Ilorin – The Ilorin-based Kwara United and Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) on Thursday lauded the decision of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to expel Ocean Boys of Brass, Bayelsa.
The the league body after its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday announced the expulsion of the club from the 2011/2012 season.
The NPL said the club violated the competition's rule in NPL article 4.2 (3) by failing to honour two matches consecutively.
The league body also cancelled all played and unplayed matches of the team and deducted the points from teams that had played against the expelled club.
In separate telephone interviews the Media Officers of the two clubs agreed that the decision was in line with the rules of the league.
Mr Olayioye Ajide, the Media Officer of Kwara United said: “If NPL had done otherwise, it is like it is violating the law.
“Even though we know the congress has the final say, but then, as far as Kwara United is concerned, we believe we must abide by the rules of the game and of the league.''
On Kwara United's standing on the NPL log, Ajide said that the team was no longer threatened by relegation.
“We are not threatened. In fact we are contesting for one of the continental tickets now and this is possible if we are able to win our last league match on Friday,'' he said.
He, however, called for a review of the rules to avert a recurrence.
Ajide said the excuse of Ocean Boys for not honouring the games was justified as payment of indemnity should not be the responsibility of clubs.
“You have your budget and you know you have a government that will pay the running cost, so the NPL should review that aspect of the rules,'' Ajide said.
In his reaction, Jimoh Bashir, the Media Officer of ABS, said the team had no grouse on the decision since it was in line with an established rule.
He also ruled the Saraki-owned club out of relegation with the decision but said the rules should be reviewed.
Jimoh explained that the rule was to prevent clubs from deliberately missing two matches in order to favour the team on top of the table.
The NPL decision, Kwara United and ABS had a point each deducted from them.
Kwara United drew at home against the Ocean Boys and lost when they visited Brass, while ABS secured a point in Bayelsa and would not play their last match on Friday again against the team. (NAN)