Kiyovu want APR sanctioned for fielding ‘ineligible’ Byiringiro
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Striker Lague Byiringiro was among the eleven starting players of APR FC during the second leg game against SC Kiyovu on Saturday, January 28, at Muhanga Stadium. Courtesy

Kiyovu Sports Club, has requested Rwanda football governing body (Ferwafa) to impose sanctions on APR over fielding an ineligible player.

The military side played striker Lague Byiringiro during their 3-2 victory over Kiyovu Saturday, January 28, at Muhanga Stadium, just days after Swedish third tier side Sandvikens IF announced him as their new signing on a four-year deal.

READ ALSO: Byiringiro signs for Swedish side Sandviken IF rescind

Kiyovu, in a letter addressed to Ferwafa on Saturday, right after the encounter, asked the federation to declare the match result ‘null and void’ and hence withdraw the three points awarded to the military side after fielding a player who belongs to another team.

"Based on information we received from Swedish club Sandviken IF, where, on January 26, they announced that Lague Byiringiro is their new player, we believe that APR should not be given the points for the match that we played,” the letter signed by Kiyovu SC president Juvenal Mvukiyehe, reads in part.

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Kiyovu claim that they were ‘surprised’ to see Byiringiro featuring for APR during the match yet he already appears on the squad list of Sandvikens IF.

However, APR spokesperson, Tony Kabanda, told Times Sport that the 22-year-old remains their player until he receives his release letter.

"Lague Byiringiro is an APR FC player because buying a player is one thing and releasing a player is another. So he is still registered as our player in FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS),” Kabanda explained in an interview.

"What happened between the two clubs [APR and Sandvikens IF] is agreeing on the transfer. So the transfer has been agreed but there are things that we’re reviewing and agreeing on to release him,” he added.

Should Kiyovu’s case stand, the match could be declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of the Green Baggies while APR could also be handed a fine of over Rwf6,000,000.