Tag: LMC

Giwa FC of Jos has been expelled from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for multiple infractions of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL, particularly for violation of B13.28 which prescribes expulsion from the league for any club that fails to honour three matches cumulatively within a season with no acceptable reason to the League Management Company (LMC).

The LMC in addition to ordering a forfeiture of all funds due Giwa FC from the LMC, it also invoked Rule B13.66 to make pronouncements protecting the players of the club by granting them waiver to terminate their contracts with the club for ‘just cause’ or ‘sporting just cause’ and releasing them for contracts with other clubs during the on-going season.

“Pursuant to Rule B13.66 of the League Rules and without prejudice to the agreed written terms of their respective player contracts, nothing shall preclude Players hitherto registered by Giwa FC from the unilateral termination of contracts for ‘just cause’ or ‘sporting just cause’ as the case may be, and from being contracted to and registered by other Clubs”, the Summary Jurisdiction notice stated.

The LMC said it would further review with a view to setting up a social safety net to mitigate any consequential hardship, “the matter of registered players and officials currently contracted to Giwa FC – particularly those who may have played at least 50% of its league matches in the current season and whose player contracts and potential earnings may have been brought to jeopardy on account of this decision”.

The LMC also ruled that Clubs that have already played Giwa FC before Match Day 19 will have their match day expenses refunded from the funds seized from accruals of Giwa FC that is with the LMC.

 Giwa FC was charged for breach of Rules B13.25 and B13.28 by the LMC which in a Summary Jurisdiction notice imposed two sanctions on the club for breach of Rule B13.25 and expulsion for breach of Rule B13.28.

 The LMC ruled that “for failing to honour the fixture obligation without any acceptable reason, in breach of Rule B13.25, Giwa FC shall pay a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) being the sum of expenses including stadium hire, security and other logistics incurred in respect of the match.

 “Further to paragraph (a) above, Giwa FC shall forfeit to Enyimba FC the three points as well as three goals arising from the match.

“For failing to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season and without any acceptable reason, Giwa FC is expelled from the Nigeria Professional Football League with immediate effect and all matches involving Giwa FC, whether played or unplayed as well as the points arising or accruing there from are cancelled”.

 Rule B13.28 states, “If a Club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the League season without an acceptable reason to the LMC such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled.“

In the Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Giwa FC after the failure to honour the Match Day 16 fixture against Akwa United, the LMC detailed the provisions of the rules and also pointed out efforts that were made to make Giwa FC appreciate the consequences of its actions.

Reference was made to correspondences exchanged between the LMC and Giwa FC in the wake of the match disruption in Jos which led to the imposition of a three home match ban on the club and which also directed that those three games be played in Ilorin.

The LMC recalled that Giwa appealed the decision but failed to appear before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee for hearing, following which the decisions of the LMC were upheld.

It further reminded Giwa FC that when it failed to honour Matches Day 14 and 16, a reminder of the consequences of failure to honour the next match was contained in the summary jurisdiction notice which awarded the three points and three goals to Akwa United.

According to the LMC, “…we recall your letters dated 25th and 28th April 2016 wherein you refused to comply with the said sanction based on a purported court order and directive from the NFF. We also recall our letters to you dated 27th and 29th April 2016, advising you that there was neither a court order nor directive from the NFF with the effect of directing your club not to comply with the said sanctions and further advising you to honour your fixture obligations. We further recall the clear warnings given to you in the said letters as well as in the respective summary jurisdiction notices, as to the implication of your failure to honour your fixture obligations. Nonetheless, you failed to honour match days 14 and 16 fixtures.

“In the present circumstances however, it would suffice to state that no reason whatsoever has been adduced in your current letter (dated 17th May 2016) for your failure to honour the match day 18 fixture now under reference. As a result, there is no basis for a consideration of any reason for your failure. In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, your letter also failed to provide any cogent basis for the LMC to exercise its power to reschedule a match under Rule B13.10, especially as the provision requires a club to make such application not less than 72 hours before the time fixed for the match, whereas your letter was delivered less than four (4) hours to the time fixed for the match.”

