NPFL Update: Rivers United Drags Maribor To FIFA Over Ishaq Rafiu Signing

NPFL Update: Rivers United Drags Maribor To FIFA Over Ishaq Rafiu Signing

Sampson Adedeji

Nigeria Professional Football League champions Rivers United have denied having a deal with the Slovenia side NK Maribor for their striker Ishaq Rafiu, BSNsports.com.ng reports.

The Slovenia side on Tuesday announced the capture of the lanky striker on a 3-year deal.

But the newly crowned champion released a statement on Wednesday to deny the transfer and further explained that the player has only gone AWOL ( Absent Without Official Leave) and they have reported the case to FIFA.

"The attention of the Management of Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt has been drawn to a fictitious report being circulated in a section of the social media suggesting that our player Ishaq Rafiu Kayode has left the club. 

Such report is completely false and a product of the imagination of mischief makers with the intent of misleading the unsuspecting members of the public.

Ishaq Rafiu Kayode is still a bonafide player of Rivers United as his contract with the team is still valid and as such, any purported transfer without the knowledge and consent of Rivers United FC will only be a breach of contract.

As a club, we are not aware of any such purported transfer as the player only absconded from the club and this position has been made known to FIFA thus any acquisition of the player without our consent is null and void.

It is important to also note that Rivers United remain the only club that can release the said player to any other club when the proper things are done, the statement read.