Registration Breach Sees Soroti University Frozen Out of UFL

Soroti University will not feature in the ongoing Pepsi University Football League (UFL) season after the league’s Appeals Committee upheld a one-season suspension imposed for fielding unregistered players.

The decision follows a disciplinary ruling by the UFL Disciplinary Committee, which found that Soroti University breached competition regulations by using impersonator(s) during league matches. The ruling was communicated in a statement released by the UFL Secretariat.

According to the statement, the Disciplinary Committee sanctioned Soroti University after investigations established that some players who featured in league matches were not duly registered as required by the league’s regulations. The university subsequently lodged an appeal challenging the severity of the punishment, but the Appeals Committee upheld the original decision.

Reacting to the verdict, Soroti University Sports Tutor Ibrahim Teko admitted the registration irregularities but maintained that the players involved were bona fide students of the institution.

“Yaah, because the truth is that those boys are our students, but they were not registered at that time. We later registered them for the Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) in December,” Teko said.

Teko further disclosed that the university sought leniency during the disciplinary process, urging league authorities to consider fairness in handling the matter.

“We wrote back and asked them not to be too harsh on us, and requested a fair ruling. They considered our appeal and suspended us for only this year, meaning next season we shall participate,” he added.

The suspension rules Soroti University out of the current UFL season, dealing a significant blow to the institution’s football programme and its student-athletes. However, the decision leaves the door open for a return to the competition in the next season, provided all regulations are fully complied with.

The case highlights the UFL’s strict enforcement of player eligibility and registration rules, reinforcing the league’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and fair play within university football.