Following various acts that breached the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules on Match Day 28, the League Management Company (LMC) has issued summary jurisdiction notices to three clubs and two players of Sunshine Stars.
The LMC also wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation Referees Committee recommending the immediate suspension of Referee Joseph Odey Ogabor who officiated in the match between Shooting Stars and Sunshine Stars for a performance considered to fall short of standards of the league and neglecting to submit his match report within the stipulated time frame of 24 hours after the match.
Summary Jurisdiction is a notice of containing sanctions the LMC has levied on offenders for alleged breaches of the rules which such persons or clubs have the option to accept or elect to appear before a panel to be constituted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
The clubs that have come under the sanctions are Rangers International, Sunshine Stars and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) while Sunday Abe and Dayo Ojo of Sunshine Stars are the players whose conduct have attracted the weight of the rules.
Rangers has been fined N150, 000 and N500, 000 for acts considered to have breached articles B13.46 and C1 of the regulations during their Match Day 28 fixture in Owerri against Heartland. Specifically, the Enugu-based side was charged for unduly delaying the match for more than 15 minutes and act deemed capable of bringing the game to disrepute. For delaying the match, the club was fined N150, 000 while the sum of N500, 000 was levied on the club for acts capable of bringing the league to disrepute.
Shooting Stars were also charged for conduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute in that their supporters prevented Sunshine Stars contingent from leaving the stadium immediately after the game of Match Day 28 and also for the unruly conduct of its players, officials, staff and supporters which runs contrary to the principles of fair play and sportsmanship. For this breach, a fine of N500, 000 has been imposed on 3SC by the LMC.
Sunshine Stars were similarly charged for conduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute based on the unruly manner of its players who failed to show due respect for decisions of the match officials and general conduct deemed not to be in the interest of the game. A fine of N500, 000 was also imposed on Sunshine Stars.
Captain of Sunshine Stars, Sunday Abe had a six match ban handed to him for failing to show respect for the decision of the Referee who he had kicked and head-butted to protest the decision to award a penalty against his team. The LMC frowned at the conduct which is considered to run contrary to the principles of fair play and capable of ruining the reputation of the game.
Another player of Sunshine Stars, Dayo Ojo was charged for violent conduct contrary to the principles of sportsmanship and capable tainting the reputation of the game for which he was fined N50, 000 and cautioned to be of good behaviour going forward.
Referee Ogabor was recommended to be withdrawn from further officiating in the NPFL fixtures pending the outcome of investigations into his handling of the match which saw him awarding a controversial penalty to Shooting Stars and failing to take disciplinary action against players for obvious violent conduct which is capable of bringing the league to disrepute and also denting the rising profile of Nigerian Referees. The Referee’s match report reached the LMC on Saturday, 13 September, six clear days after the match as against the mandatory 24 hours after the match which held on September 6.
The clubs and players must within 48 hours respond in writing to the LMC, either accepting the sanctions as levied or electing to appear before a panel.
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