MFM FC protests attack by Enyimba FC

Lagos-based MFM FC has called on the League Management Company (LMC) and the Disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to investigate an attack on the team, by the officials of Enyimba FC, Aba.

In a statement in Lagos, on Monday, the Media Officer of MFM FC, Olawale Quadri, alleged that the team was maltreated during the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 35 fixture against Enyimba FC in Aba.

“MFM FC is calling on the relevant authority to review the ugly incident, during the league match, as the act can destroy the beautiful game of football in Nigeria.

“Our team was attacked on Sunday, in Aba, at the Stadium, during the Match Day 35 fixture by Felix Anyasi, the Chairman of Enyimba FC.

“Sunday’s encounter between the two teams, which was marred by assaults on the away team, ended in a 2-1 win, for the home team, he said.

Quadri added that the MFM FC Director, Davidson Adejuwon, and the team’s goalkeeper, Jerry Isaac were not spared in the assault as Adejuwon alleged he was harassed by Enyimba officials.

“I was assaulted by Enyimba officials who pushed me in the presence of Anyasi, who joined his men to harass me in the presence of my welfare officer.

“The attack by Anyasi against my person continued as he returned to his seat just because I raised the issue of 30 per cent fan capacity and ticket sales, which was never communicated to other clubs.

“The Match Officials were put under all sorts of pressures by Anyasi and his bodyguards to favour Enyimba, which they eventually did, and I won’t blame them.

“Anyasi personally held and harassed the 4th Match Official, along with his bodyguards, from raising the four additional minutes as instructed by the centre referee, he said.

Adejuwon added: “Anyasi and his aides successfully took full two additional minutes after the regulation 90 minutes and forced the referee to succumb to his pressure to abandon the game.

“They allowed the fourth official to raise the additional time, which was eventually changed to five minutes, plus the two minutes they took, while he was being held ransom.

“Anyasi violently forced the match, that should ordinarily have ended at 94 minutes, to 98 minutes, with palpable fear written on the faces of the referees, until they got their second goal, he said.