Abia Warriors have refuted claims of breaching players transfer rule.
According to reports, the Umuahia-based club failed to comply with the directives of the Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) on the unresolved indebtedness to their former players.
Abia Warriors Chairman, John Obuh insisted that his club is not complicit in alleged rule-breaking around the fielding of ineligible players.
“Abia Warriors is not in breach of any players transfer rule,” Obuh told Completesports.
“Anyway, we’ve responded to them, asking them to get in touch with the NPFL or NFF on the matter.
“Don’t forget, this alleged indebtedness happened well over ten (10) years ago and we asked for time to verify it and see how we can resolve with the affected players.
“At the time PSAC sat, they invited us for us to defend ourselves. But unfortunately, at that time, we we’re already in Lafia, Nasarawa State, for our President Federation Cup match, We responded to them, telling them our situation at that time and that we would welcome a new date since we’re already out of our base for a competition as seriously important as the President Federation Cup.
“We equally requested for a new date for us to come for our defence. But instead, what we received was a memo of threat of sanction, points deduction and all that.
“The NPFL is possession of our letter, so also the NPFL and the NPFL Club Owners Chairman. So we’ve asked the PSAC to get in touch with these authorities first before writing to us to show cause why we shouldn’t be sanctioned.
“Better still, we can face the PSAC to present our position to them which is normal since we’re time choked with domestic Cup match during the time they sat and needed our presence. Call it ‘Force Majeur’ if you like, Power to sanction resides with NPFL on the approval of NFF and not a Committee.”
NPFL: Abia Warriors debunk fielding ineligible players against Heartland
