Premium Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sponsors, Aiteo Group, has threatened to pull out sponsorship of Nigerian football.
The current NFF crisis involving Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa could ultimately lead to FIFA ban.
In a press statement issued through Ndiana Matthew, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications for AITEO, the company gave a 14-day ultimatum for the crisis to be settled or they will be forced to pull out of all sponsorship packages and agreement.
“As the leading sponsor of national football activities in the country presently and the largest contributor of the funds that ostensibly comprise the subject of the investigations, we are constrained to make our position known on the matter.
“We believe that it has become necessary, given the critical importance of providing well-meaning Nigerians with our views on the accurate position, to offer the following observations so that misunderstandings are avoided,” the statement read in part.
AITEO said since coming into Nigerian Football to take up financial support to the technical crew for the national team in April 2017, it demonstrated its satisfaction with the relationship by expanding the relationship to cover the sponsorship of the AITEO CUP.
The company said continuing satisfaction then led to their sponsorship of the NFF Awards (with the first edition held in Lagos February 2018).
Additionally, AITEO has supported the NFF with the building of State FA secretariats to support grassroots football development.
AITEO also noted that they heavily supported the qualification of the Super Eagles for the 2018 World Cup offering huge incentive and bonuses to motivate the players during critical matches. During the on-going 2018 World Cup proper, AITEO hugely motivated the players with a bonus of $50,000 per un-replied goal.
The company said it insisted and approved the involvement and participation of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) as Official Funds Managers in the manner and upon the terms set out in the various contracts.
In their official statement, AITEO confirmed that Mediterranean Sports Ltd is the official Marketing Agency that facilitated and packaged its entry into Nigerian Football.
Mediterranean manages the relationships between NFF and AITEO in the manner and upon the terms set out in the various contracts. “We confirm that we are satisfied with the role and performance of MSL.”
The company warned that the position of the practices and regulation of world football in FIFA’s statutes, regulations and practices are common knowledge.
“Whatever the case is, Nigerian football cannot operate in isolation. This compels the absolute necessity to operate within the parameters that regulate the other 210 countries that comprise World Football. The prevalence of the current crisis detracts from the exalted heights of respectability Nigeria now enjoys in African and World football. Crises like these are unnecessary distractions and are unhealthy and divisive. If this persists, there will be only one loser – NIGERIA and its 180 Million people! This consequence must be avoided, at all costs,” the statement by AITEO said.
The statement added: “The persisting situation makes it difficult for us, as a law-abiding entity, to operate responsibly within the demands placed on us. Accordingly, we are constrained to indicate that unless these issues are resolved satisfactorily in the manner dictated by the requirements of the world governing body FIFA within fourteen (14) days hereof, we will deem ourselves compelled to reconsider our position with respect to participation in the various arrangements in which we are involved.”
