The players and officials, as well as, the referees got life ban for their part in the disgraceful act, while the clubs- Plateau United Feeders FC of Jos, Police Machine FC of Adamawa, Akurba FC of Lafia and Bubayaro FC of Gombe, which qualified for the NNWL Division 3 play off in Bauchi were accused of been involved in a match fixing scandal that led to the record of a total of 146 goals in two separate matches, where Plateau United defeated Akurba FC 79-0, while police machine team recorded a scandalous 67-0 margin against Bubayaro FC of Gombe.
Briefing the press yesterday on the reports of the NFF investigative committee on the scandal, vice chairman of the NFF, Mike Umeh, who is also the committee chairman disclosed that evidence that was made available to the committee proved that both Plateau United feeders and Police Machine teams were involved in fraudulent activities with their opponents, which was aimed at outwitting each other in order to top the zone and gain promotion to the upper division of the league.
Umeh also noted that the Bauchi zone coordinator of the play offs, Tanko Bawa Maiyaki, a board member of the NNWL was found wanting in the discharge of his responsibilities, adding that the federation has recommended to the NNWL board to take action against him.
The committee also urged the board of the NNWL to adjust its programme to replace the four clubs for the zonal play off with adequate supervision, as well as, to provide a comprehensive list of all the players, officials and referees involved in the scandal for proper documentation by the NFF for effective implementation of the ban.
“From the evidence before the panel, there is no doubt that there was a conspiracy among the teams, so as to ensure topping the table, through fraudulent means. The teams did not dispute this. Conversely, the intentional loss by Bubayaro to Police Machine team as well as the loss of Akurba to Plateau United feeders was also not disputed by the teams.”
“It is therefore clear to the committee that the question of who tops the table at the Bauchi centre to qualify was responsible for match fixing. While the winners were desperate to win, the losers were desperate to lose. Even though the committee could not establish any exchange of money or material inducement, circumstantial evidence was overwhelmingly high and points to only one conclusion of match fixing,” the committee noted in its report.
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