Giwa FC was given 48 hours to accept the decision in writing or elect to appear for a hearing before a commission.

.Kano side to pay Enyimba N150,000 for damaged bus
.Another N.25m to injured official
.Gets suspended 2-match without fans

Kano Pillars have been fined 2.4 million Naira for crowd trouble during and after a league match against champions Enyimba last Wednesday, which Pillars lost 2-1.

They will also pay N150, 000 to the ‘People’s Elephant’ as repairs for the damage done to their team bus, as well as another N250, 000 to the official who was injured during the incident.

The Pillars fans impeded the game by throwing objects on to the pitch during the game following Nzube Anaezemba’s equaliser. The situation forced the policemen at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano to fire teargas in a bid to deter the unruly fans.

The situation got worse after the game as the Pillars fans laid siege for the Enyimba team bus and attacked them, seriously wounding the Enyimba driver.

In a statement published on Friday, the League Management Company stated: “LMC established that fans of four-time champions, Pillars were disorderly; throwing objects towards the pitch of play and encroaching.

“Pillars will pay N500K each for throwing objects during the game and encroachment impeding movement out of the arena after the game.

“An Enyimba official injured during the commotion is to get N250K Pillars money as compensation.

“Pillars to take conduct mandatory seminar on acceptable behaviour for its fans. To be supervised by LMC.

“Pillars under close watch and placed on suspended 2-match without fans at Kano Stadium if similar incident repeats.

“Enyimba will get N150K to effect repairs on vehicle damaged in Kano.”

Pillars would however not be banished as they will remain in Kano, where they host Ikorodu United today.

The League Management Company (LMC) has promised to investigate cause of violence at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos on Sunday which led to the abandonment of the NPFL Match Day 12 tie involving hosts, Giwa FC and Enugu Rangers.

The match which witnessed more than four stoppages because of crowd trouble started with the hauling of objects like stones, water sachets, other objects into the pitch and during the halftime break it was alleged that some fans went to attack the match officials in the dressing room before the match was eventually called off at the instance of the match commissioner about 12 minutes to regulation time.

The game started peacefully and Rangers had the upper hand from the onset and that it was no surprise they shot into the lead in the 26th minute through Godwin Aguda. But immediately the curtain raiser was got by the Flying Antelopes the mood in the stadium became changed and the atmosphere was very charged.

Fans began showing their displeasure at the match officials some minutes to the end of the first half by throwing various objects into the stadium which caused the first stoppage. The fans managed to hold on till halftime break before more drama on the match officials during the break when they were physically assaulted by the overzealous fans.

Goal was told that the match officials were prevailed upon to resume the second half proceedings which they obliged and the fans continued with their dastard acts some minutes into the second half probably when they noticed that favourable result might not get their ways at the end of the match and they hauled more objects unto the pitch and it was gathered that one of the objects hit the one of the assistant referees.

After due consultations with the match officials during another stoppage owing to the fans’ restfulness, the match commissioner agreed that the tie be called off in the 78th minute after the match officials also vowed not to continue because of the serious security breach and the threat to their lives.

Speaking with Goal the chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko opined that the league body was aware of the crowd violence in Jos and that the body would take the proceedings before appropriate sanctions are meted out to deserving ones adding that some fans that attacked the match officials have been arrested by the police.

He also added that police ensured that the match officials and the visiting team were evacuated from the stadium without any problem and that they were also told that some fans attacked the vehicle of Rangers which they are also looking into.

Dikko pointed out that the league body is doing everything possible to put an end to crowd violence in the league and that besides the isolated case of the violence in Jos, Akure and Nnewi by fans, the league has witnessed violence free season thus far.

“I want to tell you that the LMC has been told about what happened in Jos but we are yet to get an official report which I know we get to us shortly. We swung into action and we ensured that more policemen were dispatched to the scene and they had been able to make some arrests of some fans that attacked the match officials.

