The Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday suspended four clubs indefinitely for alleged match-fixing after games involving the teams finished 79-0 and 67-0. The NFF called the results “amind-boggling show of shame,” adding that the scorelines were “scandalous.”
The scandal stemmed from amateur clubs Plateau United Feeders and PoliceMachine each needing a big win to earn promotion to Nigeria’s lowest professional league, Nationwide League Division 3. According to the AP, Plateau scored 72 of its 79 goals in thesecond half, a rate of more than a goal per minute, while Police Machine also scored 61 of its 67 goals in the second half. Plateau would have qualified for promotion if the result were not indoubt.
“The teams involved, their players and officials, match officials, [tournament] coordinator and anyone found to have played some role in this despicable matter would [will] beseverely dealt with,” NFF director of competitions Mohammed Sanusi said. “This is a scandal of huge proportions,” NFF vice president Mike Umeh said. “The four teamsinvolved are suspended immediately and indefinitely, pending further sanctions. We will investigate this matter thoroughly and get to the bottom of it.”