NLO explains decisions on banned team, dismisses alleged witch-hunt
The Nationwide League One (NLO), which is the nation’s third-tier soccer league, has pushed apart allegations of witch-searching some groups and aiding others’ success.
The body, the day earlier than on the current time, defined that the disciplinary actions meted to some groups all the diagram in which by technique of the 2025 NLO Division One season had been in preserving with the articles outlined in its rule books.
Talking on the controversies that resulted in the postponement of the NLO Play-offs, which had been to launch up the day earlier than on the current time all the diagram in which by technique of the nation, the body’s Chief Running Officer (COO), Olushola Ogunnowo, acknowledged that the secretariat is rarely any longer mercurial in sanctioning, or profiling groups for any infractions, in conjunction with, “As a substitute, we adopted the established prison pointers governing the league.”
He acknowledged: “Whereas every team has the upright to seek redress from the NFF Appeals Committee, they must also steer certain of environment a unhealthy precedent for the NLO value, which has taken years of arduous work to gather.
“Match manipulation and other detrimental soccer practices undermine the very basis
of our sport, namely intellectual play, respect, and self-discipline. Therefore, the NLO maintains a zero-tolerance protection in opposition to any violation of those values,” Ogunnowo said.
He acknowledged that the cases recorded all the diagram in which by technique of various match centres had been totally investigated, the usage of experiences from match commissioners, the guts referees, and video evidence, which is standard note.
“Therefore, the linked articles from the rule books had been utilized. The rulings referring to the affected groups are expected to contain a major influence on the integrity of the league. This is in a position to per chance per chance mute no longer be considered as a witch-hunt, as claimed by the golf equipment,” he added.
Ogunnowo drew attention to four cases currently with the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee, which contain resulted in the suspension of playoff fits on the Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Port-Harcourt centres.
“Within the cases of Franceex United’s 9-0 victory over Bison FC (Maracana Centre) and CAMPOS FC’s 15-2 steal in opposition to A&A FC (Akwa Centre), the NLO Secretariat utilized Article 4.17 regarding match-fixing; Article 4.17(1) says any club, pleasant, participant, or referee who, by without reference to map with other participants or organisations, influences or attempts to influence the final end result of a match will likely be deemed responsible of mistaken misconduct. Upon confirmation of such allegations, the next penalties will note. There may per chance be a intellectual of N500,000 on the offending golf equipment; the effects of the match will be annulled.
“Additionally, the NLO can also impose other sanctions as deemed appropriate and any participants or club officers discovered responsible of masterminding the act will be banned for a minimum duration of two years.”
“It is glaring that Cynosure FC deliberately engaged in actions that brought the game of soccer in Nigeria into disrepute by falsely accusing Liberty Lions FC without concrete evidence and failing to expose their allegations of match-fixing previous practical doubt,” Ogunnowo remarked.
