council, Mushin Referees Council Society, and Lagos FA for further punishment,” he said.
Alagbe warned the officials to desist from bribery and corruption saying that any official found guilty would be sanctioned accordingly.
“I am not happy with the reports I am receiving from various centers. I need to monitor some officials and matches so that both premier league and Ikeja league championship would not be ridiculed,” he concluded.
