Galadima's Threat May Bring FIFA Sanction
By Ayodeji Fashikun
Threat by the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima to resign his position will not only threaten the nation's aspirations to play in the Germany 2006 World Cup but may eventually earn the nation a ban from FIFA, the World's football governing body.
Reacting to THISDAYSports' story of yesterday, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr. Deji Gbadeyan (mni) said in a telephone chat that, "the fact that Galadima was pushed to the wall is no more hidden. He is voicing the frustration of deep government interference in the administration of the game as against the rules, letters and spirit of FIFA has been established and we should expect FIFA's ban any moment from now."
According to the well-informed sports follower: "The fact remains that the Sports Ministry has not given the NFA Board room to operate. This is also not the fault of anybody but that of the National Assembly which has not been able to respond to issues of urgent international implications until when the nation's image is rubbished before they would start rushing like unguided missiles."
Gbadeyan, a keen player of Squash Racket added, "Why is it that the Sports Minister, Colonel Musa Mohammed (rtd) allowed himself to be hijacked by the cabal that exists in the ministry against the overall good of the nation for the defence of some person's selfish interests. To this, the National Assembly has aided and abetted."
He urged "the National Assembly's Sports Committees to take charge of the matter as a matter of national emergency before the FIFA hammer falls on the nation. We cannot afford the implications. They are too grave. We should have outgrown such measures which are part of international diplomacy."
Speaking in similar vein, the former Aide de Camp to General Joseph Garba, the former Foreign Affairs Minister under General Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Kamaldeen Olatunde said, "It will be so sad for us to await a FIFA ban before we start scampering like a chick out of water to amend decree 101 that has been widely adjudged as not in tandem with global football standards."
The two-time Sole Administrator of Kwara Bombers FC of Ilorin said, "Please tell the authorities of our sports the implication of Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima's resignation. It would blow us the worst damage we can experience and that would be enough to distract the nation's plans to go the World Cup in 2006."
The retired Major said, "Decree 101 is the oddest law in our sports. The NFA can stand on its own without one kobo of government. Instead, government should be making taxes out of activities of the NFA not spending scarce government money on football. Even smaller African nations are well organised than we do."
|
