Espoir FC have been relegated to the FERWAFA Third Division after being deducted 50 points for fielding unlicensed Congolese goalkeeper Christian Watanga Milembe. ALSO READ: Espoir FC disqualified from second division playoffs over fielding ineligible player The local football governing body (FERWAFA) informed the decision to the Rusizi-based side as indicated in a letter of which Times Sport obtained a copy. Initially, Espoir FC were handed a five-match suspension for fielding Watanga who the FERWAFA claimed that he had no license issues by the federation. As a result, the team lost its place in the play-offs at the expense of AS Muhanga who finished in third place in Group B in the regular season. FERWAFA, in its decision based on the May 20 ruling, informed Espoir FC that all the points for each game in which this player appeared are to be deducted as stipulated in the second paragraph of article 56 of the competition law. The letter indicates that, based on the referee's reports for the matches that Espoir played during the regular season, “we found that the player appeared in 16 of your wins, two draws, and one loss. We are writing to inform you that you have been deducted 50 points,” the federation said in the letter. Espoir had finished second in Group B with 57 points but the 50-point deduction saw them drop to bottom (13th) of the group table standings with seven points, trailing Impeesa FC, who finished 12th with 16 points. They were hence relegated to third division.
