The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Organising Committee has recommended that Joy Cometh FC be reinstated to the Nigeria National League 2021/2022 season.
The decision of the committee comes five months after Joy Cometh requested Arbitration proceedings with the NFF Player’s Committee to determine the status of the club.
The Lagos-based club wrote to the General Secretary of the Federation in March 2022 to intervene in what it termed ‘illegal relegation’ from the nation’s second division despite finishing in a safe position but did not get a response.
In another letter of complaint to the federation through its solicitors, Olisa Agbakoba Legal dated July 21st, 2022, the club reminded and prayed that the decision of the committee is made known.
Joy Cometh finished the 2020/2021 season on 11th place in the Group B Southern Conference standings and insisted it had secured enough points to survive the drop, but the league management at its Annual General Meeting held on the 15th of December 2021 decided that the club alongside other 11 clubs must participate in a playoff.
According to the NFF Organising Committee, the rule which saw Joy Cometh FC relegate has no standing and likened it to shifting the goal post after the game has been completed.
“The decision of the constituted Congress for the 15th December 2021 to amend the NNL Rules after Completion of the Competition negates the principles of equity, fairness, justice, and transparency,” the committee said in its ruling.
“The Congress lacks the mandate to change the Rules after the competition has been completed. This act jeopardizes the integrity of the league, football, the NNL and the NFF.
“The Committee considered the changes made by the NNL to the Rules after the competition has been completed as an exercise in nullity, and therefore declared it invalid and without effect.
“The committee thus resolved that the NNL should reinstate and accommodate joy Cometh FC into the 2021/2022 League season and reschedule their matches.
“The Committee equally noted that Group BI of Southern Conference has 12 Teams while B2 has 13 teams, and thus, recommends that Joy Cometh FC be admitted in Group B l to make up 13 teams.
It is left to be seen how the National National League would react to this ruling as the current 2021/2022 season has entered match day 21 with few games to end the league.
See ruling below:
