Nigeria will not reverse a decision to withdraw the national soccer team from international competition despite the threat of suspension from FIFA, a Nigerian presidency source said on Friday.
Soccer’s world governing body had earlier issued an ultimatum warning that the Nigerian Football Federation would be barred from all FIFA-related activities if the government did not agree to change its decision by Monday evening.
“Mr President will not rescind the decision because it’s the best decision for football development in Nigeria,” a presidency source said. ADVERTISEMENT
“Mr President and his team had weighed the consequences of this decision and arrived at this decision as in the interest of the nation. We need to restructure and reorganize our football for effective and commendable results.”
The ultimatum from FIFA, which does not tolerate government interference in football matters, came after Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan withdrew the Super Eagles from international competition for two years on Wednesday.
It followed the teams’ poor World Cup performance which saw them knocked out in the first round after failing to win a game.
“FIFA will today send a letter to the Nigerian football federation indicating that the government of Nigeria has until Monday 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) to cancel its decision to withdraw Nigeria’s participation in all FIFA and CAF organized football competitions,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot told a news briefing on Friday.
After meeting the country’s World Cup organizing committee, Jonathan also said the accounts of the committee should be audited, and named an 11-member caretaker committee to sort out the administration and management of the game.
Maingot said FIFA would not recognize the management committee, but would send an executive member of the world body to attempt last minute mediation on Monday.
FOOTBALL IN JEOPARDY
If the Nigerian government fails to heed to FIFA’s ultimatum, it risks getting cut-off from all FIFA activities, including junior and female competitions, and also FIFA funding to the football association.
“A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national team, it also involves the freezing of the financial help and no referees can participate in international competition,” Maingot said.
Nigeria were set to begin their bid to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals in September against Madagascar.
They also qualified for the upcoming women’s world championships at under-20 and under-17 level and their top club side Heartland is to play in the African Champions League group phase later this month.
A ban would also cut access to its development courses and stop the annual payment of $250,000 each member associations receives, cash that is much needed by Nigerian football.
Larry Izamoje, a veteran sports broadcaster and member of the presidential taskforce charged with preparing Nigeria for the World Cup, said the Nigerian federation had not used money given to it by FIFA appropriately.
“FIFA’s $1 million was used for things that did not benefit the team in terms of preparation,” he said, adding the taskforce had handed the matter over to Nigeria’s sports commission and he could not speak on behalf of the government.
BLATTER’S “HAMMER”
Izamoje also criticized FIFA president Sepp Blatter for his handling of the situation.
“Blatter comes into any country, goes straight to the head of state, seeks governmental powers to host his competitions, and when things go wrong and government wants to correct, he comes with his hammer,” he said.
This latest episode is not the first time Nigerian political authorities have been at loggerheads with football governing bodies over political interference.
Nigeria were banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1996 when then President Sani Abacha withdrew the team from the African Nations Cup finals in South Africa because he had been criticized by Nelson Mandela over the judicial execution of political opponents. In press release Jonathan said,"Nigeria will not bow to FIFA's threat"
Hmmm! the war begins!
Posted: at 4-07-2010 04:28 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Freesmile at 4-07-2010 05:03 AM (13 years ago) (m)
Is threatening FIFA, going to save Nigeria from the FIFA's wrath tomorrow???
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:03 AM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
Nigeria shld 4get abt wat fifa are saying...infact jonathan shld add 2 more years to make it 4 years
thats absolutely rubbish and madness too , that two yrs is unrealistic talk less of adding more two yrs , no any senseless leader should hold the whole country at ransome so , and way 2011 is just a stone throw now , i hope some one more sensible will emerge as leader then and puts the wrongs right
Posted: at 4-07-2010 02:46 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
what is Seff Blatter's own in this mata, he shld allow us to settle our probs our selves, or does he want all naija men and women to die in heart attack wen watching naija players?
