The Nigerian Football Federation Organizing Committee have delve into the petition brought before them by Joy Cometh Football Club concerning the perceived irregularities experienced by the Lagos based club in the 2020/2021 season of the Nigerian National League, NNL.
Since the conclusion of the previous season of the NNL, Joy Cometh Football Club have been faced with a lot to deal with as they cried foul over an alleged conspiracy to illegally relegate them along with other eight clubs. Joy Cometh had finished the season, earning 11th place on the table as at August 2021. This achievement means that they cannot be relegated according to the rules. But five months after the end of the season, promotion, retention and relegation rules were changed. As a result, the league table was dismissed and playoffs were organised for the bottom four of each group.Ever since then, Joy Cometh have been calling for justice to prevail and have threatened to go as far as the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS for redress if matters are not treated by the Nigerian Football Federation or the Ministry of Sports.
In a letter sent to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operating Officer of the NNL,
The NFF Organizing Committee have ruled in favour of Joy Cometh FC and have faulted the NNL over the decision of changing the rules after the competition has ended, stating that such moves are unlawful and hence, invalid as far as league football is concerned. The committee further state that such moves are capable of rubbing the league and NFF’s integrity as well as negating the principles of equity, fairness, justice and transparency.
According to the committee, the NNL must reinstate and has two options to accommodate Joy Cometh in the 2021/2022 season. One of which is that the team should be reinstated into the 2021/2022 season, excused from playing the games without consequences and allow them resume in the next reason or allow them in and reschedule thier matches.
The proceedings which later saw the chairman of the committee, Seyi Akinwumi step down based on the affiliation he has with the club in question. Akinwumi is the Lagos State FA Chairman and Joy Cometh being a club within the jurisdiction of his association.
