Kano Pillars FC have been relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) following their points deduction and inability to garner maximum points to take them out of the drop.
The four-time Nigerian champions had three of their points deducted by the League Management Company (LMC) following the team’s unruly behaviour during a league matchay35 against Dakkada at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
During the game in question, former club chairman, AlhajiSurajo Yahaya, allegedly assaulted assistant referee DaramolaOlalekan, after the Uyo-based outfit had scored a late equaliserin the 92th minute.
Moreover, angry Sai Masu Gida fans clamped down on the visiting team and damaged their gadgets.
That decision was appealed by the Sani Abacha Stadium giants,however, the NFF Appeal Committee upheld their decision, thus, seeing Kano Pillars getting demoted to the Nigeria National League.
“The committee found as a fact that Kano Pillars FC did not challenge findings No. 5 of the decision of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, which is the assault on the Assistant Referee 1 by the former chairman of Kano Pillars FC,” an NFF statement made available.
The NFF statement further noted that Dakkada FC admitted that their camera was not totally destroyed, but the memory card was removed, and the microphone destroyed, but the recording was saved on the internal memory of the camera and same was forwarded to League Management Company and that it was in the League Management Company’s record.
It also posited that the committee found as a fact that the League Management Company’s letter dated 14th July 2022, was contemptuous of the NFF Appeals’ and Disciplinary Committees and their representative, Uche George Egbe, refused to withdraw the letter when demanded by the Appeals’ Committee.
The football body clarify that finding No.5 of the Disciplinary Committee, which was not appealed against by the Appellant, was what the committee found as the main crux of the disruption of the match by the attack of the Kano Pillars former chairman on asstistant referee 1, as shown in the pictorial evidence presented before the committee, adding that in view of the above, the appeal fails.
“On the issue of the destroyed camera, the committee agrees that the memory card was removed and the pouch of the microphone was destroyed, as such, this constitutes damage to property, therefore, the appeal fails.The decision of the Disciplinary Committee is hereby upheld. Consequently, the appeal is hereby dismissed,” the NFF said.
Kano Pillars in the 19th position having accrued 42 points from 37 matches.
Even if they defeat Shooting Stars in their last game of the season on Sunday, that will not be enough to take them out of the relegation waters.
Kano Pillars remain one of the greatest clubs in NPFL history having emerged as champions on four occasions (2007–08, 2011–12, 2013, 2014).
They also produced notable players like current Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, Ndubisi Chukunyere, Junior Lokosa
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