Veteran sports anayst and CAF committee member Paul Bassey has revealed how likely FIFA ban on Nigeria will immediately affect it’s football, says will be severe.
Bassey who questioned the rational for a court hearing before reintating the sack NFF board said everything about football in the country will come to an immdiate halt until FIFA lifts it.
He named the immediate casualties should government fail s to act fast to reinstate the NFF board.
“If we’re banned this week, our U-17 will not play this weekend, on the 19th of July which is this weekend there will be a draw in Windhoek Namibia for the Africa women championship. Nigeria will be thrown out of the draw, four major competitions that will spill over till next year. The Super Eagles, the U-17, the Africa women championship all these ones are happening in next two weeks and we will lose out. We can not even play friendly match.†Bassey highlighted..
Bassey also disclosed that the High Court’s hearing in Jos on tuesday was illegitimate as far as FIFA is concerned. He noted that outcome of the hearing is not binding on FIFA and shouldn’t have been in the first instance.
“The court is not binding, what FIFA is saying is that whatever court order you do is not binding on the football federation. Even going to court to vacate the order is illegitimate.â€
It would be recalled that FIFA referees’ adviser and consultant to the NFF on refereeing, Linus Mba was the first casualty of the suspension order placed on Nigeria by FIFA.
Mba who was appointed three weeks ago as the Match Commissioner for next weekend’s AFCON 2015 qualifying tie between Sierra Leone and Seychelles told 365footballnews.com that he has been replaced. Mba confirmed that he got a letter from CAF on his replacement.
“I’ve been given an appointment and because of this thing I’ve been replaced, there is nothing I can do. I was given an appointment by CAF and CAF said because of this development which is right and therefore nothing I can do.†Mba stated.