The Professional Footballers association of Nigeria (PFAN) has called the attention of the Football governing body, FIFA, to the match fixing scandal video making rounds in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
As revealed by the Guardian, PFAN sent the petition to FIFA on the 2nd of November, accusing the League Management Company, the NPFL’s governing body of massive fraud and acts capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
PFAN claims the league has always been sold to the highest bidder for the past six years.
They also called out members and stakeholders of the LM) for concealing and trying to hide the scandal and demand they be investigated.
The petition was addressed to the FIFA General Secretary, Fatma Samoura, and was signed by Comrade Edema Fuludu (Secretary TaskForce).
“The communiqué was released after their meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday, October 17, 2022.
“Match-fixing is capable of destroying the fabrics of football, which is a national asset to Nigerians. This confessional statement of fact on match fixing is a reinforcement of an earlier letter by the so-called Association of Club Owners sent to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development of Nigeria on September 1, 2022, after a courtesy visit to him.”
“The PFAN Task Force demands a quick and thorough investigation into this statement that has brought professional football in Nigeria to total disrepute and bring those involved to book.
“The principal officers of the so-called Club Owners Association of Nigeria and Management of the out-gone League Management Company (LMC) for their inglorious acts of aiding and concealment have a case to answer and your urgent intervention is sacrosanct.
“If no action is taken within 21 days of your receipt of this letter, the PFAN Task Force will resort to invite the various financial crime agencies in Nigeria to investigate this opprobrium.
“We rely on your desire to eliminate match fixing in football worldwide,” Fuludu stated.
The Guardian learnt, Monday, that former Flying Eagles player, Awala Jumbo, had in 2017 written a petition against the then chairman of the Referees Committee, Ahmed Fresh but it was swept under the carpet.
“Ahmed Fresh returned to the NFF board during its September 30, 2022 election in Benin City as the Chairman of Chairmen.”
The last six NPFL Champions will be placed under scrutiny, if FIFA opens up a probe.
Rivers United, Akwa United, Plateau United (2ce), Lobi Stars, and Enugu Rangers have won the league title in the last six seasons.
