Abracadabra Results: Police step in The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is yet to come to terms with the soccer abracadabra that saw two teams recording 146 goals in two matches. Plateau United Feeders beat Akurba FC 79 – 0 while Police Machines hit Bubayaro FC 67 -0 in Nigerian Nationwide League Division 3. The matches went on simultaneously and Plateau and Police Machines were in contention for promotion. Chief Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee promised more sanctions for the offenders that have rubbished and brought disrepute to Nigerian football. “It is a shame. It is annoying. It is criminal. It is a scandal. It is ridiculous. It has dealt Nigeria and Nigerian football a devastating blow. And we are going to punish those found to have a hand in this ugly, embarrassing incident”, Inyama still fuming said. He asked “Was it Basketball?”. Without waiting for answers he said “even Basketball cannot produce such outrageous results without their opponents scoring even once. Does it mean that there were no throw-ins, free-kicks, corner-kicks etc?. It is unbelievable!. If this dirty deal can happen in our amateur level, what does it portend for us?”, a shocked Inyama asked. Police Machine were trying to score more goals than Plateau United Feeder, who were playing Akurba, in the race to win promotion to the lowest tier of the Nationwide League Division. Inyama said that they might involve the police since its a criminal offence. “We’re still investigating. Maybe, the Police might be brought in”. As information about scorelines was swapped between the two venues, which were about 4 kilometres apart, the madness began in the second halves. A journalist, who does not want to be identified to protect his own safety, was at one of the matches on Saturday, and told BBC Sport that things went bizarre in the second half. Feeders scored 72 of their goals in the second half, while Police Machine found the net 61 times after the break in their game. “In the second half we start witnessing outrageous own goals, free-kicks and terrible goalkeeping,” he said. “Feeders blasted goal after goal past Bubayaro. Officials of the club turned into emergency ball boys, instead of retrieving the ball from the net, they quickly threw another ball into the centre-circle. “It was ridiculous, because the losing side [Bubayaro] didn’t make any effort and the officiating was abysmal with controversial calls being made and unaccounted additional minutes played. “Some people were on their mobile phones updating officials at the other venue. A shameful scene at that.” Even when an official did try and take action he was thwarted. “The coordinator of Bauchi centre was threatening to arrest all the people involved but players and officials disappeared after the game,” the journalist continued. The result would have meant Plateau Feeders were promoted on goal difference.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 06:05:59 +0000
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