When two promotion games end with scorelines of 79-0 and 67-0 respectively, there was always a chance that the authorities would take a closer look. And the consequences have been severe.
You may remember we brought you the story from Nigeria of two promotion play-off games that saw a grand total of 146 goals scored by two teams, well we smelled a rat – it would be hard not to- and the players from all four teams have been banned for life.
Even in the most lopsided primary school games such scorelines were rarely achieved, though this was as much down to as the losers getting annoyed and walking off with the ball, and the constantly evolving developing arithmetic skills as anything else.
All the players and officials involved have been banned for life, while the four clubs themselves have been banned from competing for 10 years.
Plateau United Feeders were 79-0 victors over Akurba FC and remarkably scored all but seven of those goals in the second half. An incredible 72 goals in 45 minutes was taking the piss ever so slightly.
In the other game, Police Machine FC – yes a truly magnificent team name -demolished Bubayaro FC 67-0, though they managed just the 61 goals after the interval.
Plateau United Feeders and Police Machine went into the matches level on points and edged promotion to the lowest tier of the Nationwide League Division on goal difference.
According to the BBC, the Nigerian Football Association has also said they will publish “all the names of players and officials with their photographs and details”.
It takes the term high-scoring to preposterous new levels.
