By James Robert Kayindi
Four time league champions, Uganda Revenue Authority are going to appeal a decision by the Uganda Premier League Board that saw them lose points to league rivals SC Villa.
On Tuesday, the league board passed a verdict in the case where the Tax collectors had been accused of fielding Saidi Kyeyune who had allegedly accumulated three yellows cards and was supposed to be left out in their outing against Villa. Upon conviction, URA lost 2 points to Villa which sent the Blues second on the table.
“During match #182 URA FC vs SC Villa that was played on Friday 10th April 2015 in Lugazi, player Kyeyune Saidi was fielded by URA FC and yet he had accumulated 3(three) yellow cards from previous games thus making him ineligible for the above mentioned match,” reads part of the circular released by UPL CEO Bernard Bainamani on Tuesday.
The committee ruled in reference to Article 20(8) of Fufa Competitions Rules 2014/2015 which provides that,“a player who accumulates three (3) bookings (cautions) in a league competition shall automatically become an ineligible player for the next one physically played match.”
“Article 19(20) of Fufa Competitions Rules 2014/2015 provides that, ‘a Club that fields an ineligible player in a Fufa Competition Match shall lose the match by forfeiture to the opposing team.’ Accordingly, URA FC loses match #182 by three goals and three points,” the circular further stated.
However, URA is ready to appeal the decision.
“The point of contention is that there was a case of mistaken identity during the game against Soana. The referee credited the yellow card in the 85th minute to Jimmy Kulaba, a player who had been substituted after 66 minutes,” URA secretary Henry Mayeku told Supersport.com.
“The referee indicates if a player is booked while on the bench but that didn’t happen. The good thing is that we have a video recording of the game,” he added.
Email Robert: Robert.k.circles@gmail.com