By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Oct. 30, 2023 (NAN) The Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) has slammed a five-year ban on former secretary of the Association, Chijioke Onyedika for anti football activities.
This was contained in a letter to Onyedika signed by ANSFA’s Ag. Secretary, Ralph Nweke and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The letter stated that Onyedika had engaged in several activities that were in breach of the state football statutes as well as that of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
ANSFA in the letter also alleged that Onyedika organised football tournaments without the endorsement of the state FA as well as using referees that were not licensed by the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA).
The State FA said that it found it totally unacceptable, the use of unprofessional referees for football matches, a situation that it said could easily fuel ‘match fixing’.
The letter stated in part…”Going by your recent outbursts and clear violation of the provision enshrined in the statutes of the NFF and Anambra FA by organising illegal football tournaments,
“the board of Anambra FA has taken the decision to ban you from participating in all football activities for five years,” it said.
ANSFA further stated that it took the decision to ban Onyedika after he failed on two occasions to honour the invitation sent to him to defend himself before the disciplinary committee of the FA. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
