Owner of 67-0 losers disbands team

The owner of Nigerian side Bubayaro, Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, has disowned and disbanded the club after their 67-0 loss at the hands of Police Machine.

Gombe, who was in Lagos when the games were played, said he had ordered the team not to play the match but he was ignored by team officials.

“As soon as I heard the result I disbanded the team,” he told BBC Sport.

It’s disappointing that some people would bring the game to disrepute out of desperation. I have written a petition to the (state) police in Bauchi to investigate this shame and arrest anyone found to be involved.”

Police Machine were trying to score more goals than Plateau United Feeder, who were playing Akurba, in the race to win promotion to the lowest tier of the Nationwide League Division.

As information about scorelines was swapped between the two venues, which were about 4 kilometres apart, the madness began in the second halves.

A journalist, who does not want to be identified to protect his own safety, was at one of the matches on Saturday, and said that things went bizarre in the second half.

Feeders scored 72 of their goals in the second half, while Police Machine found the net 61 times after the break in their game.

“In the second half we start witnessing outrageous own goals, free-kicks and terrible goalkeeping,” he said.

“Feeders blasted goal after goal past Bubayaro. Officials of the club turned into emergency ball boys, instead of retrieving the ball from the net, they quickly threw another ball into the centre-circle.

“It was ridiculous, because the losing side (Bubayaro) didn’t make any effort and the officiating was abysmal with controversial calls being made and unaccounted additional minutes played.

“Some people were on their mobile phones updating officials at the other venue. A shameful scene at that.”

Even when an official did try and take action he was thwarted.

“The coordinator of Bauchi centre was threatening to arrest all the people involved but players and officials disappeared after the game,” the journalist said.

The result would have meant Plateau Feeders were promoted on goal difference.

But the Nigeria Football Federation has placed indefinite suspensions on all the four clubs involved in the scandalous scorelines.