MONROVIA — Senior Professional Sisters FC President Emmett Stages Glassco has called on the Liberia Football Association (LFA) to suspend the admission of Nimba United into the Second Division League, raising serious conflict-of-interest concerns involving the club’s owner, LFA Second Vice President Adolphus Dolo.
By Jaheim T. Tumu | jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com
Glassco warned that admitting the club through an administrative process rather than sporting promotion threatens to undermine the credibility of football governance in Liberia, given Dolo’s position within the executive body overseeing the competition.
“No individual should be above the rules, and no football club should enjoy preferential treatment because of its association with those in authority,” Glassco declared during a press conference in Monrovia.
The controversy stems from the LFA’s decision to expand the Second Division League by admitting two additional clubs through an administrative application process—bypassing the conventional pathway of earning promotion on the pitch.
While the LFA framed the expansion as an effort to broaden national participation, Glassco argued that incorporating a club linked to a sitting senior official compromises transparency, accountability, and administrative independence.
“Can a senior official of a football governing body have a direct interest in a club seeking special administrative admission into a higher division without creating a serious conflict-of-interest concern?” Glassco asked.
Governance Questions Surrounding Dolo’s Dual Role
At the heart of Glassco’s objection is the operational conflict between Dolo’s leadership duties at the LFA and his financial interest in a club applying for entry into a league managed by the same authority.
While stopping short of accusing Dolo of outright corruption, Glassco emphasized that the potential for bias demands immediate scrutiny.
“I am not suggesting that Dolo has personally manipulated the process, nor am I presenting an allegation of misconduct as an established fact,” Glassco clarified. “Nevertheless, his dual position as a senior LFA official and an interested party creates a legitimate concern that cannot simply be ignored.”
He stressed that safeguarding public confidence requires the LFA to enforce institutional safeguards preventing both actual and perceived influence.
“Where an official occupies a senior position within the same institution administering a process from which his club stands to benefit, there must be adequate safeguards against influence,” he added.
Nimba United’s Relegation and Promotion Defeat
The dispute has drawn renewed scrutiny to Nimba United’s recent decline across Liberia’s domestic football structure.
Nimba United was initially relegated from the First Division following a points-deduction penalty for fielding an ineligible player.
The team suffered further setbacks during the 2022/23 campaign before dropping out of the Second Division entirely.
After spending two seasons outside the national league system, the club sought to regain its slot on the field in June 2026 but fell short, losing 3-2 to Bain United FC in the promotion playoff final.
“A club should never gain an advantage because its owner or controlling official occupies a senior position within the governing institution,” Glassco insisted, advocating for strict adherence to merit-based advancement.
Calls for Disclosure and Independent Review
Glassco has challenged the LFA executive board to publicly detail how the expansion process was conducted and clarify what ethical protocols were implemented.
Specifically, Glassco demands that the LFA disclose, Whether Vice President Dolo formally declared his interest in Nimba United. or Whether Dolo recused himself from board discussions and decisions regarding league expansion.
Also he wants the explicit evaluation criteria used to select administrative applicants, along with the identities of the panel members.
“The issue is not only whether his club meets the basic requirements,” Glassco asserted. “The issue is whether the process is sufficiently independent to guarantee that his position could not influence the outcome.”
Glassco urged the LFA leadership to suspend Nimba United’s admission pending a full, independent review to restore trust among member clubs and stakeholders.
“This matter is bigger than one club, one individual, or one league season,” Glassco said. “It concerns the fundamental principles upon which football governance in Liberia should operate.”
The LFA has not yet issued an official response to Glassco’s demands.