Match-fixing: Lalong appeals to NFF to lift Plateau United Feeders Team’s 10-year ban

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Thursday in Jos appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to lift the 10-year ban placed on Plateau United FC Feeder Team for match-fixing.

Lalong, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Danladi Mann, made the appeal at the opening ceremony of NFF’s 2017 Annual General Assembly (AGA).

It would be recalled that NFF had in 2013 imposed a 10-year ban on four clubs and a life ban on some players.

The clubs and players were involved in amateur league play-off matches which ended in scandalous scorelines of 79-0 and 67-0.

Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine FC went into their matches level on points, with promotion to the lowest tier of the Nigeria Nation Wide League (NNWL) at stake.

With both games being played at the same time, Plateau United Feeders scored 72 of their goals in the second half to beat Akurba FC 79-0.

On their part, Police Machine put 61 goals past Bubayero FC after half-time in their 67-0 victory.

Lalong, in his appeal, said the clubs after the four years of serving the ban have felt the necessary remorse and regret.

“We appeal to NFF to kindly lift the ban on Plateau United Feeders and the three other clubs,” he had said in his address at the NFF 2017 AGA’s opening ceremony.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick, while responding, said the Federation would look into matter.

He said the NFF committee saddled with handling such matters would critically look into the appeal and make recommendations.

“The committee will determine whether the ban will be lifted or not,” Pinnick said.