We'll Be Fair to All Parties, Inyama Assures
OFFICIALS of the Nigerian National League (NNL) say they are waiting for the match commissioner's report on the twice-abandoned match between Ranchers Bees of Kaduna and Kwara United before deciding the fate of the teams in the promotion play-off.
The match, a replay of an NNL game, which was abandoned in Kaduna due to crowd troubles, was again disrupted Friday by fans, who also beat up the match referee for allegedly awarding a penalty to Kwara United.
Kwara needed to win the match to gain promotion to the Nigeria Premier League, while Ranchers only needed a draw to return to the top flight after several years in the lower division.
The original match played in Kaduna was abandoned with 28 minutes left to be played after Ranchers drew level at 2-2 after coming from two goals down.
The NFF appeals committee upheld the decision of the NFF organising and disciplinary committee that the match be replayed.
But Friday morning, Ranchers players and fans allegedly took the laws into their hands when in the final 10 minutes of the replay at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja a Kwara player was brought down inside the box.
Speaking on the incident, NNL Chairman, Emeka Inyama, assured that the body would consider all the variables in deciding the case.
He said, "We had our people at the stadium, but then, we still need to see the match commissioner's report first before deciding what to do.
"We have taken the match referee, who sustained serious injury, to hospital. It is unfortunate that things ended the way it did, but we want to assure all the parties that we will be fair to them.
"I just spoke to the match commissioner and he assured me that the report will be ready this night, so, we are waiting for it."
Another official of the NNL told The Guardian that the case would be decided by the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) Organising and Disciplinary Committee, which also will study all the reports and hear from the parties before making any pronouncement on the case.
If either of the teams wins the case, it will join Wikki Tourists, Gabros International and Shooting Stars, which have already confirmed their promotion, in the Nigeria top flight next season.
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