Pinnick vs Giwa: FIFA agent urges Presidency to wade into NFF crisis
Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the crisis currently rocking the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF).
Philips told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the crisis
which has become a recurring decimal in the country's football terrain
should be addressed.
Chris Giwa and the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF board have been involved in a
leadership tussle, after a Jos High Court issued an order stopping the
election which brought Pinnick to office in 2014.
The crisis took a new dimension on July 2, when Giwa resumed at the
NFF office in Abuja, as the president of the body.
Philips, who is also the initiator of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, said:
"if the Federal Government can investigate and discover the problem,
then we can save our football life.
"I will say to the President and the Minister of Sports who I believe
also shares the ideology of fair play to midwife a fresh election in
August.
"Possibly the election should be broadcast live because of our peculiarity.
"As long as we have decided to be of FIFA, let us get the elections
right once and for all.''
He, however, warned that the failure to resolve the crisis would bring
embarrassment to football in the country and possibly FIFA sanctions.
"This crisis is not new, it has always been before Former Chairman of
the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Ibrahim Galadima, Aminu
Maigari led board, so its the same old story.
"We can't kill the politics that often cripples our sporting life,
that is why FIFA remains intact because it does not involve itself in
any form of national politics.
"We know FIFA is clearly against government interference and this
position is made clear when you decide to be part of the body.
"I respect the laws of our land, but it is also proper that the
interpretation of FIFA laws be made clear and signatories adhere
strictly to FIFA's rules for resolving conflicts,'' he said.
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