The Rwanda FA has received a complaint filed by Gorilla FC accusing APR of fielding seven foreign players as opposed to the current foreign players’ quota rule. The development was confirmed by federation Secretary-General Adolphe Kalisa on Monday. Kalisa told Times Sport that Gorilla FC filed a complaint right after their match day 8 game against APR FC which ended in a goalless draw. The match was officiated by center referee Hicham Akingeneye who was assisted by Dieudonne Mutuyimana and Jean Paul Nsengiyumva while the fourth referee was Celestin Nsabimana. The commissioner of this game was Alain Zimurinda Gorilla FC accuses the military side of violating article 8.2 of the rules and regulations governing competitions organized by FERWAFA. The article allows teams to fill ten foreign players on team sheet but restricts them to field more than six on the pitch at the same time. APR FC had six foreign players on the pitch in Congolese goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila, Ghanaian duo Seidou Yasif Dauda and Richmond Lamptey, Senegalese Aliou Souane, Malian winger Mahamadou Lamine Bah, and Nigerian striker Victor Mbaoma. The incident unfolded when the Serbian coach made double substitution in the second half, bringing in Nigerian Nwobodo Chidiebere and Mamadou Sy for Arsene Tuyisenge and Lamptey respectively. The substitutions left APR playing with seven foreign players, exceeding the six players provided by the existing foreign players’ quota rule. The military side played at least five minutes with seven foreign players on the pitch until the coaches made quick a substitution by replacing Lamine Bah with Alain Kwitonda to meet the required number. Gorilla head coach Alain Kirasa and his assistant Abouba Sibomana were spotted complaining to the fourth match official that their opponent has seven players on the pitch. After the match, Novic admitted before the press that what happened was a misunderstanding” but again insisted that it was “not APR’s fault” Kalisa said that, “FERWAFA received Gorilla FC’s letter of complaint regarding the matter” before the referee even blew the final whistle to end the match. Will Gorilla get justice? Times Sport understands that members of FERWAFA’s committee in charge of competitions held a showdown meeting over the complaint submitted by Gorilla FC and should APR be found guilty, they will, among other sanctions, lose the match by forfeit. Kalisa said that the resolutions from the meeting will be issued before the end of the week. “The competition commission will sit and give us guidelines. We will know the decision before the end of this week as soon as the commission shares the report,” Kalisa said. As it stands, Police FC stay at the top of the table with 15 points, level on points with Gorilla FC who climbed to second, having played a game more while Rayon Sports are third with 14 points, although they have played two games less. APR FC are now 14th with 5 points while Kiyovu remain at the bottom with three points, having lost 4-0 at the hands of Rayon Sports on Saturday. It was their sixth consecutive defeat in the league.
