Chairman of Smart City FC of Lagos, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye said his team was wrongly sanctioned by the Nigeria National League (NNL) over alleged infractions during an away game against the Gateway FC of Abeokuta.
According to Adeboye, who doubles as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Sports to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the NNL failed to adjudicate with fairness and transparency in slamming a fine of N3.5 million, a three-point including three goals deduction and banning of their supporters from all NNL organized matches till the end of the season.
The NNL alleged that supporters of the Lagos-based football club encroached on the pitch of Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode during a Southern Conference, Group B2 encounter with Gateway United on Sunday 16th April, adding the supporters assaulted match officials which resulted in injuries and loss of valuables.
“The allegations can’t be substantiated if the real video of the proceeding of the match is shown to the world,” Adeboye said at his Teslim Balogun Stadium’s office in Lagos. “This was a match where we brought in our doctor to attend to a player of Gateway FC who fainted in the course of the match.
“This was a match where it was our player who was first assaulted by the player of Gateway outside the pitch and in the process our player was issued a red card.
“I wonder why the NNL has to overlook the breaches committed by the home team during the said encounter.
“The rules say the football association and the home team must provide at least 50 security agents, functional ambulance, stretchers and other logistics for any league game. Unfortunately, Gateway FC and Ogun FA failed in this regard.
“ Out of our magnanimity, we make sure our doctor attended to a player of Gateway FC who fainted on the pitch. I found it so hard to believe the penalties coming from the NNL,” he noted.
Consequently, Adeboye has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to wade into the miscarriage of justice by the NNL as this act won’t encourage development of the league, adding that Smart City FC are law abiding who will always encourage fair play in Nigeria football.”
He stated: “Stakeholders in Nigeria league know our conduct when we are playing at home. Our fair play is top notch. We always lose and draw at home in Lagos without any molestation to the opposition and officials. Our supporters know the rule.
“How come we will now go to cause violence on an away ground?”