{"id":2106,"date":"2013-04-13T22:41:25","date_gmt":"2013-04-13T22:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/confed-cup-caf-throws-out-heartlands-appeal\/"},"modified":"2013-04-13T22:41:25","modified_gmt":"2013-04-13T22:41:25","slug":"confed-cup-caf-throws-out-heartlands-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/confed-cup-caf-throws-out-heartlands-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Confed Cup: CAF Throws Out Heartland\u2019s Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nigeria\u2019s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, Heartland FC have failed in their bid to overturn a decision awarding the first-round tie to US Bitam on a walkover.<\/p>\n

Heartland appealed to CAF after Bitam were awarded the win because the Nigerian side were registered as “absent” at the time of kick-off for the second leg in Gabon.<\/p>\n

Heartland, who were leading 2-1 from the first leg in Nigeria, claim they had difficulties travelling to Gabon for the fixture.<\/p>\n

The Nigerian side only departed for the match on Saturday 6 April an hour before the game was due to kick off, claiming visa and flight hitches forced them to leave Lagos late.<\/p>\n

Heartland continued with their travel plans expecting the game to be played on Sunday in the interests of fairplay, but there was no one from the Gabon FA or US Bitam to receive them when they arrived.<\/p>\n

CAF on its website Saturday says that \u201cin relation to the match initially scheduled on Saturday 6 April which did not take place between US Bitam (Gabon) and Heartland (Nigeria) in the frame of the 10th edition of the Orange Confederation Cup 2013, the referees and officials registered the absence of Heartland team at the time of kick off.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 1st leg match played in Nigeria ended with a score of 2-1 in favour of Heartland and the return leg was scheduled for 6 April at 16h00 in Libreville, Gabon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe CAF Inter-clubs Committee considered that the absence of the team from Nigeria was mainly the responsibility of Heartland, rather than a case of force majeure.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsequently, and in conformity with article 16 of the competition regulations, which says that \u2018If for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match-except in case of force majeure accepted by the Organising Committee- or if it refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the permission of the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated from the competition. The same shall apply to the teams which were declared disqualified by decision of CAF.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd without considering other possible sanctions to be applied during the next meeting of the CAF inter-clubs Committee in May in Cairo, the CAF Inter-cubs Committee considers the team Heartland eliminated from the competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe US Bitam team will therefore face the team of USM Algiers for the next round of the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

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