THE Chairman of the Libyan Football Federation (LFF)), Nasir Al-Swaiei, has denounced the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision against Libya, describing it as an unjust punishment.
He said the decision was taken against Libya because the Nigerian Football Federation has great influence within the corridors of the CAF.
He confirmed Libya will appeal against this unfair decision. “If the CAF rejected the appeal, Libya would take Nigeria to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),” Al-Swaiei said.Disciplinary Committee of CAF, earlier today, awarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria three points and three goals in their aborted Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against the Mediterranean Knight of Libya.
The Disciplinary Board decided as follows:
1. Libya Football Federation was found to have breached Article 31 of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Regulations as well as Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
2. The match No.87 Libya v. Nigeria of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 (scheduled to be played on 15 October 2024 in Benghazi) is declared lost by forfeit by Libya (by a score of 3-0).
3. The Libya Football Federation is ordered to pay a fine of USD 50,000. The fine is to be paid within 60 days of notification of the present decision.
4. All other and further motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that the event leading to the punishment occurred at the weekend of 15 October when the Super Eagles players and officials were not only abandoned in a disused airport in Libya for over 15 hours but their flight to the North African country was equally diverted mid-air from its original destination in Benghazi despite protestation by the Tunisian pilot who complained of inadequate fuel in the chartered aircraft. The Libya Football Federation had claimed it was reciprocating similar unfair treatment meted out to the country’s players a few days earlier when they visited Nigeria.
Eighteen-Eleven Media