Izuchukwu Okosi
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have handed heavy fines to three clubs including Katsina United, Gombe United and Niger Tornadoes ranging from financial to stadium bans for fans over breaches of the league rules.
Katsina United are found to have flouted the NPFLdressing code during their Matchday 11 fixture in Lagos against Sporting Lagos.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelUnited was found in breach of Rule B9.7 for inappropriate display of the surname of Player, Ibrahim Yahay with jersey number 27.
The club has been ordered to pay ₦1million for inappropriate display of the player’s name and number while the kits Manager, Masudu Lawal received a one year ban from all NPFL activities for improper conduct.
In the aftermath of fans unruly conduct in another Matchday 11 fixture, Gombe United were fined a total of ₦7million and a one match stadium ban to fans for breaches ranging from disruption of match by fans throwing objects on to the field of play, to disruption of live broadcast of the match and failure to provide adequate and effective security.
In a case arising from Matchday 10 between Niger Tornadoes and Akwa United, the former was charged with breach of Rule B8.21, C9 and C1.1 for which it was fined a total of ₦3.250 million including compensatory payment to the Centre Referee.
The sanctions include a fine of ₦1million for failure to provide adequate and effective security for match officials. Another fine of ₦1million for failure to ensure the proper conduct of its officials (Stewards/Security Personnel).
There was a third fine of ₦1million for misconduct and a ₦250,000 compensatory payment to Referee(Ahmad Rabiu from Kano State Referees Council) for losses resulting from the harassment.
The Ahmadu Bello Stadium home ground of Niger Tornadoes has been ordered closed to fans for the next three home fixtures of the club.
Commenting on the breaches and the sanctions, Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL noted that the regulatory role of the body is to identify, investigate acts that may undermine the integrity of the NPFL and impose appropriate sanctions based on the provisions of the Framework and Rules.
“Our rules have sufficiently made provisions to keep away conducts that are inimical to the overall best interest of the clubs, their players and fans.
“While we cannot stop any club or individual from certain behaviours, we definitely would not condone such misconduct and would always apply sanctions to serve as deterrence,” remarked onetime Enugu Rangers striker, Owumi.
He is particularly peeved at the case of Katsina United which he noted has occurred in just over a week when the NPFL issued a practice directive on dress codes for Managers and players and which was shared with Match Commissioners and Referees.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
