Reality has
caught up with the hypes. The players, club and match officials involved in the
scandalous 146 goals in two football games in Bauchi are all on the run; after
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Chief Mohammed Sanusi made his intentions
known to involve the police, to investigate the alleged match fixing.
Perhaps,
none of the persons involved in the outrageous games envisaged that it would
take on such a global magnitude. With almost none media presence in Nigeria
elite leagues and these two matches involved an amateur league teams that were
played in the remote state of Bauchi, who would have expected anyone to report
it. Well, the international media took interest and as soon as the news
flittered out on BBC, CNN, goal.com… the social media took it up and soon the
whole world were laughing at the football caricature.
NFF chief, Mohammed Sanusi said: “This
is a disgrace. We have confirmed the results from the centre and it is totally
unacceptable.” Earlier last week, NFF
suspended the 4 clubs involved and are likely to issue out life ban after
investigation. The police may also be making some arrest, why the players and
officials are on the run now.
The management
of Plateau United FC has since apologized to NFF and Nigerians. They have gone
ahead to disband the feeders team and sacked all the players as well as
officials. Alhaji Aminu Babayaro, the sole owner of Babayaro FC has also
announced the disbandment of the team. Nigeria police is likely to take it to
the next level to punish members of their team for bringing the police force to
disrepute.
What Happened? It was the play-off for promotion
into the lower rank of Nigeria Nationwide league (NNL). Plateau united feeders’ team and Police
machine FC were at the same points, with a game left for each team.
The Matches
which were played simultaneously at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauchi, saw
Plateau united feeders defeat Akurba FC by 79 – 0; while Police machine
defeated Babayaro FC by 67 – 0. A total of 146 goals were scored in the two
games.
An eye
witness said it was such a show of shame. The spies of both Plateau united and
Police machine were at the different venues communicating with their officials
what was happening at the other venue; urging the players of their team to keep
scoring more goals.
Although in
desperation the teams took the Bauchi play-off to the extreme. Match fixing is
so prevalent in Nigeria football. What is known as the ‘Home Win
Syndrome.’ Where teams playing at home
employ all kinds of illegality, including bribery of the match officials to win
at all cost. The recent Bauchi match fixing is just the Kernel that breaks the
carmel’s back.
And Emmanuel Adesanya, head of amateur
football in the country, insists the football frauds will never progress back
up the football pyramid. He raged: “The match officials have been suspended. The good news is that none of these teams are part of our league as yet.
“At the moment, they are simply
representatives of their states, and only the group winners would have
qualified to join the Nationwide Amateur League.
“We cannot allow such fraudulent teams
to be part of our league…”
FIFA is watching and may eventually
come in with its big hammer if NFF fails to treat the case with all
seriousness. Match fixing is one crime that has threatened to kill the
beautiful game and FIFA gives it all the seriousness it deserves.
