Uganda Premier League table leaders Vipers Sports Club could be declared 2019/2020 champions as completion of the league hangs in balance amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The current situation of COVID 19 outbreak has halted major sporting events in the country and the World at large.
Unlike in other leagues were rules on league abandonment and early completion are not provided for in the league handbooks, Uganda’s case is quite different as the Uganda Premier League has provisions in the event of such scenarios.
Three-time league winners, Vipers are champions in the making provided this season fails to resume based on the current health status in the country.
This is in line with article 18 of the FUFA Competition Rules and Regulations that puts contestations to bed and makes it clear.
The law states that, Where the league format due to unforeseen circumstances fails to be completed within the season, the league winner shall be determined as follows;
- Before each and every club has completed its first-round fixture of the league shall be declared null and void.
- Where all the clubs in the league have completed the first round fixture but less than 75% league games have been played, the table standings at the end of the first round shall be considered as the final table standings of the league.
- Whereat least one club has played 75% of the league games, the following formula shall be used by the TOC to determine the table position for the respective group.
- The total number of points earned from the number of games played multiplied by the total number of games supposed to be played divided by the number of games played.
Having played 25 games of the designated 30 in the league, Vipers SC that sits top with 54 points and in pole position to be crowned champions since 75% of the league has been played.
The decision could also see Proline, Toro United and Maroons are relegated if the season is not completed.
The scenario might be reminiscent of the 1991 precedent.
In September 1991, KCCA was declared league champions despite three rounds of the season not being played.
There was a long-standing feud between two rivals SC Villa and KCC over players before the season started.
Quoting CBS FM’s panelist Hassan Badru Zziwa, “the worst came when Fufa General Secretary and former KCC coach-player Moses Nsereko was shot down at his Wampewo flat residence.”
“KCC fans cried foul and threatened not to play in the league again and before the dust had settled, KCC club treasurer Elvis Adipondo also passed on. At this time, KCC was on top of the table with only three rounds of the league left.”
He added, “Then came a new twist when Fufa, with only one month to go before hosting the Cecafa Cup, ordered the National Football League Committee (NFLC) to call off the league. As a result, NFLC invoked a provision that allows the declaration of a champion if 75% of the league is played.”
The incident saw KCC clinch the Championship amid dissatisfaction from Sports Club Villa who were title contenders.