The National Sports Council (NSC) has suspended the executive committee of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) amid allegations of fraud.
The Gambia Football Federation has said it does not recognise the ruling from the NSC and that its committee remains in place.
Earlier in the week the federation said its accounts are all in order and do not warrant a proposed NSC investigation.
“The GFF is on record for organising regular Annual General Meetings where members scrutinise and debate the Federation’s Audited Financial Accounts,” a statement read.
“[That is] In addition to the six monthly audits of Fifa funds by a reputable auditing firm.
“Up to date, neither the GFF General Assembly nor Fifa has ever discovered or raised any act of financial fraud by the GFF leadership.”
NSC have said: “The suspension is to enable the investigation team to do the investigation without interference from the suspended GFF officials.”
However, the federation also insists that the NSC does not have the jurisdiction to carry out the proposed investigation.
Indeed the move by the NSC, which works with the country’s sports ministry, could be seen as government interference by Fifa for which the ultimate sanction is a global ban from football.
Shouldn’t the NSC be able to carry out any investigations of their own, regardless of whether FIFA have done so or not? Moreover, if FIFA only audits FIFA Funds, who audits non FIFA Funds? Why is Mr Bajo “afraid” of being investigated? If there is nothing to hide, then NSC investigation should be welcome and assisted to increase confidence and enhance reputations.
I think FIFA’s powers to prevent governments from exercising unfettered control over national FIFA affiliated bodies is an encroachment on the sovereignty and independence of nations. FIFA should work with officials of national federations, unless they fail to meet their own membership criteria.
I think barring governments from taking control of national FIFA affiliated bodies, through threats of suspensions, should end. FIFA should be able to audit its funds to affiliated bodies, but must never interfere in the internal politics of national federations because that affects the ability of governments to act decisively, even where performance is lacking due to failures of local officials.
From FIFA’s point of view, unnecessary government interference in Football administration, if that’s what they aim to prevent, will only hurt the countries concerned (not FIFA), so it’s the people who should guard against that; not FIFA.
FIFA, an International organisation that is not immune from outside influence, should not have “powers” over member nations’ elected representatives, because that would infringe Sovereignty and Independence.
As we are on the subject of football, I wish to use this opportunity to express my congratulations to the Teranga Lions of Senegal for qualifying to another world cup final. I wish them a successful tournament in Russia 2018.
Yes indeed. The Teranga Lions need to be congratulated. That is exactly where I wish Gambia to be; at the world cup finals.
I don’t know who can make the juju for it. Wouldn’t it be a useful national juju?
Hah!, I know what your guys out there have Bax .. The juju to dispel the auditor idea and to stop Bourne from saying so but God guide Bourne and likes.
Hahahaha, the juju syndrome is our national sickness. You know Bourne, if you are looking for a con man, don’t walk past the juju man. And the fortune/future teller. Big crooks. Some fortune tellers, who masquerade as marabouts for women, are nothing but perverts and paedos. That’s why Babili Mansa became a juju man. No surprises that he was accused of rape and promiscuity.
And yes, how wonderful if we can see our beloved Scorpions in these tournaments. I think our problem is managing the development and transition of the promising young talents we unearth, from one stage to the next, especially the guidance into the professional stage. We have no shortage of skilled players and talented coaches, but we lack managers of the game and that’s where focus is needed, if we are to change this retrogression of Gambian Football.
Now, we can’t even beat Mauritania, and that’s no disrespect to that country. I noticed Bajaw has said something and I’m going to react to that now.
Bax, the skills to play the game is just one of the prerequisite to become a world class. The sport also needs investment! Players living condition is an important issue. They need specialised doctors and dietitians. The game must have to be the players occupation, and players cannot be on their own eight months of the year just to camp them up because now they have to go for a qualifier. Professional footballers cannot be living in extreme poverty with payloads of family problems. Their times and activities must be monitored and properly managed. They need big beautiful air-conditioned buses to take them to and fro the airport on the journeys out of the country. Last but most important with regards to modern football, world class football schools are the key to walk our way into the world of football.
