Kun Khalifat FC’s withdrawal from the Nigeria Premier Soccer League (NPFL) will not be justified. It’s unprofessional and damaging to the picture of Nigerian soccer.
Earlier than judging the scenario, it is very important perceive the background of the dispute.
Background to the Dispute
In an official assertion dated February 3, 2026, the proprietor of Kun Khalifat FC introduced the membership’s fast withdrawal from the NPFL. He mentioned the choice was taken with “nice disappointment and frustration” after the league punished the membership for failing to honour their Matchday 24 fixture towards El Kanemi Warriors.
Based on the NPFL, Kun Khalifat FC breached the league’s Framework and Guidelines by not displaying up for the match, which was scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026. As punishment, the league awarded El Kanemi Warriors three factors and three objectives. Kun Khalifat had been additionally fined ₦10 million, though the wonderful was suspended for the remainder of the season on the situation that no related offence happens. The membership was given 48 hours to attraction the choice.
Reacting to the sanctions, the membership proprietor described them as “outrageous and disproportionate”. He claimed the membership had legitimate causes for lacking the match and insisted these causes had been ignored by the league.
Within the assertion, Kun Khalifat accused the NPFL of bias, lack of transparency and placing income above the welfare of golf equipment. The membership mentioned it may now not proceed in a system that, in its view, focuses on punishment slightly than equity. The assertion additionally referred to as on different golf equipment to demand reforms inside the league, whereas thanking followers, gamers and stakeholders for his or her help.
Why Kun Khalifat’s Motion Is Flawed
Regardless of these claims, Kun Khalifat FC’s withdrawal from the NPFL can’t be defended.
A soccer membership doesn’t have the correct to ask a league physique to vary fixtures due to monetary issues. Kun Khalifat requesting match postponements and even suggesting new dates as a result of they claimed they lacked funds will not be skilled. That’s not how organised soccer works.
In Europe, the principles are clear and strict. When a membership is discovered to be struggling financially, punishment follows. There isn’t a pity and no particular therapy.
Rangers had been demoted to the fourth division in Scotland in 2012 after critical monetary issues. Parma had been declared bankrupt in 2015 and dropped to Serie D in Italy. Malaga had been banned from European competitors as a result of they might not meet monetary necessities. These golf equipment weren’t begged to remain. They confronted the results of monetary failure.
That’s how critical leagues defend their requirements.
Nigerian leagues should even be agency. Golf equipment should meet all licensing and monetary necessities or be eliminated. If this isn’t enforced, we’ll proceed to embarrass ourselves with crises just like the Kun Khalifat scenario.
Kun Khalifat FC is fallacious to demand sympathy. Soccer is a enterprise earlier than it’s ardour. If a membership doesn’t have cash, the result’s demotion, not emotional appeals. A membership that can’t fund journey can’t be trusted to persistently pay gamers, officers and workers.
Golf equipment should function solely at ranges their funds can maintain. Anything is irresponsible.
Failure to honour a fixture at all times has penalties. On this case, the NPFL utilized its guidelines by awarding three factors, three objectives and issuing a wonderful.
As an alternative of accepting duty and utilizing the attraction course of, Kun Khalifat selected to stroll away and say “ha gbachala”.
This isn’t injustice. That is regulation.
If Nigerian soccer needs respect, guidelines should be utilized with out emotion. Golf equipment should be prepared earlier than getting into the league. If not, they need to stay the place their funds can carry them.
So the true query stays easy.
Are we able to run Nigerian soccer professionally, or will we proceed to handle it with pity?
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