The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) says the premier league will stick to its existing fixtures.
In a press statement issued on 18 September 2013, the FA Secretariat says that "despite the overtures, meetings and attempts to reconcile with clubs and stakeholders, it would appear that some members of the football family remain adamant and as such have restrained their respective clubs from participating in the current ongoing league."
The statement warns that "failure to honour the league matches as a protest is in violation of Article 13 (1) c of the SLFA constitution as amended in Kabala in April 2012.”
The FA head of media, John Konteh told Politico Sport that penalties for such ranged from the deduction of points to much sterner measures.
The release further indicted individuals and clubs for what it said was a defiance of the decisions of FIFA, SLFA and the pro-tem Normalisation Committee. "These challenges have sometimes been backed by violence, threats, insults and defamatory statements through certain local media channel” the statement says.
Meanwhile, according to the fixtures issued last week, three of the four matches scheduled for Wednesday, 18 September did not take place. The only match that took place was FC Johansen vs Anti Drugs Strikers which the latter won by a goal to nil. Mighty Blackpool vs Ports Authority and Kamboi Eagles vs Gem Stars were not honoured. In the case of Diamond Stars vs Freetown City FC the former were awarded the three points because the latter failed to show up for the match at the Attouga Mini Stadium.
The FA said the fixture would continue on Friday, 20September between Central Parade and FC Kallon at the SLFA Grounds with the later expected to boycott.
(C) Politico 19/08/13
