The management of Lagos-based football club Smart City Football Club has expressed its displeasure over the Nigerian National League’s (NNL) decision to fine the club N3.5million and deduct points.
NNL alleges that Smart City FC fans broke league rules when they played during their Southern Conference Group B2 game against Gateway United at Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Sunday ,April 16, 2023.
The NNL says after a review of the reports and video evidence from its match officials and commissioners, the League body welded the big stick and slammed ₦3.5 million fine and a three-point including three goals deduction, banned supporters of Smart City from all NNL organized matches till the end of the season and warned the club that any further act of violence and assault, will lead to a complete withdrawal from the league.
Speaking to reporters in Lagos on Wednesday, Smart City FC’s chief executive officer, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye, wondered how his away team would have caused violence if they had been so generous and kind to local teams in Lagos.
“The allegations are ridiculously without substance”; said Adeboye, who is also Senior Special Assistant (SSA) for Sports to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“At Onikan Stadium, which is our home, away teams come to take our points, we also lose games and the sky doesn’t fall on us. This is how we see football at Smart City FC. We know the fair play principle.It’s disheartening to know that we’ve now gone off to cause trouble.
“We always protect our homeland when whenever we are playing at the Onikan Stadium because we know it’s the home team’s responsibility to ensure safety before, during and after the game.
“We feel so bad that we were accused of violence when we did not attend this game with our Lagos fans. NNL is now accusing us of an offence of the crowd, which obviously belonged to the hosts.
“Where were the security guards for the Gateway United vs Smart City league game, and there were no arrests?
“We all know what the rules say. Gateway United didn’t play by the rule, didn’t introduce the minimum requirements that are expected in this league game. There were gaps in security and medical arrangements. A home player passed out during the game; we were so generous that we asked our doctor to save the situation. No ambulance on site, no doctor, no health facility, not even for first aid.
“But NNL, by ignoring fairness and transparency, punished us for what we didn’t do. I think the power that be is doing more damage to our league than advancing the system,” said Adeboye, a veteran sports administrator.
The match at Dipo Dina Stadium was rescheduled and a repeat date set for April 20 with the strict requirement that the game be played under closed doors, but surprisingly, fans were at the Dipo Dina Stadium. The question is who lets fans into the stadium?
Adeboye revealed that Gateway officials barred a Smart City cameraman from entering the stadium.
He also disclosed that the alleged sanctions imposed by NNL were not officially communicated to Smart City FC management, but the team wrote a Save Our Soul (SOS) letter to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), not only they intervene in the matter, but save the league from imminent danger while Nigerians look on, adding that every effort should be made for the league to grow and remain attractive to the people.
What is circulating on social media is not the true position of what happened during the game, the management of Smart City FC stressed.
“We are asking Gateway United and NNL to share the authentic video of the game with the world. There is no reason to issue a N3.5 million fine and the point deduction is misplaced. We can’t be punished twice for what we didn’t do. The NFF should ensure that this unilateral decision by the NNL is not upheld,” concluded Adeboye.
