Professional Footballers reject NFF’s olive branch in out-of-court settlement

In a twist of event, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has rejected the olive branch extended by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through the inauguration of the Players’ Union Committee.

The inauguration of the Players’ Union Committee was aimed at the amicable settlement of disputes existing between factions of the Players’ union.

NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau recently inaugurated a five-man panel to bring peace to the different factions of the Players’ union.

Contrarily, the spokesman of the PFAN task force, Harrison Jalla, revealed the rejection in a statement.

PFAN task force stated that NFF has no business with issues relating to the Players’ Union, noting that the internal affairs of the union does not need what it referred to as external influence.

The Statement read: “The PFAN Task Force consider this report a serious mix-up and urged the NFF to focus on resolving the issues pending in court as agreed in the December 6 meeting.

“In continuation of an ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiated by the Mohammed Kurfi-led States Football Association Chairmen on the disputed September 30 NFF election, which is pending in the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.

“The PFAN Task Force was looking forward to an independent committee to address urgent reforms, imbalance, equity, and fair representation in the composition of the NFF Congress, its board, and sub-committees in consonance with decisions reached at the meeting of December 6 and previous meetings.

“That the players union has no issues with reconciliation, and if even there are such issues, it is not within the purview of the NFF to set up a committee to address such issues.”

Earlier during the inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Monday, Gusau said the work of the committee was to finally and fully restore peace to the rank of Nigeria’s retired and active football players.

“I have confidence in this team to put to rest the discord and bickering that we have witnessed among players’ bodies over the past years. There has been an unhealthy proliferation and this is not in the interest of peace and development of the game. We want to put a permanent end to the bitterness and divisive tendencies, so that we can move forward.