Members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has issued a stern warning to the World’s football governing body; FIFA after they again moved to dissolve the Isha Johansen led Executive Committee of the Football Association (FA).
It could be recalled that last year December, the same move was made by the members of the FA but their decision was rescinded following an intervention by his Excellency the President, Ernest Bai Koroma in his capacity as the President of the National Sports Council asking for all parties to attend an April congress.
However, the April 17-18 congress ended abruptly with several allegations not limited to falsification of delegates and the deprivation of legitimate delegates to have a say or interject at the meeting in Makeni.
It could be recalled that last year December, the same move was made by the members of the FA but their decision was rescinded following an intervention by his Excellency the President, Ernest Bai Koroma in his capacity as the President of the National Sports Council asking for all parties to attend an April congress.
However, the April 17-18 congress ended abruptly with several allegations not limited to falsification of delegates and the deprivation of legitimate delegates to have a say or interject at the meeting in Makeni.
Following the alleged problems at the congress, the football stakeholders has made a decision to dissolve the Johansen’s controlled executive in a 10 points resolution which was signed by 34 out of 47 delegates.
The resolution also includes a nine-man interim body, headed by veteran football administrator Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay been set up again to run the affairs of the association with immediate effect until elections are held in December 2015.
According to point three of the signed resolution; the said interim committee shall during the aforesaid period have all the authority vested in the Executive Committee by the SLFA constitution.
“That the purported suspension of players, officials and other persons by the Isha Johansen led executive on allegation of match-fixing is in breach of the rules of natural justice and is hereby rescinded. This is without prejudice to any other investigation to be conducted subsequently with regards to the same,” reads point nine of the signed resolution.
In an interview with African Sports TV, Alhaji Alim Sesay said because their decision was done in congress they are issuing a strong warning to FIFA not to go against the SLFA and FIFA constitution.
He said: “We will not be intimidated by FIFA or CAF because our decision was done within the ambit of our constitution.”
Meanwhile, the SLFA Isha Johansen administration are yet to make any statement on the issue the same for the World football governing body had over the past warned it would frown at any decision taken outside congress.
This impasse in the country’s football started since Johansen came to office in August 2013 in a controversial election. She went unchallenged after former Inter Milan and Monaco striker Mohamed Kallon and Rodney Michael were disqualified.
The resolution also includes a nine-man interim body, headed by veteran football administrator Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay been set up again to run the affairs of the association with immediate effect until elections are held in December 2015.
According to point three of the signed resolution; the said interim committee shall during the aforesaid period have all the authority vested in the Executive Committee by the SLFA constitution.
“That the purported suspension of players, officials and other persons by the Isha Johansen led executive on allegation of match-fixing is in breach of the rules of natural justice and is hereby rescinded. This is without prejudice to any other investigation to be conducted subsequently with regards to the same,” reads point nine of the signed resolution.
In an interview with African Sports TV, Alhaji Alim Sesay said because their decision was done in congress they are issuing a strong warning to FIFA not to go against the SLFA and FIFA constitution.
He said: “We will not be intimidated by FIFA or CAF because our decision was done within the ambit of our constitution.”
Meanwhile, the SLFA Isha Johansen administration are yet to make any statement on the issue the same for the World football governing body had over the past warned it would frown at any decision taken outside congress.
This impasse in the country’s football started since Johansen came to office in August 2013 in a controversial election. She went unchallenged after former Inter Milan and Monaco striker Mohamed Kallon and Rodney Michael were disqualified.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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