Indebtedness: Frustrations As NFF, NPFL Keep Mute On Illegal Use Of Players By Akwa United, Kwara United And Abia Warriors

Frustrations are beginning to set in for members of the Players Status And Arbitration Committee (PSAC) after Akwa United, Abia Warriors and Kwara United have continued to use newly signed players despite failures to defray their indebtedness as ordered by the committee, Sports247 reports.

In an exclusive chat with a source close to the members and inner workings of the PSAC, he disclosed that the members are frustrated and fast becoming incapacitated to properly carry out their functions.

The frustration stems from the fact that Akwa United, Abia Warriors and Kwara United have continue to use their newly registered players to prosecuted their NPFL matches after three weeks since the NPFL issued a directive to the indebted clubs to clear indebtedness as ordered by the NFF PSAC to the creditors or desist from using their newly registered players.

“It’s really becoming so frustrating now, nothing seems to be working and the whole drama is becoming tiring, no official word from the NPFL nor the NFF hierarchy concerning non compliance of these three clubs” one of the members of the committee who pleaded anonymity.

Another member of the PSAC, resort to God ” Only God knows when these Impunity will stop, these clubs used these illegal players on Matchday 10 and Matchday 11, by now six points, should have been deducted plus other sanctions but what can we do if the NPFL are not enforcing these basic orders in the game? He asked rhetorically.

We reached out to FIFA Licensed Football Agent, Mr. Eddie Ogbemudia whose firm represent some of the affected players who said he is also in the dark as far as the situation of the three clubs are concerned.

Ogbemudia confirmed to our correspondent that he wrote to the PSAC, and the NPFL to know the status of enforcement regarding indebtedness of these clubs vis a vis their non compliance.

“As I am speaking right now, no one is talking to us anymore on this matter, I wrote to the Secretary NFF PSAC and the NPFL COO, requesting the status of the directives on 12th of November 2024 so I can communicate our clients.

“Our clients desire to be guided accordingly to know the status of this dispute”.

” We have so much confidence in the PSAC and NPFL but no response yet and this delay in justice is fast becoming justice denied”, Ogbemudia said.

Further checks on what is stalling justice on these matters after all other affected clubs have settled their creditors in compliance with the PSAC directives .

It was alleged by insider sources that there is a big man in the NFF who is interfering in the autonomy of the PSAC by granting these 3 clubs indefinite illegal waiver in contravention of Article 50 par 4 of the FIFA Status that spells out the independence of the arbitration committee which granted the PSAC’s decision can only be appealled to CAS.

When confronted with this fact, Ogbemudia asked, “if this is the situation we have found ourselves where should aggrieved parties seek justice” ? “Be ready for more unlawful acts by these clubs since they have someone behind them, then this circle will continue”

He then calls on the newly appointed Chairman of the NSC to intervene on the matter of sports dispute in Nigeria since those that are supposed to take charge are now interested parties.

Ogbemudia said: ” This is a clarion call to the newly appointed NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko to set up the National Dispute Resolution Chamber, since the NFF cannot guarantee Justice and Fairness to all parties, with some sacred cows be left off the hook of their unlawful acts”.

“It will interest you to know that decisions of the FIFA Arbitration committee are not waved. Recently Katsina United was banned as a result of a decision by FIFA and the payment was made without any interference, why allow impunity to destroy football development in Nigeria ? “, Ogbemudia asked.

The Nigeria Premier Football League will continue this weekend ( Matchday 12) and these three clubs are unrepentant and might use these newly players without settling their indebtedness.

While no official statements have been released by the NFF and the NPFL concerning the situation of Akwa United, Kwara United and Abia Warriors FC, the only 3 clubs who refused to comply with the PSAC directives, further delay will definitely affect football development in Nigeria and confidence in the leadership of NPFL and NFF.