Football analyst Bode Oguntuyi: Nigeria league fines and bans are not enough

The expert says that the penalties handed out to persons and clubs by the Nigeria Football Federation for match-fixing will not help

Feb 9, 2012 4:01:00 PM

By Babajide Alaka

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday handed Dolphins coach Stanley Eguma a five-year ban from all football activities. Also banned for five years were two referees, Chrisantus Okoro and CID Durunna, the chairman of Rivers State Referees Council Eric Dokubor and Sunshine Stars official Divine Benjamin.

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Reigning champions Dolphins and last season’s runners up Sunshine Stars were also fined 10 million naira (€47,246) and 20m naira (€94,493) respectively, a fact that has caused controversy in football circles.

“I don't think the fines will make any difference to the teams. Neither will the fines serve as deterrent to other clubs that might be tempted to overtly interfere in matches that they are not involved in,” said football analyst Bode Oguntuyi in a Goal.com interview.

“In the first instance, while N20m will seem like a large amount of money given the poverty that is prevalent, the state governments who sponsor most Premier League teams have deep pockets.

“After all, it is an open secret that any team that will win in the Nigerian League must have a sizable budget for ‘tactical’ purposes, and this terminology covers everything from seeking spiritual help for success, to buying the connivance of willing officials.”

He further explained that, “A state that routinely gives brand new cars and apartments to clubs that win titles, will not balk at indemnifying the same teams for a paltry 20m naira.

“What would have hurt the teams, would have been to enforce what is done all over the world; any team found guilty of colluding to cheat the fans and the system in any way is automatically relegated, and the individuals involved fined and sent to jail.

“I will not be surprised if the 'banned' persons are pardoned before this year runs out,” Oguntuyi said.

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