The board of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), on Monday, said it has dismissed the board of Lagos State Football Coaches Association (LSFCA) over alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.

The secretary of LSFA, Akeem Rabiu-Okikioposu, in a statement, said the board had served a dismissal notice on the LSFCA led by Tairu Hassan.

The secretary of the state football governing body said this was because LSFCA flagrantly abused its power and displayed insubordination.

“The LSFA led by Gafar Liameed has responded to a memo it received from the LSFCA questioning its rights to collaborate with the National Institute for Sports (NIS) to organise a coaching programme for coaches in Lagos State.

“The LSFCA memo, dated Jan. 3 and signed by its Chairman Tairu Hassan and Secretary-General Rasheed Suleiman, described the LSFA/NIS coaching course programme as divisive, confusing and an attempt to undermine its rights.

“The memo questioning LSFA authority to organise the coaching programme was disrespectful and a blatant disregard for several sections of the 2023 Amended Statues of LSFA.

“These sections make LSFA the sole regulatory authority for football in Lagos State, under the aegis of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and world governing body FIFA,” he said.

Mr Rabiu-Okikioposu said LSFA believes that, in the first instance, a purported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between LSFCA and NIS never existed.

“Even if it existed, or such documents were signed, it would have been unequivocally non-binding and unenforceable.

“The LSFA is not obliged to seek LSFCA’s permission for any initiative it undertakes, including coaching programmes, as it is mandatory for all LSFA subordinates to align with its vision for football development in Lagos State.

“We see the actions of the LSFCA as an attempt to obstruct LSFA programmes and a violation of the 2023 LSFA Statutes.

“The LSFCA under the leadership of Hassan and Suleiman has violated Article 3 sub-section 2 which frowns at the disloyalty shown over time to the LSFA,” he said.

Mr Rabiu-Okikioposu added that LSFCA also violated Article II Sub-Section C by not paying the annual affiliation fees over the years as specified in the Statutes.

“LSFCA also violated Article 20 by questioning the LSFA Statutory rights and duties, specified herein.”

He said it was in furtherance of the above breaches of the Association’s 2023 Statutes as amended that the LSFCA under Hassan’s leadership was dismissed provisionally.

“The LSFCA is dismissed both as a congress member and as a body with immediate effect and in line with Article 14:2.”

The LFSA secretary added that further decisions and ratifications would be taken by the congress members at the association’s extraordinary general Assembly as specified in the Statutes.

(NAN)