Kano Pillars exit NPFL, join lower division

Kano Pillars have exited the Nigeria Premiership Football League (NPFL) following upholding the earlier decision to deduct three points from their points by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeal Committee.

Masu Gida, as popularly called by fans, have been punished with three points deduction following assault on officials while playing against Dakkada FC.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) affirmed the decision in a statement published on their website on Saturday.

The Kano-based club will now play at National League for the first time in over 20 years as a result of this resolution.

On June 23, Pillars Chairman, Surajo Yahaya Jambul, assaulted Assistant Referee 1, Daramola Olalekan, after visitors Dakkada scored a late equaliser against the home team.

Following the incident, the League Management Company (LMC) deducted three points from Kano Pillars which leaves them on 42 points, five adrift of safety with one game left to play.

However, Pillars appealed the decision but the NFF rejected, leaving the team with no required point to remain in the 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 Asst. Referee 1 by the former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC.

“That Dakkada Int’l 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 it is in the League Management Company’s record.

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“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.

“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 Asst. Referee 1, as shown in the pictorial evidence presented before the Committee. 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 constitute damage to property, therefore, the appeal fails.

“The decision of the Disciplinary Committee is hereby upheld. Consequently, the appeal is hereby dismissed.

“On the League Management Company’s letter dated 14th July, 2022, addressed to the General Secretary, Nigeria Football Federation, having found that the letter is contemptuous, League Management Company is hereby barred from sending such letter to the Nigeria Football Federation. League Management Company has been cautioned several times, as the letter was trying to sway the decision of the NFF Appeals’ Committee.

“An appeal against this decision shall lie to Court of Arbitration for Sports, Lausanne, Switzerland. (Art. 70 of NFF Statutes 2010.),” LMC stated.

The Star