The affirmation was contained in a letter addressed to both club secretaries and signed by the secretary of the Organising and Disciplinary Committee (O&D), of the NFF, Tunde Aderibigbe.
It would be recalled that the NNL had few weeks ago awarded the Ilorin based team three points and three goals after the rescheduled week 30 match between Ranchers Bees and Kwara United ended abruptly barely six minutes to go in Abuja on Dec. 19.
The Appeals Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had ruled that the remaining 28 minutes left to be played when violence erupted in the first encounter in Kaduna be replayed.
The O&D in its latest ruling said it was established from match officials’ reports, video, and oral evidence that the match ended abruptly due to attack/assault on the match officials by some identified Ranchers Bees players and officials.
The NFF also said it established from match commissioner’s oral evidence and written report that the reserve bench of Ranchers Bees led by Alh. Ali Nayara, the Team Manager of Ranchers Bees FC .
Tele Ibrahim, the assistant coach of Ranchers encroached and invaded the field of play and physically assaulted and inflicted bodily injuries on the match officials in contravention of article 4.3(1).
The NFF O&D also upheld the decision of NNL banning three Ranchers Bees players and two officials for one year for attacking the match officials and fined the Kaduna based team the sum of N1.2m.
The NFF also asked the management of Ranchers Bees FC to repair a Toyota Camry car belonging to Mr. Muhammed Babayo of the Nigeria Police Force. It said the match officials have the liberty to go further to prosecute the identified attackers
Reacting to the development in Ilorin on Monday, the General Manager of Kwara United, Alhaji Haruna Maigidasanma, praised the supporters and fans of the club for their support so far.
He said the club would soon announce the new technical crew of the team as soon as the state government endorsed the management’s plan for the new season.
With the development, Kwara United now join Wikki Tourists to play in the Premier League next season as United ended the race with 52 points in Group A of the NNL behind Wikki Tourists that topped the table with 55 points.
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