NPFL: LMC Comes Hard On Offenders…Coach, Top Clubs Hit
The League Management Company (LMC) has come hard on Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides: FC Ifeanyiubah and Rangers International for ‘breach of rule’. Also sanctioned is a coach from Sunshine Stars of Akure, Kayode Julius, Concise News reports.
FC Ifeanyiubah has been charged by the LMC for breach of Rule B8.21 on MatchDay 13 in their home fixture against Plateau United.
They were charged for failing to provide adequate security for match officials who were threatened on their way to the dressing room at half time by the club’s supporters wielding dangerous objects.
The “Anambra Warriors” were also charged for not providing adequate security for the match officials who were detained on the field for over 30 minutes after being threatened and prevented from gaining access to the dressing room at the end of the match.
In exercise of Summary Jurisdiction, the LMC has fined the club a total of N2,250,000. N1m each for the two charges of failure to ensure adequate security for the match officials and N250,000 as compensation to the match referee for assault pursuant to Rule C12.
The 2016 Nigeria Federation Cup (now Aiteo Cup) champions have 48 hours to communicate in writing, acceptance of the decision or elect to appear before a panel.
Bizzare scene in #Akure…. Our Goalkeeper, Ospino Egbe, down in serious pains after he was attacked by @SunshineFCAkure Chief Coach, Kayode Julius, before today’s rescheduled #NPFL match. pic.twitter.com/0zuIU5Ehqa
— Lobi Stars FC (@LobiStars) April 11, 2019
Meanwhile, Kayode Julius, a coach with Sunshine Stars has been charged for breach of Code of Conduct (Appendix E) of the NPFL Framework and Rules in the course of the rescheduled MatchDay 2 fixture between his club and Lobi Stars.
Julius, one of Head Coach, Kabiru Dogo’s lieutenants is a CAF B licensed coach and a former footballer. The trainer took violence to another level in an attempt to intimidate Lobi Stars before kick off (during warm-up) and landed a blow to the face of Stars goalkeeper Ospino Egbe, thereby leaving a cut on the former MFM FC shot-stopper’s face. Stars were forced to make a replacement for the player who was planned for a starting spot.
Kayode Julius has now been charged for violent assault on Ospino, as he fails to set a positive example for players and supporters.
The LMC has consequently suspended Julius from all NPFL match venues and activities for one year.
Furthermore, Rangers International has been fined a total of N2.5m for breaches of Rule B13.52.1, B13.52.2 and B8.21 during their MatchDay 14 fixture against Katsina United.
The LMC in a Summary Jurisdiction notice charged the club for failure to ensure adequate and effective crowd control as spectators gained access to the restricted area such as the running tracks in breach of Rule B13.52.1.
Rangers was also charged for failure to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to restricted areas and threatening match officials on their way to the dressing room at half time in breach of Rule B13.52.2.
A third charge against Rangers International was a breach of Rule B8.21 in that the club failed to provide adequate security for match officials who were prevented from gaining access to the dressing room and forced to remain on the pitch at half time.
