Determined to instil discipline among football officials, the FCT FA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has hammered two coaches in the Territory – one expelled and the other suspended indefinitely.
The expelled coach, Luke Olaiya Israel and Meshach Olatunji who was suspended indefinitely, were from the same club, Like Minds FC; Gwagwalada, according to the statement by FCT FA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee.
Reports of the FCT FA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, in part, indicated that the erring coaches failed to appear when invited to make their presentations on the allegations against them without any formal communication to the committee excusing their absence.
The FCT FA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee in a statement issued by Jimmy Kadiri ESQ and made available to MJConcept TV News stated that while coach Luke Olaiya Israel is expelled, coach Meshach Olatunji is suspended indefinitely by the association’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee for alleged misconduct.
According to Jimmy Kadiri ESQ in the statement, “In line with the mandate of the Committee, investigations were carried out, witnesses were called, documentary and video/audio evidence were examined in order to enable it carry out its assignment diligently.
In line with international best standard and to protect the right of fair hearing of the respondents, the committee sent out a letter of invitation to LUKE OLAIYA ISRAEL (COACH OF LIKE MINDS FC GWAGWALADA) to appear before it to make his presentation on the allegations against him, however, LUKE OLAIYA ISRAEL (COACH OF LIKE MINDS FC GWAGWALADA) failed to appear without any formal communication to the committee excusing his absence.
The committee therefore arrived at the following sanction for LUKE OLAIYA ISRAEL (COACH OF LIKE MINDS FC GWAGWALADA).
LUKE OLAIYA ISRAEL (COACH OF LIKE MINDS FC GWAGWALADA) is hereby EXPELLED from all football activities within the FCT for incitement, unwarranted vituperation, verbal assault, as well being arrested with arms (KNIFE) in the hall of the Bye-election.”
Similarly, the FCT FA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee making pronouncements about coach Meshach, said, he also failed to honour the without any formal communication to the committee excusing his absence when invited to make his presentation on the allegations against him.
“MESHACK OLATUNJI (COACH OF LIKE MINDS FC GWAGWALADA) is hereby SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY from all football activities within the FCT for incitement, unwarranted vituperation, verbal assault, and disparaging remarks against the FCT FA on widely read WhatsApp platforms across the country.
That the suspensions shall be communicated to all affiliate bodies within the FCT and the Respondent shall have a right of appeal to the FCT FA Appeal Committee,” thus Jimmy Kadiri ESQ sounded while concluding the statement.