“LMC will continue to do everything possible to wipe off hooliganism and crowd violence in the league and we have had a hit free season thus far if not for this isolated case and few others. We will continue to enjoin clubs to do proper enlightenment for their fans and supporters so that they see the game as a form of entertainment and not war,” Dikko told Goal.

The LMC had on March Wednesday, released series of sanctions to erring clubs for different offences,  in the case of Heartland FC apart from banning Ebele Obi for six matches the club was also fined the sum N750,000 for what they tagged inability of the management to control the actions of their players.

In response this development, the media officer to the club, Solomon Onu, wish to state the club’s position on this unfortunate incident:

1. Heartland FC of Owerri a prestigious club since its formation in 1976 is not known for violent actions, “we are a law abiding and peaceful club” on which to state that the six match ban and N750,000 fine is a bit excessive. You cannot bit a child and ask him or her not to cry.
2. We will like to state for the records that we are not challenging the authority of the LMC nor the NFF, rather we insist we should be giving a fair hearing on this ugly incident. If every club owner or GM/Chairman decides to beat up opposing players, how many players will be left in the League? The slap on the wrist on IfeanyiUbah leaves more questions than answers. We appeal that the League body take a second look at the matter with the view of sanctioning erring individuals to serve a deterrent to other bullies (GM/Club owners).
3. The players, management and staff of Heartland FC and the good people of Imo State ask that justice should not just be done but to be perceived to be done and that IfeanyiUbah should be sanctioned appropriately. We also advice that LMC should have consulted their match delegate who were present during the game (Osondu Ngude and Promise Etim).

Supersport, the Official Broadcast partner of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has received commendation for the launch of their first camera-borne drone in the coverage of games of the league.

The drone which provided aerial shots of scenes in the stadium was launched at the season’s opening star match in Kano between Kano Pillars and Rangers International of Enugu. It made fans watching from homes to appreciate the stadium from above in its full glory. The shots were made more spectacular as the Sani Abacha Stadium was packed to the brim and those different perspectives provided by the shots brought to fans the feeling that they were in the stadium. A further advantage of shots from the cameras in the drone is the provision of all inclusive angles from all corners of the stadium.

Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko offered the commendation at a reception for the Supersport live broadcast crew in Kano after the match. He said the reception was another platform to engage the broadcast partners in relaxed atmosphere devoid of the pressures of work.

“It is no secret that our partnership has been a model for sponsorship and we hope it will keep improving.

“The LMC is excited with the innovation represented by the use of a drone witnessed during the match between Pillars and Rangers, it is consistent with the LMC’s vision and mission to continuously bring innovations in our management of the league for the good of the players, the clubs, the fans and our partners as well as every other stakeholder,” Dikko enthused during the dinner held at the Prince Hotel where the Supersport crew lodged.

Niyi Oyeleke, the Supersport Productions Manager in Nigeria thanked the LMC Chairman for finding time to interact with the crew and explained that “Supersport has been using the Hurricane Mk2 SuperSport Racing Drone in the RSA to cover Formula 1 and other Car races with huge success. We have now introduced this to the NPFL to offer our viewers a richer experience of our world class broadcast services”.

He said beyond providing elegant aerial shots, “the wireless nature of the drone offers limitless mobility capacity, eliminates the distraction caused by camera-borne aircrafts of any type flying over huge crowds and provides an advanced crowd monitoring option as it can discreetly focus on specific sections of interest inside the stadium”.

The LMC Chairman also commended Supersport for the record 70 games covered in the 2014/15 season and challenged them to build on that success to cover more games and wider locations this season.

“We appreciate the constraints you have faced over the last few seasons but we are certainly happy with the improvement in numbers last season. On our part, we want to work with you and the clubs to schedule more Friday Night Matches, Double-Headers, Saturday and Sunday fixture but we also want to see you cover matches at more locations than has been the case,” Dikko charged the crew.

The evening outing by a pool side was brought to life by popular music from a DJ, dance led by the LMC Chairman, his entourage and some of the younger members of the Supersport crew who confessed that it was a great after-work engagement they appreciated.