Nigerian Club Owner To Drag NFF To EFFC Over FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund

Nigerian Club Owner To Drag NFF To EFFC Over FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund

By Niyi Busari

A top Nigeria football club owner, Ekene Adams has vowed to write a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, if the FIFA Relief Fund given to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is not distribute to those who are entitled to it, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The operational costs under the Forward 2.0 Programme according to FIFA is to meet financial obligation that the federation may have towards staff and other third parties.

The owner of the Nigeria National League side, Kada City, Ekene Adams claimed that as a club owner he is entitled to have his share of the $500,000 covid-19 pandemic relief fund that will be released by FIFA.

"With this the directive from FIFA on how the money ($500,000) should be spent, we the private club owners are entitled to this money because we are affiliated to the federation.

"At this trying time, the federation should support the private clubs financially from the FIFA Relief Fund. Even when we have zero income, we still spend our resources on players and staff that are in need of our financial support.

"And if they don't want to give to us as other countries did, they should help the leagues to continue by putting into it. If not, i will personally write the EFCC." Ekene threatened.

The pandemic has caused unprecedented financial challenges for the entire football community and as the world governing body, it is FIFA's and Federations duty to be there and support the ones that are facing the acute needs.

As part of measures to support federations during this pandemic, FIFA promised that all remaining entitlements of members associations to operational costs under Forward 2.0 Programme will be releaaed in fill for the year 2019 and 2020.