In the wake of recent fines handed out to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and Nasarawa United of Lafia by the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), former national team star, Duke Udi believes three points’ deduction would have been a better way of punishing the errant clubs.
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Sports247 reports that Udi, who, incidentally, was a fire brand player during his days in the league and shot to limelight playing for Shooting Stars, reckoned that many clubs and their fans are not bothered by monetary fines nor by being ordered to play behind closed doors.
Udi, who went on to star for Grasshopper FC of Switzerland, declared, “For me, I say they should start deducting points. You can not buy three points with money. So, when you deduct three points and give them to the team that was affected, the others will sit tight.
“This style of five million naira, three million naira is not working. The clubs can pay easily, and they will be saying, ‘Sebi they will just fine us or banish us for three matches.’ So, we have to send a strong message by deducting three points instead. That’s what they should do.”
Udi further pointed out that the fear of relegation would make many clubs and their fans think twice before engaging in unruly conduct during league matches, because it would mean facing a very serious setback that could take a long time for them to recover from.
“Just deduct three points, which is like losing N100m. You can not buy three points, but you can easily pay a fine. That’s why many club’s are doing anything they like.
“But, when you start deducting three points and you do it anytime they misbehave again, then they will go to relegation. No team can take that kindly. So, that is what I think personally they should be doing. That approach is very, very vital,” Udi stressed.
 of Ibadan and Nasarawa United of Lafia by the NPFL Duke Udi){kind=link}