Anthony Michael has dragged Niger Tornadoes to the Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL over the unlawful unilateral termination of his contract Sports247 reports.
In a letter dated 22nd of January 2025, cited by our correspondent, the player wrote through his legal representative to the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL detailing his grouse with the manner of disengagement and demanded for a full severance package and compensation from the Niger Tornadoes.
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The letter reads in parts: ” We write to bring to your notice the unethical practice of Niger Tornadoes FC, who unlawfully terminated the employment contract of a professional football player verbally and notified him through phone call that his services are no longer required despite the valid unexpired contract.”
“We passionately seek for your intervention in these grievous infractions by the club, we trust in your judgement and believe you will do the needful for the sake of justice, fairness and integrity of the league.”
Anthony narrated that he was called by the team secretary that his services were no longer needed despite having six months left on his contract to run.
“I have resumed after the mid season break on the 8th January 2025, after some days of training I was called on the phone by the Secretary that the club is no longer interested in my services, ” began Anthony .
” They prepared a document with the title MUTUAL TERMINATION OF CONTRACT, dated 15th of January 2025, for me to sign which I declined and demanded for the payment of the six months salary before I can sign or agree to mutually terminate the contract ,” Anthony narrated.
The player confirmed that he never consented to or signed any mutual termination of contract, and no meeting was held with him or his representatives to discuss further on the terms of contract termination.
We scooped that the player is demanding a total of N1,200,000 (One million, two hundred thousand naira only) from Niger Tornadoes FC being the total wage for the 6 months left on the contract.
He is also demanding 150,000 naira ( One hundred and fifty thousand naira ) the sum he is being owned for 3 months’ salary shortfall as the club failed to pay for October, November and December 2024 in full as each month was paid with 50,000 naira less.
In reacting to the case, Anthony Michael’s representative, FIFA Licensed Football Agent, Mr. Eddie Iseri Ogbemudia described the scenario as unfortunate, and wants the hierarchy of the NPFL to react quickly to ensure the player gets justice in a record time.
“It’s unfortunate that our football development is still at this stage, where players contracts are terminated through phone calls and text messages. ”
“This is just one case of so many, but I believe the NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and COO Mr. Davidson Owumi should wield the big stick in this instance and ensure the player gets justice in line with the FIFA and NPFL rules of engagement standard” Eddie Ogbemudia told Sports247.
He then called on the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure players’ welfare and rights remain a priority in the league as it is the bedrock of the football development anywhere in the world .
“I am using this medium to call on the authority of football in Nigeria, the NFF President, the NFF Secretary General, the NPFL Chairman and COO to act fast on cases of contract breaches and not to ignore the welfare of the Nigerian domestic players, as players welfare is the bedrock of football development in the world.” Ogbemudia concluded.
The player has written to the management of Niger Tornadoes dated 15th January 2025, informing them of his severance compensation immediately after he was offered to sign the mutual termination letter, but the club is yet to respond to his claims.
Our effort to reach Niger Tornadoes Secretary, Mr Jibril Haruna for his reaction to the matter proved abortive.
