Monrovia City Court Cites LFA President Mustapha Raji

The Monrovia City Magisterial Court, through Associate Magistrate Quincy A. Q. Garnett, has cited the President of the Liberia Football Association, Mustapha Raji, for a conference today Wednesday, November 24.

It follows a complaint brought against Mr. Raji by Stages FC, represented by and through its legal counsels.Stages FC, that were relegated to the 3rd division after the 2020/21 league season, in their complaint noted that the LFA through President Raji has “violated their duly entitled rights as a member club” by having neither invited nor provided them congress documents for the just ended extraordinary congress held on Saturday, November 20.

Chapter 12, Article 19.1 of the LFA revised statutes lists the below as members eligible to attend congress. 1. First division Clubs 2. Second division Clubs 3. Women first division Clubs 4. Sub-Associations of the fifteen (15) Counties of Liberia 5. Liberia National Old-Timers Association (LONA) 6. Bankers Sport Association of Liberia (BASAAL) 7. Academicals (ISSA & Varsity) 8. Coaches’Association 9. Referees’Association 10. Beach Soccer Association

In an interview with journalists after receiving the court’s citation, President Raji said, “We will go for the conference and discuss whatsoever there is to discuss. However, those clubs or people involved will be cautioned because they are under the authority of the football association, who owns our league. If you want to come into my house, I have my rules and regulations (LFA Statues). If my rules and regulations tell you that you cannot take matters of my house to court and want to live in my house and disrespect us, we will take the necessary action.”

According to Chapter 30, Article 85.1 and 85.2 “LFA, its Members, Players, Officials and match and player’s agents will not take any dispute to Ordinary Courts unless specifically provided for in these Statutes and CAF and FIFA regulations. Any disagreement shall be submitted to the jurisdiction of LFA, CAF, FIFA, or CAS.”

86.2 says: “LFA shall have jurisdiction on internal national disputes, i.e. disputes between parties belonging to LFA. FIFA shall have jurisdiction on international disputes, i.e. disputes between parties belonging to different Associations and/or Confederations.”

At Saturday’s Extraordinary Congress, delegates voted ‘Yes’ to three proposals. They include the admittance of seven new members (Bong Rangers, Cece United, Pags FC, DC Shooters, City Football Academy, Shaita Angels, and Soccer Ambassadors); the Increment in number of Women’s upper league teams from 9 to 10; and the Splitting of the Media, Marketing and Sponsorship Committee to Media and Communication Committee and Marketing and Sponsorship Committee.

Meanwhile the election for an Executive Committee Member to replace Judge Joseph Kollie, who resigned due to his appointment as Judge of the Labor court, was postponed to a later date, as candidates did not meet two guidelines to contest for the position.