By Mark Baber
November 4 – FIFA have lifted the threat to suspend Nigeria after the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan persuaded the two warring factions in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to seek a compromise. As part of the deal, the Chris Giwa faction withdrew their court case which had led to a ruling that the election of the FIFA-backed faction had been invalid.
However, despite meeting the Friday deadline to withdraw the case, a reported breakdown in talks between the two factions may have dashed hopes that the crisis in Nigerian football has been overcome.
In a statement FIFA announced, “FIFA has today sent a letter to the NFF in which it takes note the order granted by the Federal High Court, nullifying the NFF elections of September 30, was definitely withdrawn and that the board…is able to carry out its activities without any hindrance.”
“We understand these events occurred before midday on October 31 (the deadline). Consequently the case will not be referred to the FIFA emergency committee for implementation of the suspension of the NFF.
“However, FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria.”
Although President Jonathan had insisted the two factions find a compromise and report back to him this week, according to a report in ‘The Eagle Online’ negotiations between the Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa groups have “broken down irretrievably.”
After having dropped their court case, Giwa’s group are not happy with the offer of committee posts and insisting fresh elections should be held, given that they did not participate in the elections of September 30 as their man had been elected (they argue legitimately on August 26) and as a court order was in place (ignored by the Pinnick faction) banning the September 30 elections from going ahead.
The NFF Appeals Committee is due to meet next week to rule on the legitimacy of the September 30 elections which, aside from having taken place in breach of a Federal court order, have been disputed as corrupt by losing candidates as allegedly bought by a local political figure.
If the Appeals Committee decision goes against the Giwa faction and negotiations fail to bear fruit, more direct high level governmental interference may be required to prevent a restoration of the civil court action and a new threat of a FIFA ban.
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