Freetown City and Wilberforce Strikers have been granted a replay by the Premier League Emergency Appeals Committee, overturning the previous decision.
However, no date was mentioned to replay the remaining minutes of June’s 30th top-tier football contest, which was later abandoned due to chaos.
The issue began on June 30, the second-to-last day of the league. A disputed penalty was awarded to Wilberforce Strikers in the 52nd minute while FCFC was leading 1-0. This resulted in the match being stopped and eventually called off by the referee.
A replay win for Freetown City will mean Real Republicans are relegated from the Sierra Leone top-tier men’s football league.
The previous Ruling – On July 19, 2024, the Disciplinary Committee awarded three points and two goals to Wilberforce Strikers, claiming that FCFC fans, officials, and players had behaved improperly. FCFC denies this claim.
A recap of the Emergency Appeals Committee’s decision
The Emergency Appeals Committee’s report states that the remaining minutes of the match between Freetown City Football Club and Wilberforce Strikers should be played according to Rule 23.2 to Rule 23.2.8 of the SLFA Premier League Rules and Regulations 2023.
The report recommends lifting the fine imposed on Abdul K. Turay, the captain of Freetown City Football Club. The Committee did not find evidence supporting the claim that he assaulted the referee, besides the referee’s report.
