By Frank Sesay
FC Johansen has said it will challenge what it described as an unlawful relegation to the Division Two League, disputing a decision taken by the Western Area Football Association (WAFA) and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).
The club said the relegation was unfair, biased and inconsistent with football governance rules, warning that the move could undermine the integrity of the game in Sierra Leone.
Speaking in a radio interview, club official James Momorie said the club’s management had briefed its owner, who had given full backing to any action taken.
“This decision has the tendency to destroy the beautiful game we all love,” Momorie said. “It is clearly unfair and biased against FC Johansen, and we are not going to take it lightly.”
According to club sources, FC Johansen is preparing to pursue legal action against both WAFA and the SLFA. The club has also written to the Ministry of Sports, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and world governing body FIFA, the sources said.
Momorie said the relegation contradicted an earlier decision by the SLFA Executive Committee, which had stated that there would be no relegation across league categories.
“This situation raises serious concerns about consistency, legality and fairness in the administration of the game,” he said.
The dispute has triggered debate among local football stakeholders, with questions raised over the credibility of the ongoing Division One League.
WAFA and the SLFA were not immediately available for comment.
