By Ben Efe

Nigeria Football Federation technical committee chairman, Chris Green has called on his colleagues on the NFF board to abide by the rules governing the sport to avoid the rancorous situations often created as members jostle to take advantageous positions in the power tussle witnessed at the NFF.

Green was suspended by the executive committee of the NFF last week for ‘anti board activities’. But that suspension was quashed by the NFF appeals committee that had no kind words for the ‘six executive’ members who met and took the decision to ban Green and Yussuf ‘Fresh’ Ahmed.

But in a release on Friday NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire stated that the appeals committee ruling will not standard and the duo remain suspend.

“A decision purporting to have been handed down by the Chairman of the Appeals’ Committee (Eddy Mark) was received Friday morning in the NFF. The so-called decision did not state how many of the Committee members were present, or whether the Secretary was also there.

“Whenever the Committee will meet, its meeting will be at the NFF Secretariat as it has always been, and all parties to the appeal, including the NFF Executive Committee and the appellants, will be available to present their case. The date of the meeting and time will also be made public.

“It is a known fact that the Chairman of the Appeals Committee is a personal friend of one of the appellants. But Nigeria football is not the private business of any individual.

“The decision still stands and will be conveyed to the next General Assembly for ratification,” said Olajire.

But Green scoffed at this submission stating that if the aggrieved party in the case were adverse to the ruling by the appeals committee they were free to go to the Court of Sports Arbitration.

“Ademola is only struggling to satisfy his pay masters and making himself a laughingstock to the public. He tried to be smart by half but the facts are there facing him.

“I don’t blame him neither do I have bear any ill feelings regarding his statement. He should have explained properly if I breached the procedure to get redress.

“We filed a joint appeal to the appeals committee, the letter was acknowledged by the office of the General Secretary who subsequently passed it on to the appeals committee. We further requested that our appeal be given accelerated hearing because NFF General elections is days away and time is of the essence to dispense with the case as justice delayed is justice denied. The Chairman invited us to appear before the Panel in Abuja to hear our appeal. We appeared and stated our case. Later we confirmed that the decision was taken to the Gen Sec who acknowledged receipt of it. The appeals committee is a judicial body and is independent. What I a advice them to do is to take legal steps in setting aside the appeal and that should be in CAS.

“The chairman and members of the appeals committee are friends of every one and members of the football family. When we were sanctioned we didn’t make trouble or turned to the media, we took legitimate steps to overturn the illegality. Has Demola averted his mind to Article 66(2) of our statute. What should concern him is the admonition of the chairman on our Executive Committees lawlessness and making Nigeria a laughingstock in the comity of nations,”

Ademola in his reaction said that Green was entitled to his opinion, adding that decision to suspended the duo still remains.