Spain, Brazil Court Orders: Nigeria Should Not Be Intimidated By FIFA Ban - Baribote

Spain, Brazil Court Orders: Nigeria Govt Should Not Be Intimidated By FIFA Ban - Baribote By Niyi Busari Former Chairman, Nigeria Premier League, Victor Baribote has said that the Spanish court order enforced by Switzerland government on UEFA and FIFA restraining them from taking punitive action against European clubs involved in the Super League showed that FIFA lack the power to ban club or any African countries for respecting court orders. Switzerland authorities last Thursday enforced FIFA to respect the Spanish court order restraining Uefa from taking punitive measure against the European clubs who wanted to participate in the European Super League. Baribote argued that the Spanish court order on June 2 and the Supreme Court order in Brazil that dismissed bids to block the hosting of Copa America indicated that football matters can be taken and decided in Court without consequences from FIFA. He said, "Switzerland authorities acting on Spanish court order restraining Uefa and FIFA from taking punitive action against the European clubs involved the Super League is enough evidence for Nigeria government that they act on judgement from civil court in favour of any individual or club without FIFA raising an eyebrow. He added, "Also, some persons went to court supreme Court in Brazil asking for an order to restraint the country from hosting Copa America and the Supreme Court declined in granting that order and no one threatened Brazil with a ban from FIFA. He continued, "Based on this, Nigeria government should not be intimidated as the letters from FIFA threatning to ban Nigeria are man-made for their own personal gains. He warned that the government should not be cowed by FIFA ban while respecting court orders, "Nigeria government should not give attention to anybody who comes with FIFA ban when a court order is being respected. They're only using their personal connection with FIFA to manipulate and intimidate Nigeria government to have their way. Baribote stated further that like FIFA, the NFF Statutes does comply with Nigeria constitution, "Article 1.1 of the NFF statutes clearly states that the Federation will comply with the rules and constitution of Nigeria and Section 6, subsection B and C of 1999 constitution as amended also gives the power that anybody who feels cheated has the civil right to approach the court. "The NFF article 1.1 states that; the NFF is a private organization of an associative nature in compliance with the laws of Nigeria. It is formed for an unlimited period. The 1999 constitution as amended: section 6 (b) (c) states that: Shall extend to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any person in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person; Section 12 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended: No treaty between the federation and any other country shall have the force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly. So FiFA laws have not been domesticated in Nigeria so they cannot have the force of law here and there is no matter that cannot come before the judiciary." He concluded.