Corruption: Club Managers, Referees Face Interrogation

05.07.2008

Club managers and referees may be in for a tough time as the committee set up by the National Sports Commission (NSC) settles down for real business.

The NSC set up the committee to unravel the truth behind claims that the Nigerian league was full of corrupt practices with a view to bringing culprits to book.

Kano Pillars sweat merchant, Kadiri Ikhana had raised the issue of corruption two weeks to the end of the just concluded season, an allegation which was also confirmed by other football bigwigs including ex- international,Adokie Amiesimaka and chairman Lagos State FA, Waidi Akanni, among others.

This prompted the constitution of the committee headed by former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Chairman, Dominic Oneya to look into the issue.

With the inauguration of the committee by the NSC last Tuesday, Globacom Premier League learnt that members of the committee have commenced plans to conduct full investigation into the matter

It was gathered that different personalities would be questioned by the committee regarding the corruption scandal with the various club managers and referees as the major target. According to a source, the committee has been given the go-ahead to touch every area where it deems necessary in order to achieve the desired result.

If information that reached Globacom Premier League are anything to go by, club administrators , referees as well as match commissioners and others would be made to pass through a series of questioning before the Oneya led-committee.

The Nigeria Football League (NFL) had in reaction to Ikhana's allegation, denied any knowledge of such practices, threatening to deal with the former African coach of the year if he fails to prove his claims beyond resonable doubt.