President Federation Cup: Smart City rejects Lagos FA sanction, fine

President Federation Cup: Smart City rejects Lagos FA sanction, fine

By Admin

Smart City Football Club of Lagos has rejected in its entirety, the decisions taken by the Disciplinary Committee of the Lagos State Football Association after its President Federation Cup match against Inter Lagos, played at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Thursday February 13, 2025. 

Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) had imposed a two year ban on Smart City, prohibiting the club from engaging in any football-related activities due to security violations they claimed occurred after the match. 

This decision was communicated to the club in a letter dated February 14, 2025, which was subsequently shared with the media. In the letter, signed by LSFA Vice Chairman Mr. Adedotun Coker, it was claimed that a Smart City player confronted the Match Referee, subjecting the official to harassment and verbal abuse, and that a prominent supporter pursued the referee and struck him in the right eye, causing a severe cut that affected his vision. 

The Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), in the said letter, instructed Smart City to identify the fan responsible for the referee's assault for legal action, and to also present the acclaimed gang leader Bankole Afeez for a meeting with the Disciplinary Committee. 

The LSFA imposed a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One million Naira only) on Smart City for the treatment of the referee, which must be paid within seven (7) days from the date of the ruling. Again, the club was fined N5,000,000.00 (Five million Naira only) for claims of failing to manage their fans' conduct, allowing them to invade the pitch and threaten the safety of members of the Lagos State Football Association and the Lagos State Referees Council, thus tarnishing the reputation of football.  

In addition, Smart City was banned from participating in LSFA-sanctioned football activities for the next two (2) years. Also, LSFA and the Lagos State Referees Council have been instructed to promptly report the threats to life and property to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State. The Club, in its response, signed by the club Secretary, Smart City rejected the sanction and fine, clarifying that none of its players and fans were involved in such an incidence. 

"We at Smart City Football Club, Lagos, reject in totality, the bid to link us with the unfortunate accidence, and equally reject the decisions taken by the Disciplinary Committee completely. "Decisions like this can only be taken and backed up with concrete evidence. If the Referee claimed he was attacked, were there pictures and/or videos to show evidence of such an attack? "You also claimed in your letter that "One of the well-known fans" of Smart City Football Club, Lagos caught up with the Centre Referee and punched him on the right eye, resulting into bloodily cut that impaired his vision. Why was he not arrested, since you claimed to know him? "Your statement that the fans of Smart City Football Club attempted to attack the Vice Chairman, Lagos State Football Association and the General Secretary, Lagos State Referees Council and threatened the lives and property of members of the Lagos State Football Association and Lagos State Referees Council are all fabricated, as far as we are concerned. Threat to lives, how? "Smart City cannot be associated with incidences like that, considering the pedigree and calibre of the Chairman, as well as other managers of the club.

The club was formed to complement the efforts of Lagos State Government in football development and youth empowerment, and has, since its formation, continued to contribute to ecosystem of Lagos and its environs. "We therefore, reject in its entirety, the fine and ban placed on the club, because they are not genuinely based on the outcome of the incidence. "As a club, we will continue to engage in line with the specified standards and abide by rules of the game.