By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The fate of Victoria United of Limbe, alias Opopo, participating in the 2023/2024 playoffs, is hanging in the balance following the ruling of the Chamber of Arbitration and Conciliation of the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee, CNOSC.
Sources say the ruling made on March 12, Victoria United lost a match they had won on a green carpet. The winning of the match had taken them to the top four with the likelihood that they will be participating in the playoffs.
On matchday 15 of Elite One championship, Victoria United and Avion du Nkam played out a 1-1 draw. Opopo because of cases of irregularities appealed to FECAFOOT’s judicial bodies and won the case. The green-carpet victory propelled Opopo into the playoffs.
However, after referring the matter to the Chamber of Arbitration and Conciliation, Avion du Nkam won the match, confirming the score as 1-0. The loss of two points consequently relegates Victoria United to fifth place, synonymous with the Play-offs Down.
If Opopo disagrees with the ruling, the team has another option to appeal before TAS, which will decide as the last resort. Assuming everything being equal, Victoria United will be participating in the Play Down, which involves 11 teams. In the meantime, several other cases are pending in the Chamber of Arbitration and Conciliation.
The cases of Fauve Azur vs FECAFOOT, Yong Sport vs FECAFOOT/Victoria United, UMS vs FECAFOOT/Victoria United, and UMS vs FECAFOOT/Apejes. Verdicts for these cases are expected to be passed on March 13.
All applying clubs, namely Fauve Azur, Yong Sport, and UMS, are challenging some decisions made at the end of the championship by the FECAFOOT judicial bodies.
SYNAFOC Calls For Postponement Of Playoffs
The National Union of Cameroonian Footballers, better known as SYNAFOC, has called on FECAFOOT to postpone the playoffs scheduled to begin in the coming days.
In a press release signed by Daniel Blaise Ngo, Secretary-General, regarding the 93 players (Elite One & Two) who are suspected of fraudulently using their identities, SYNAFOC strongly condemned the practice of identity fraud among players.
Among other questions raised, SYNAFOC questioned why such serious accusations against the players are made public in this manner, even though the clubs employing them have been given a 48-hour period to provide evidence justifying the identities presented in license application files. SYNAFOC stated that identity fraud cannot be solely attributed to the players, who are often the victims in such situations.
Considering the gravity of the situation (15 out of 19 Elite One Clubs are implicated), the Union of footballers proposed that the playoffs be postponed for at least ten days. This would allow for a thorough investigation into the matter, which may involve not only the players but also other known and identifiable stakeholders organizing the fraud. The players could potentially be mere scapegoats in a larger fraudulent scheme.
The Union further suggested the creation of a joint commission of inquiry comprising representatives from players, clubs, and legal professionals to ascertain responsibilities and ensure that all parties involved are held accountable. This would help identify and eliminate the individuals perpetuating this fraud and safeguard the integrity of the sport.
93 Players Identified To Have Double Identification
On March 11, FECAFOOT announced the temporary suspension of 93 players from Elite One and Two teams due to age fraud. Among those suspended was Wilfried Nathan Douala, who had been highlighted as the youngest player during the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
The suspended players had been selected for the upcoming play-offs of the country’s premier championship, MTN Elite One, which are set to begin on Friday. FECAFOOT stated that these players would not be allowed to participate in the competition unless they could provide valid explanations for their dual identities.
This development has implicated players from 12 out of the 16 clubs participating in the play-offs, shedding light on the long-standing issue of age fraud that has plagued the football landscape in Cameroon.
20
0
20
20
