Fifa has finally thrown out the petition made by former chairman of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Chief Rumson Victor Baribote against the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and has urged the erstwhile chairman of the consequences of dragging the case to court.
In a four paragraph mail to Chief Baribote copied to both the NFF and the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Fifa secretary general, Jerome Valcke acknowledged the receipt of Baribote’s letter as well as that of his lawyer written on September 4 and 5 respectively intimating Fifa of an alleged case brought against him by the NFF.
Valcke wrote that the NFF was made to furnish the Zurich office of the world football governing body with details on the crisis in the NPL, which the NFF responded with reports received on August 6 and 29, 2013.
Fifa then studied both reports from Baribote and the NFF and deemed that “the matter is internal and falls under the responsibility of the NFF” and advised Baribote accordingly that “the matter does not come under the remit of Fifa and (therefore) we are unable to intervene as requested by you.”
The letter also reminded Baribote that filling cases of football in ordinary court of law violates some sections of the Fifa statutes, Valcke warned the Bayelsa-born administrator that he could be sanctioned by the NFF over his recourse to seek redress in a law court.
Please be informed that pursuant to article 68 and paragraph 2 and 3 of the FIFA statutes, recourse to ordinary courts of law is, as a general rule, prohibited and the NFF shall impose sanctions on parties that fail to respect aforementioned obligation,” the letter warned.
