Gateway petitions NNL over ABS match walk-over

Gateway United Football Club of Abeokuta have protested against what they described as their supervised walk-over by ABS of Ilorin in the last game of the 2015/2016 Nigeria National League (NNL).

A statement by Gateway United’s Media Officer, Rotimi Oduniyi, detailed the harassment, intimidation and insults the players, technical crew and other officials were subjected to at the Ilorin Township Stadium, saying the “team, which arrived in the stadium at 2:25 p.m., were locked-out and prevented by ABS officials, supporters and thugs from gaining entrance, while ABS were allowed in with their players seen warming-up.” He disclosed that Gateway were only allowed into the stadium at exactly 3:55pm, which was ‘just five minutes to the start of the match.’

According to Oduniyi, “on getting into the stadium, it was discovered that only 20 security personnel were present, contrary to the 60 agreed at the pre-match meeting.”

He alleged that attempts by Gateway to protest the incidents were rebuffed by the Match Commissioner, Mr. Eyah Ezra, from Niger State, who also refused to accept the N200,000 protest fee as stipulated by law.

Gateway said they were alarmed when the centre referee, Mr. Hamza Garba from Kano State, started a walk over process even when their players were on the sideline.