Ambassador Chris Giwa has revealed that the alleged FIFA ban threat is a media propaganda and that the international football body is yet to lodge any complaint with him and his NFF board.
Giwa was recently reinstated as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President by the Federal Government (FG) through Sports Minister Solomon Dalung following the April 27 Supreme Court verdict which overthrew the Amaju Pinnick-led board and replaced its personnel with Giwa and his board members.
This development prompted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to warn Nigeria about a potential ban at a press conference in Moscow last week.
Reacting to the alleged ban threat in a chat with NAN in Jos, Giwa said: “The alleged FIFA ban threat is a creation of the media. FIFA has not written to lodge any complaint with us. We only read all these things in the media.”
“As I speak with you, FIFA has not made any inquiry to ascertain what could be going on here.
“Nobody has called me from FIFA to explain anything. So, I assume that if FIFA has made any statement, it may be based on hearsay because we have not been contacted.
“I did not take myself to where I am now; there was an election and there was a litigation on which the Nigerian judiciary made a pronouncement.
“I am not the judiciary. I only went there to seek justice. So, we have a system in Nigeria. Anyone with any grievance against that system must go through the same system to ventilate his concerns.” He stated further.
On being banned from all football-related activities for five years, Giwa said he’s not aware of any ban.
He said: “I don’t know of any ban. Maybe the letter is still on the way. But, honestly, I have not received any letter to that effect. I only read it in the media like you did. No more.
“The issue of ban is like a criminal slam being fused on someone; but the question is, can somebody ban you without hearing you?
“Ordinarily, one would have expected FIFA to listen to the facts of any matter before deciding on the next step. I cannot remember being asked by FIFA to explain anything on any issue.” He concluded.
