Coaches, clubs participating in unregistered football championships to face sanctions, says Nigerian football chief

Kwara State Football Association, KWSFA, on Thursday, reiterated its stand against unsanctioned competitions and incidents of ‘street football’ happening in the state, warning coaches, clubs and referees from partaking in such tournaments.

Hon. Idris Abdullahi Musa, aka Thuraya, KWSFA chairman, told selected journalists at the FA House in the Kwara State stadium, Ilorin, after a crucial meeting with the state branch of coaches association, while also warning that soccer regulatory bodies like the NFF, CAF and FIFA intends to monitor the game more closely at the grassroots.

“FIFA is very much concerned about soccer development in the grassroots and the need to protect young talents from exploitative agents, avoidable accidents and need to steer football from needless controversies,” he said.

FIFA has expressed concerns over soccer tournaments happening without proper security and safety measures being put in place.

“No referee with an official badge dares step into a match to officiate if these measures are not in place,” Thuraya explained.

“Even more, according to him, are unsanctioned championships, unregistered academy clubs, places where unscrupulous agents operate to prey on vulnerable talents,” he added.

Thuraya, at the meeting with coaches, read the riot acts to the coaches, pointing out that when coaches refuse to work with unsanctioned teams, incidents of street football and non-sanctioned football championship will be reduced.

“Every competition or championship in the state must be approved or registered with the KWSFA or such venture is not recognized.

“Any coach, referee that participates in such competition stands to face severe sanction,” he said.

KWSFA also revealed that individuals dropping names and claiming to be from one government now organize soccer championships without requisite approval from KWSFA as put in place by FIFA.

Thuraya also urged coaches to stop duplicating their association and form just one coherent body, asking the association to register, maintain a data bank of its members while collecting fees to do so.

“Coaches who have not registered with KWSFA accredited association in the state would no longer be permitted to sit at benches of any league or competition approved by the football association,” KWSFA chairman said.

He also warns of dire consequences for coaches who don’t heed the warning.

The chairman also urged local council FAs in the state to assist in enforcing the rules stating that FIFA pays particularly keen interest in Local FA chairmen.

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