The world football governing, FIFA has reacted to the ruling of Jos High Court, saying the ruling cannot hold water on Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and any action to unseat Amaju Pinnick’s led board would attract a possible ban.
FIFA wrote in a letter addressed to Amaju Pinnick, the embattled NFF boss on Monday that Article 13 and 17 of FIFA are cleared that there should not be interference whatsoever with the running of football in the country.
“All members associations have to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from a third party.
The decision of the Federal High Court in Jos if implemented would amount to interference and the case would be brought to the highest authority of the FIFA for consideration for sanctions, including the suspension of NFF,” FIFA’s acting Secretary General, Markus Kathner wrote.
FIFA emphasised that Chris Giwa has taken his case as far the Arbitration of Sports, CAS, which he lost.
The letter by Kattner reads in full:
Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick
President
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
E-mail:
ni********@ya***.com
Zurich, 11 April 2016
ASG/pco
Verdict of the Jos Federal High Court
Dear President,
We acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated 8 April 2016 with regard to the ruling of the Federal High Court in Jos which apparently nullified the elections of 30 September 2014 of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
In this respect, and first of all, we would Iike to remind you that according to articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes, all members associations have to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties In addition and according to article 68 of the FIFA Statutes, recourse to ordinary courts of Iaw is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA regulations.
Furthermore, it is the duty of each member association to ensure that these provisions are implemented by its members and possibly take sanctions against those which fail to respect these obligations.
In view of the above, the decision of the Federal High Court in Jos, if implemented, would likely be considered as an interference in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of the NFF.
Lastly, we would like to Stress that the plaintiff in question already filed a n appeal in relation to the same matter with the highest judicial Sport authorities, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and that said appeal was dismissed by the CAS on 18 May 2015.
We thank you for taking note of the above and kindly ask you to keep us informed of any
development.
Yours sincerely,
FIFA
TI. (l Markus Kattner
Acting Secretary General.