SC Villa faces CAF ban over withdrawal

Jan 11, 2010

KAKUNGULU Cup holders SC Villa face a three-year ban from continental inter-clubs competitions for pulling out of the Africa Confederation Cup.

By Norman Katende

KAKUNGULU Cup holders SC Villa face a three-year ban from continental inter-clubs competitions for pulling out of the Africa Confederation Cup.

After receiving Villa’s letter last week, FUFA chief executive Edgar Watson confirmed yesterday that they informed CAF of the development.

Villa were due to play Sudan side Al Khartoum in the first round of the Orange Confederation Cup in February but club secretary Luyimbazi Mugalu wrote to FUFA informing them of the club’s financial incapabilies to participate in the annual continental competition.

Apart from the mandatory fine of $1500 to the national soccer federation FUFA, the latest confederation rules also take action on the club for their withdrawial from the competition after the fixtures have been released.

“Apart from the financial sanctions, every club withdrawing from a competition after the establishment of the fixtures will be forbidden from participating in all CAF inter-clubs competitions for three years,” reads article 13 (4) of the CAF rules and regulations.

The twist means that if Villa wins the Uganda Super League or retains the Kakungulu Cup, they will not be eligible to play in any CAF competition.

“I did not know about that. Isn’t it after we have played a match that we can be punished?” Mugalu wondered after being reminded of the consequences of Villa’s pullout. “We will have to consult first with the federation”.

Watson said Villa officially communicated to them and there was no reason of meeting over the matter.

In 2001, Military Police FC was banned for three years for failure to honour their second leg home match against Nkana Red Devils of Nigeria in the Cup Winners Cup.

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