FCT FA Denies Blocking Insurance Of Benin From Area 3 Pitch

The Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA) has dismissed allegations that it deliberately denied Insurance of Benin access to the Area 3 football pitch in Abuja, describing the claims as misleading and unfair.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Head of Media and Communications of the FCT FA, Uche Nwudoh Hillary, the association said recent reports surrounding the matter failed to reflect the true situation and risked damaging the reputation of the football body.

The FCT FA expressed concern over what it described as irresponsible and inaccurate reporting, warning that careless narratives could create confusion and spread falsehoods within the football community.

According to the statement, the Area 3 Pitch has long served as a venue for grassroots football activities, including lower-tier league matches and organisational competitions within the Federal Capital Territory.

The association explained that following the draws for the ongoing Federation Cup competition, Insurance of Benin approached the FCT FA seeking permission to use the pitch for training at 1 p.m. on Monday ahead of their scheduled match on Tuesday.

However, the FCT FA said the facility had already been booked for Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) fixtures scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with four official matches fixed for the day.

It stated that the Secretary of the Board politely informed the club about the prior engagement and that the discussion ended amicably.

The association expressed surprise that the matter later resulted in a complaint allegedly sent to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), claiming that the FCT FA intentionally denied the club access to the venue.

The FCT FA maintained that it regularly makes the Area 3 facility available to football clubs, organisations and individuals whenever the pitch is free.

It questioned whether official NLO fixtures should have been postponed simply to accommodate a training session, insisting that lower-tier competitions deserved equal recognition and proper organisation.

“Official league matches cannot and should not be cancelled for training purposes,” the statement said.

The football body also rejected suggestions of any rivalry between the FCT FA and Insurance of Benin, noting that the FCT FA currently does not have a club participating in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The statement further pointed out that Abuja has several alternative training venues, including the Goal Project Pitch and facilities within the MKO Abiola National Stadium complex.

According to the association, operational or logistical difficulties faced by visiting teams should not be transferred to the FCT FA at the expense of already scheduled football competitions.

The FCT FA also called on journalists and media practitioners to uphold professionalism, fairness and objectivity in their reporting.

It stressed that responsible journalism required proper fact-checking and balanced reportage, particularly on issues capable of generating unnecessary controversy within Nigerian football.

The association added that collaboration, professionalism and mutual respect among stakeholders remained essential for the growth and development of football in the country.