NPFL: LMC Clamps Down On Heartland, Plateau Utd And MFM FC Over Crowd Violence 

The League Management Comapnay, LMC, organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL has delivered it rulings on the crowd violence that involved Heartland FC, Plateau Utd and MFM FC. 

In it’s rulings on Wednesday via the official twitter handle of the LMC, the league body Heartland were docked 3 accrued points after crowd trouble incident vs Plateau Utd on Matchday 18 

After drawing 1-1 with league champions Plateau United in a rescheduled game on Monday, fans of the home team took laws into their hands when they manhandled the match officials led by Yusuf Garba.

Garba and his assistants Akaninye Udoette and Elisha Owolabi were assaulted and severely brutalised by an angry mob that descended on them shortly after the final whistle. 

Heartland will also ordered to play their next 3 home matches behind closed doors with the team’s manager Mobi Oparaku suspended from all #NPFL activities for the next 10 matches 

The club were also fined N1m for encroachment immediately after their match vs Plateau Utd, N500,000 for failing to restrict unauthorized persons access to restricted areas during the match vs Plateau Utd and N1m for assault on match officials after game vs Plateau Utd. The club will also pay N1.25m as compensation to the match officials. 

Another N500,000 fine will be paid by Heartland for failure to use & issue matchday tickets for record & crowd control purposes. Heartland were further fined N1m for issuing public statement capable of bringing the league to disrepute. For unfairly criticizing and discrediting match officials who are officers or agents of the league, Heartland were fined N1m. 

Their matchday 18 opponent Plateau Utd were also fined N1m for issuing public statements capable of bringing the league to disrepute following the incident in their Matchday 18 game at Heartland. 

MFM FC of Lagos were also not left out as the club was fined N1m for failing to provide adequate & effective crowd control in the course of the game vs Rivers Utd on Monday.  

MFM were also fined N1m for encroachment onto the field of play immediately after their match vs Rivers Utd. 

For failing to control & ensure proper conduct of their officials, MFM will further pay a fine of N1m 

Heartland & its officials, Plateau United & MFM have 48 hours to respond in writing to submit to the decisions or elect to appear before the NFF Disciplinary Committee.