Julius OkorieNigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), has slammed Enyimba Football Club and Rangers Football Club, a total of N15 million fine for their conduct in the abandoned match on Sunday, June 9, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
The NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, penned a letter dated June 10, to Enyimba, detailing several rule infringements the club committed during the controversial game.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEnyimba was notably found in violation of Rule C9, for failing to ensure the proper conduct of its players, officials, and supporters.
Additionally, the club was cited for breaching Rule B6.23, by disrupting the transmission of a live broadcast. Recall that Prime Business Africa, had reported that the NPFL was awaiting full report on the incident that marred what would have been an interesting oriental derby.
In its verdict delivered on Monday, the letter stated that Enyimba breached Rule B13.18, by allowing its team and supporters to throw objects and encroach onto the field of play.
The club received heavy criticism for infringing Rule C1.1, by refusing to resume the match, in protest against a penalty awarded to their opponents, an action considered “against the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, the league rules, and capable of bringing the game to disrepute.”
Enyimba was also deemed culpable for instigating the disturbance and premature termination of the match, violating Rule B13.24.
READ ALSO NPFL Awaits Report On Rangers Against Enyimba Troubled Derby
As a result, the NPFL has levied a series of strict penalties on the club, including a N1 million fine for failing to ensure the proper conduct of their team; a N5 million fine for disrupting a live broadcast; a N1 million fine for throwing objects onto the field of play; a N1 million fine for encroachment onto the field of play; an order forfeiting three points and three goals in favor of their opponent for refusing to allow the penalty awarded against them to be taken, thus disrupting the match and bringing the game into disrepute; and a N2 million fine for causing the disruption and discontinuation of the match.
Furthermore, Enyimba has been instructed to identify and present for further investigation and appropriate penalties other players and officials involved in the disruptive behaviour that led to the game’s discontinuation.
The identified players include Eze Ekwutoziam (Jersey No. 6), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Jersey No. 27), and Akanni Elijah (Jersey No. 10).
The NPFL has given Enyimba a 48-hour ultimatum to either accept the summary jurisdiction and the specified penalties or choose to face a disciplinary panel, with the prospect of facing further sanctions for non-compliance or frivolous appeals.
Table toppers Rangers were not left out in the hammer as the Enugu based side were also handed N5million fine.
The league body said Rangers were fined N2 million for over-ticketing, which led to overcrowding, a violation of Rule B15.24, N1 million for not providing adequate and effective security measures, a violation of Rule B13.52.
Rangers were also fined N1 Million for not implementing adequate and effective crowd control measures, a breach of Rule B13.52.1, and N1 Million for not preventing unauthorised persons from gaining access to restricted areas, a violation of Rule B13.52.
Aside from the total of N5 Million fine, the NPFL has directed the league leaders to “implement a more effective crowd control mechanism in subsequent home games.”
Like Enyimba, Rangers were also given 48 hours to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the prescribed sanctions or elect to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel. Failure to comply or a frivolous appeal may result in additional sanctions, as per Rule E1 of the NPFL’s Frameworks and Rules”.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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