THE Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has docked Jigawa Golden Stars three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player in the Nigeria Professional Football League match-day 34 fixture against Rivers United at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on July 21.
The disciplinary committee’s decision reverses the earlier one by the League Management Company on July 28, which cleared Jigawa of any wrongdoing stating that the club did not intentionally feature the suspended player.
Rivers United in their appeal to the NFF protested against the fielding Richard Christopher by Jigawa Golden Stars on the grounds of ineligibility, having accumulated five yellow cards during the season.
The committee, in its findings said, “It was established that the player, Richard Christopher of Jigawa Golden Stars had accumulated five yellow cards and was suspended for the match-day 34 fixture; Jigawa Golden Stars FC vs. Rivers United FC, by virtue of C2 of the NPFL Rules.”
They, therefore, handed the maximum points and three goals to visiting Rivers United.
The committee ruled, “That a player who is suspended stands suspended whether or not a notification to that effect is sent to the player or his club. It is noteworthy that such notifications are for the purpose of raising any perceived discrepancy and not to validate the suspension, which is indeed clear from the wordings of the notification sent by the LMC.
“Based on the foregoing, Jigawa Golden Stars FC shall forfeit three points and three goals to Rivers United FC in respect of the match, for fielding an ineligible player in breach of C5 of the NPFL Rules,” the committee ruled.
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