Baribote was a former chairman of the Nigeria football league, NPL.
A former Chairman of the defunct Nigeria Premier League has stated that Nigeria football would not know peace until all parties play by laid down football rules.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Rumson Baribote, who is challenging some of the actions of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in court, questioned the mode of registration of the League Management Committee, LMC.
The LMC was established by the NFF and the Sports Ministry to run the Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL.
“For you to incorporate a body under the NFA, there must be a resolution from the NFF Board to give them the go ahead; but the NFF board did not meet to talk about the whole issue.
“Where is the resolution? Which NFA board mandated Maigari (the chairman) to go and incorporate such company on behalf of the NFA?
“That’s what I am challenging and many more, until we play by the rules, until we play by our own rule there will be no peace,” Baribote, the owner of Nembe City Football Club of Bayelsa, said.
Baribote, who has also petitioned the world football governing body, FIFA, on his stance on the LMC, claimed that the way the Nigeria’s football is being run has already caused a split in the administration.
“The Nigeria Football board is divided presently; only one side is taking decisions for the rest without any meeting. When last did they meet?
“We will not be peace until we play by the rule guiding football,” he said.
The crisis within Nigerian football management has led to the exit of many football administrators amidst several allegations of corruption. It has also affected the running of the football leagues in the country, with the male NPFL way behind schedule in its current league season.
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