Posted: at 4-07-2010 03:04 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Freesmile at 4-07-2010 03:55 PM (13 years ago) (m)
FIFA1 vs Jonathan2. But Jonathan kill your guts so dat our national team and home base players no go miss there garri O! So who the hell is FIFA. After all FIFA never give me $1 before
Posted: at 4-07-2010 03:55 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
that step by jonathan to me is not the best i believe a more acceptable way can be achieve
you are quite right , there more desents way we can dealts with the problem rather than that irresponsible publicity , supose the FIFA BANNED OUR NATIONAL TEAM FOR SAY TWO WORLD CUP ? WHAT CAN WE DO ? even some of the so called african countries will be so pleased with that decission , since many sees nigeria as their obstacles , the major problems we have in this country is lacks of proper aproach to a very simple things that requires just a common sense , the earlier he makes a reverse from that unguided decission the better
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:08 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
Freesmile at 4-07-2010 05:16 PM (13 years ago) (m)
GJ I bow for you!!! FIFA when a the giant of Africa so it is time you show some respect. After all Yakubu, martins, Kaita all of them are murders. U just can't imagine the number of guys that stabbed themselves at the conclusion of the Nigeria-Greece Match. FIFA I say go to hell!!!!
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:16 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
what is Seff Blatter's own in this mata, he shld allow us to settle our probs our selves, or does he want all naija men and women to die in heart attack wen watching naija players?
FIFA is very right , infact they always very right so , earlier on this very week , they were even very more harsh on the FRENCH govt , when they told them to not to [play politics with sports, its our aproach to the issues at hand that is very wrong and untimely , if we so like we can dis-engaged in the international tournament for so many years with out making it publicity , its better we learns some manners on how to aproach the issues
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:17 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
FIFA1 vs Jonathan2. But Jonathan kill your guts so dat our national team and home base players no go miss there garri O! So who the hell is FIFA. After all FIFA never give me $1 before
who tells you FIFA is father christmas ? and what is it you have done to them to deserves even i cent ?
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:22 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
FIFA1 vs Jonathan2. But Jonathan kill your guts so dat our national team and home base players no go miss there garri O! So who the hell is FIFA. After all FIFA never give me $1 before
who tells you FIFA is father christmas ? and what is it you have done to them to deserves even i cent
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:26 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
Nigeria shld 4get abt wat fifa are saying...infact jonathan shld add 2 more years to make it 4 years
thats absolutely rubbish and madness too , that two yrs is unrealistic talk less of adding more two yrs , no any senseless leader should hold the whole country at ransome so , and way 2011 is just a stone throw now , i hope some one more sensible will emerge as leader then and puts the wrongs right
Hey, remember me, I will copy and save all your comment on Jonathan (The Pace-setter). I will remind you someday of what you said.
Posted: at 4-07-2010 05:37 PM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Nigeria shld 4get abt wat fifa are saying...infact jonathan shld add 2 more years to make it 4 years
thats absolutely rubbish and madness too , that two yrs is unrealistic talk less of adding more two yrs , no any senseless leader should hold the whole country at ransome so , and way 2011 is just a stone throw now , i hope some one more sensible will emerge as leader then and puts the wrongs right
Hey, remember me, I will copy and save all your comment on Jonathan (The Pace-setter). I will remind you someday of what you said.
do that right now ---- i neva starts sef
Posted: at 4-07-2010 06:00 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
Those speaking ill of Jonathan's idea should tell us, if all nigerians including yourself and the president should just sit and watch as these few individuals mis-manage the money giving to them for fear of fifa's action. At the end its the same fifa who would at the end say that nigeria is corrupt
i for one will gains noting in speaking bad of him , but that aproach of his is just too bad , and you did you believe some body cutting off his own head just becouse he is feeling a very bad headache , is that the right thing for him to do ? i said it shome where there before that this is not EYIMBA OF ABA NOR SHARKS OF PHORT HARCOURT , this is national team , and the only thing that seems bidding us together as a nation at present ,
Posted: at 4-07-2010 06:07 PM (13 years ago) | Grande Master
Freesmile at 4-07-2010 06:31 PM (13 years ago) (m)
on a true note, guy it is time we call a spade a spade. We need to ban sport from the country. you can't even buy a bottle of coke and drink it in peace when watching Nigeria matches. So why are you all scared of the ban. Abeg FIFA banned Us!!! Up Jonathan (FIFA2 Vs Jonathan3), we still have 6hrs left to go!!!!
Posted: at 4-07-2010 06:31 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming
?? 
angel-one
ajanni
rbest
Majorimwills
logten
zolazola
chik001
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