LMC Hammer: Sanctioned NPFL Clubs accept Decisions
All four Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Clubs recently sanctioned by the League Management Company ( LMC) for various breaches of the NPFL Rules and Framework following incidences on Match Day 17 and 18 have written the league body accepting the sanctions.
Heartlanderri, Plateau United of Jos and Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) of Lagos have in separate letters to the League Management Company (LMC) accepted the various sanctions recently pronounced on the clubs by the by the LMC and expressing regret for the breaches.
Fans of Heartland had at the end of the Match Day 18 fixture encroached on to the field of play and inflicted varying degrees of injury on the match officials. Media Officers of the two clubs also caused to be published different statements that the LMC considered to have brought the league to disrepute
After reviewing the cass, the LMC deducted three points from Heartland’s accumulated points, ordered it to play three home games behind closed doors and levied a total fine of N6.25m including N1.25m to be paid as compensation to the injured match officials and N1m for the publication made by the Media Officer.
Plateau United were also fined N1m as the LMC believed that the publication made by the Media Officer had the backing of the Club Management.
At Agege on Monday, April 23, supporters of the club encroached on to the field and verbally assaulted the match officials consequent on which the club was fined.
The LMC after a further review of the incident said Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM has been warned to exercise restraint in challenging match officials during and after matches.
Abia Warriors were sanctioned following fans encroachment on the field of play after their Match with Katsina United. Officials of the visiting club were manhandled including their video cameraman.
The clubs, by the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) had 48 hours to respond in writing accepting the decisions or electing to appear before a disciplinary panel.
In their response through the club secretary, Cajetan Nkwopara, the club apologised for the incident which they claimed was beyond their control. They further appealed for reduction of the sanctions citing the effort of the management “to transform the club to a modern and viable institution”.
Plateau United in their letter to the LMC signed by the Team Manager, Abel Iliya and accepting the decision, wrote, “The Management of Plateau United Football Club of Jos is in receipt of your letter dated 27th April, 2018 on the above subject matter.
“We therefore accept the verdict of summary Jurisdiction therein’ and we promise to abide by the Framework and Rules of the Nigerian Professional Football League”.
Director of MFM, Emmanuel Adeyemi personally wrote to the LMC acknowledging the decision against the club and undertaken to accept same. He however appealed to the LMC to review the monetary fine downwards.
