Absent again in Ilorin

Giwa FC of Jos risk expulsion from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after failing to honour their Match Day 15 fixture against Akwa United in Ilorin.

The team failed to turn up for the pre-match conference in Ilorin which should have served as the prelude to the game.

The Media Officer of Akwa United, Uwem Ekoh, said there was no Giwa FC representative at the pre-match conference, an essential match condition.

“Giwa FC representative did not show up at the pre-match briefing and no message was sent to us as an excuse for not showing up,” Ekoh stated.

The disciplinary body of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier upheld the decision of the League Management Company (LMC) to sanction Giwa FC for misconduct in the Match Day 12 fixture.

The sanction included fine, suspension of some officials, and banishment from the team’s home Rwang Pam ground to Ilorin for the next three games.

A fine of N5 million for the discontinuation of the match against Rangers International was also imposed on the team.

The Match Day 12 fixture was also ordered to be replayed behind closed doors at the National Stadium, Abuja on April 27, from the point of disruption which was not honoured by Giwa FC.

According to analysts, Giwa FC is at the risk of outright expulsion for failing to honour two league matches in the NPFL, having also failed to honour the game against Wikki Tourist in Ilorin.

LMC rules in Article 13.27 stipulate that “If a club fails to honour two consecutive matches without an acceptable reason to LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the league.

It states in Article 13.28 that “If a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without acceptable reason to the LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the league.