{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Mathematical 7","provider_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7","title":"Nigerian Football is in Crisis - again - Mathematical 7","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"UVSzUirbrn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/nigerian-football-is-in-crisis-again\/\">Nigerian Football is in Crisis &#8211; again<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/nigerian-football-is-in-crisis-again\/embed\/#?secret=UVSzUirbrn\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Nigerian Football is in Crisis &#8211; again&#8221; &#8212; Mathematical 7\" data-secret=\"UVSzUirbrn\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/mathematical7.com\/m7\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/nff_logo.jpg","thumbnail_width":317,"thumbnail_height":159,"description":"Once again Nigerian football is in crisis.  The country\u2019s football federation and crisis are conjoined like Siamese twins. This crisis has the potential to rock the country to its very foundation. The setting is old and well worn \u2013 a crisis erupts during and after the election for the office of president of the Nigeria Football Federation. It lingers through the reign of the president until the next election, and another crisis erupts again.   The problem is that the election process is always riddled with anomalies. These anomalies are also always challenged in regular courts by aggrieved persons because they seek quick interventions and a fair hearing, which they believe they will not get by protesting to the arbitrators recommended by the statutes of their national federation. These are usually appendages of incumbent administrators and will be heavily biased in their favour. Seeking justice from Fifa is also seen as a long, expensive and futile effort, based on previous experiences. The problem with taking the matter to an ordinary court, however, is that an article in the statutes of Fifa forbids it. Fifa then threatens, or sometimes even suspends football federations from all activities. In Nigeria such Fifa threats have become commonplace, coming to the fore with every election. Out of fear, everything is thrown overboard \u2013 the evidence, common sense, the root cause of the crisis, government\u2019s interest, even the law. End of story! Whoever is elected enjoys his position for four years, all aggrieved persons lick their wounds, the \u2018cancer\u2019 festers and Nigerian football, imprisoned in the grip of powerful forces under the cover of Fifa, suffers. In 2016, with the present crisis, things are unlikely to go the usual way. A new scene has been added to the play. There is a new government in power whose mantra of change is anchored to strict adherence to the rule of law. So, the strategy of hiding under the canopy of Fifa\u2019s threat may not work this time around. Now the battle line is drawn between the law of the land and Fifa\u2019s threat. Period! So what should Nigeria do in this case between Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa over the presidency of the NFF? Let\u2019s examine the issues creating the crisis once again.  What is the root cause of the crisis?"}