Rangers International of Enugu has been declared winner of the abandoned Match Day 12 fixture against Giwa FC as the Jos-based side failed to show up for the ordered completion of the match at the Abuja National Stadium on Wednesday. Rangers led 1-0 in Jos before the match was abandoned and the LMC relied on Rule B13.55 to declare Rangers winner with three points and one goal.
The League Management Company (LMC) has also ordered Giwa FC to pay fines for breach of Rule B13.25 of the Framework and Rules for failing to honour a fixture obligation without acceptable reason.
The fines include the sum of N2 million, another N650,000 to offset the Match Officials expenses and N1 million to offset the expenses of Rangers International.
Part of the decision read, “an order that the match which lasted 74 minutes shall count as a completed fixture, i.e the goals so far recorded (0-1) shall be the final scores; this is pursuant to Rule B13.55 which states that “the LMC may order a league match which for whatever reasons lasts for less than 90 minutes to count as a completed fixture or to be replayed”.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had on Monday upheld the decisions of (LMC) which has in a summary jurisdiction exercise ordered that the match be completed in Abuja from the 74th minute at which it was disrupted by Supporters of Giwa FC in Jos.
Giwa FC has a further 48 hours to accept this decision in writing or elect to appear before a commission.
