.… Just To Uphold The Rules And Regulations Of The Game
Chairman of Anambra State Football Association, ANSFA, and former Super Eagles defender, Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi has explained that the Disciplinary action taken against the defending champions of the state President Cup, Solution FC, was not punitive in any way.
Recall that the state FA handed a five hundred thousand Naira fine to the NNL side in the aftermath of the alleged unruly behaviours during the final of the 2025 NEROS/ANSFA,President Federation Cup final at NEROS Stadium, Nanka.
According to the FA boss, the decision was an action taken according to the true spirit and best interest of the game particularly to uphold it’s rules and regulations.
“The team took some unprofessional actions and did not manage conducts of some of its players during the game which were capable of bringing the game to disrepute”, he said
Aside the N.5m fine, three players of the club who were alleged to be at the center of the ugly incident that blighted the final match between title holders, Solution FC and Edel FC, both of them second tier league sides, Edirin Ejogharado, Uche Iloh and Nonso Okechukwu were handed one-year suspension and two-match bans respectively by the FA Disciplinary Chamber.
Although the club was given a ‘soft-landing’ with the option of appeal if they chose to, checks reveal that they were yet to do so two weeks after the game and 12 days after the 48-hour period for appeal.
On Wednesday, 5 March, 2025, Chief Iloenyosi cleared the air on the matter, saying the FA Disciplinary Chamber’s decision was not punitive, adding that it was done in line with the rules and regulations governing association football as approved by both FIFA and CAF.
“First, I want make it clear that the sanctions on Solution FC were not punitive. The FA took action in line with the rules and regulations governing the game as approved by NFF, CAF and FIFA”,
“The sanction, if you ask me, is very lenient compared to what the Lagos FA handed out to Inter Lagos FC for breaching the rules and sanctity of the game. (Lagos FA placed a fine of N1m on Inter Lagos for unruly behaviour of the supporters).
“Yes, I, as the ANSFA Chairman, was not at the NEROS Stadium on the day of the match in question (24 February, 2025), but I want to make it clear that the ANSF acted in the best interest of the game. The ANSFA and the Anambra State Sports Development Commission are partners in progress as regards football and sports in general and even the Sports Commission Chairman, Patrick Estate Onyedum, who also is Chairman of Solution FC is a thorough disciplinarian who does not tolerate indiscipline in whatever shade or form in sports.
“Football in particular and Sports in general in Anambra State, are meant to take the youth out of the streets and as such, requires the highest level of disciple to achieve the objective.
“As a former Super Eagles player who had equally represented Nigeria at all the levels of the national teams, and now superintending the game in Anambra State, its my avowed commitment to stand strongly behind our teams to excel in national and international competitions but its also important that we do so in the highest level of discipline”, Iloenyosi posited.
