Red Scorpions Football Team have appealed against the punishment levied on the team by The Gambia Football Federation.
The GFF announced last week that it has relegated one of the powerhouses of the country’s domestic women’s football to the second division after its players physically assaulted match officials, causing bodily harm, in a Football Federation Cup game against close rivals Interior.
In a letter sent to the GFF, Red Scorpions’ Football Club Secretary General Tonor Mbenga wrote; “We consider your decision as harsh and against our common objective of developing female football in the country. Therefore, in the spirit of female football development, we solicit you to reconsider your decision.”
According to him, in nearly three decades of their existent in Gambian football, Red Scorpions have never been found wanting or in breach of any rules and regulations of any tournament they ever took part in.
“Further, as one of the most successful teams in the country producing key players for the national team, suspending 9 of our players for two seasons will not only be damaging to be players and our club but also to the female league and female football in general.”
SG Mbenga added, “Red Scorpions have already won the 2015/2016 women first division league with two games to go. We cannot comprehend the reason to relegate our club to the second division. Article 29, sub section B of the disciplinary code does not categorically provide for any team to be relegated and the “further sanctions” as provided in the article cannot be used to fine us D10, 000 and at the same time relegate the team to second division. We maintained that your decision is heavy handed and upholding them would be counterproductive to female football development in The Gambia.”
While deeply regretting the behaviour of the Red Scorpions players, he appealed to the Organising Committee to reconsider its decisions.
by Alieu Ceesay
