Maroons and Tooro appeal against FUFA's decision to end season

A general outcry that the decision was autocratic has been followed by an appeal by relegated sides Maroons and Tooro United.

The clubs have cried out to FUFA's appeals committee for justice clearly outlining their grievances and suggestions on fair play.

Maroons and Tooro's appeal, a copy of which The New Vision saw, is signed by club heads Moses Kakungulu (Maroons) and Alice Namatovu (Tooro).

Their prayer is: "that FUFA rescinds its decision on the abrupt ending of the league maintaining the previous status quo till a fair determination is made through normal play."

They also want FUFA in consultation with all clubs and other stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive plan that will be shared with government on development of SOPs aimed at resumption of the league.

The clubs argue that given the unique circumstances when the league was ended FUFA could have looked to much more realistic options.

They say FUFA could have maintained the status quo and permited the league to be played to its natural conclusion.

The second option would have been to end the league with no promotions and relegations.

The third possibility would have been ending the league with promotion of three clubs and no relation until the next season when six clubs would be dropped.

The appeal amongst other things lists the areas FUFA wronged in stopping the league.

Failure to consult all stakeholders; inconsistencies in the decision which was also not in the spirit of fairness and more uniformity in application of rules, are some of the reasons.

Others are: FUFA's decision to award some teams at the expense of others and what Tooro and Maroons term as unfair and costly punishment of relegated clubs.

"Covid-19 came upon us and the world unexpectedly and nobody can be blamed for it.

Ending the league prematurely and punishing clubs through relegation when five games would have given a huge difference if played is an actual injustice because the relegated clubs have been punished for something they have not caused and losing income from this unjust and unfair unilateral decision taken by FUFA," reads the appeal in part.

On May 20 FUFA president Moses Magogo announced a decision taken to end the league.

Quoting article 18 of FUFA's competition rules, he attributed it to disruption of sports activities as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.