Abia Warriors, Kwara United risked being sanctioned for fielding ineligible players on NPFL Matchday 10, Sports247 reports.
The two clubs defied the orders of the league body and NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee, (PSAC) not to field any newly registered players from Matchday 10 of the current season until they clear all their overdue payables as decided by the Arbitration committee.
In an exclusive scooped by our correspondent the debtor Clubs Abia Warriors FC and Kwara United FC have been queried by the NFF PSAC, for fielding ineligible players whose licenses where withdrawn by the NPFL.
It will be recalled that the COO of the NPFL Mr. Davidson Owumi wrote to debtors clubs in a letter dated 24th October 2024, who have failed to comply with the payment order made by the NFF PSAC, notice of the the indefinite suspension of license of newly registered players effective Match day 10.
When most of the affected clubs like Lobi Stars, Kastina United, Plateau, Enyimba FC and Elkanemi Warriors were in race against time to settle these indebtedness, Abia Warriors and Kwara United dare the NPFL by ignoring the directives and fielded the newly registered players despite not settling these debts to the claimants.
Consequently both clubs risked heavy sanctions which include fines and points deductions for each of the games these Ineligible players are feature, unless the teams have favourable answers to the PSAC query.
The NFF PSAC in a letter dated 4th November 2024, made a request to both clubs to submit explanation regarding the reasons for fielding ineligible players in the match day 10 encounter.
The letter which was signed by the secretary of the PSAC, sighted by our correspondent read:
“In light of this, we request that you provide a detailed explanation within five (5) days from the receipt of this letter, justifying why these players were fielded despite their ineligibility. Failure to submit a satisfactory explanation within this timeframe will prompt proceedings under Article 9.90 of the NPFL Framework and Rules 2024/2025 and Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code for the fielding of ineligible players.”
A check on the referenced FIFA Disciplinary Code Article 19, gives detailed sanctions for fielding an ineligible player thus:
1. If a player fielded in a match and/or competition is declared ineligible, the FIFA judicial bodies, in this case the NFF PSAC taking into consideration the integrity of the competition concerned, may impose any appropriate disciplinary measures.
2. If a player fielded in a match is declared ineligible following a protest, the team to which the player belongs will be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and paying a minimum fine of CHF 6,000 (Equivalent N11,546,595.74) The player may also be sanctioned.
This is in addition to any other sporting sanctions that may be imposed on these clubs like docking their points and outright relegation to the lower leagues.
It was established that
Abia Warriors fielded eleven (11) ineligible players in their matchday 10 home game against Heartland FC, the game ended 0-2 in favour of the visitors.
1) Samuel Atavti (31)
2) Samson Paul (10)
3) Yakub Hameed (13)
4) Izuchukwu
5) Ogwuche Philip (30)
6) Emmanuel Ogbuagu (5)
7) Nicholas Jonathan (25)
8) Innocent Godwin (19)
9) Isaac Afolabi (33)
10) Daniel Ekpo (20)
11) Wilson Elu (15)
While Kwara United also fielded the following eleven (11) whose licenses have been withdrawn away to Akwa United the game ended 2-1 in favour of the host Akwa United.
1. Yahaya Ibrahim (6)
2. Akeem Akanni (29)
3. Dadong Lius
4. Junior Aisosa
5. Olaniyi Saheed (26)
6. Emmanuel Ogbole (9)
7. Narudeen Badmus (33)
8. Adekunle Oluwasegun (27)
9. Anioke Anthony
10. Ifeanyi Ogba
11. Ismaila Gata (18)
Meanwhile, former league champion Enyimba FC has settled their indebtedness and has fully complied with the directives of the PSAC on the decided matters while others like Elkanemi Warriors FC and Plateau United have partially complied and may risk being sanctioned by the PSAC.