Yes, Senegal will be the closest among our regional representatives in the world cup; Alez le lions; with all success we can dream of…
Hey, Mr Bourne; the juju thing ‘got hold of Ronaldo Brazil’ some time back; it wasn’t me neither you (African); fingers pointed to Mike’s cousins across the channel tunnel…
I think, God almighty having had enough revoked the licenses lately; for the irresponsible usages…
If not, your kanilai devil in reminiscence of the pharaohs, would live for ever; & misrule & abuse your homeland for billion years & counting…
It’s the desparity in facilities & resources, in my view, that will always sway to winning advantages to successful world cup Victors…
God, go, go the lions of Terranga…
Bajaw…
Until Gabon 2017, I would have agreed with you that “disparity in facilities & resources” was a reasonable excuse for our failure to qualify to major tournaments, but not anymore. And you know why? Because Guinea Bissau qualified to the African Nations Cup in Gabon this year (Gabon 2017). Though I have never been to Guinea Bissau, it will be extremely hard for anyone to convince me that we lag behind Bissau in facilities and resources. No way. They have been at war for so long, whilst we enjoyed stability.
Indeed, resources and facilities are essential for developing the game and improving standards, but given that Bissau has beaten us to the Nations Cup, I think our problem lies elsewhere.
May be Babili Mansa’s fake spiritual water is to blame. Let’s not let Imam Fatty near our boys. He believes in Babili Mansa’s fake spiritual water. (lol; sorry Imam Fatty fans)
Bajaw, what? You mean Ronaldo Nasario was jujued. Come on … When was that..? Don’t tell me France’s 3 – 0 in 98′ … I was in my teens and at the peak of my enthusiasm for the game. I think Brazil are an all time greats but the French side were simply at their best too and any African juju man on contract in that final had hit a jackpot by coincidence I believe. By the way, I saw the rooster somewhere near the French bench but the Le Coq is the national side logo of the team if I’m not mistaken.
Forget about Mike’s. they are very much disgruntled not securing a cup title all these decades. Gee! They are the founder of the game according to claims .. Is that really true? African juju men cannot bring the cup home to none of their countries but can be contracted by France to help France take it home … African federations need to spot these men out. But no! How about they use the resources on players rather than contract juju men?
I agree with you, the ”resources and facilities” added up to exemplary skills and talents makes the difference. My individual observation is that, every prominent footballing nation has it massive enthusiastic population of fans and sponsorship entities who buy tickets to watched games and sponsor national sides and clubs respectively. Gambians need a motivation in many many things. I may be the first example here, but I think we say a lot and do little.
I agree Bax; it takes determination more than your opponents to win games…
I only mean to draw attention to the facts resources & appropriate facilities enhance & enable advantages against those below the pecking order…
But juju syndrome wasn’t African anymore but common place for non Africans too…
Meanwhile I will bite my tongue & stop here; (not to get lynched along with you for your last bits) lol…
Can’t agree more, Bourne;…le coq is the symbolic ‘idol sacrifice’ (jalangto Sesay) & ‘evidence’, perhaps; the grapevine had it all…
Remember poor Ronaldo reportedly ‘suffered some epileptic sort concussion’ around that match time; then old rumours swirls…
Bourne; Mrs thought I’m just ‘gone mad’; from uncontrollable fits of laughter from the hilarity, literally crying my eyes out…
Such has been my main reason for staying in a silent follower; we have great humans undoubtedly; notwithstanding…
I’ll struggle to come from your gazumping; if I can…
Resources & facilities & determinations resilient, we all agree, are what it takes amongst all…
Mike’s team just fielded young promising fine talents against Germany this week; ended scoreless draw; I believe it’s the determination from now on; for they (UK), unlike, can’t excuse lack of resourceful facilities to blame…
For Gambia; incredible longway ahead; to get the aspired heights envisioned…