The hammer of League Management Company, LMC has descended heavily on Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL Akwa United as the club has been fined an accumulated fine of N3 Million for breaches of the rules guiding the league.
While handing the sanctions on Tuesday, the LMC wanted that the Akwa United Would face banishment and deduction of points if such breaches recorded again.
In a release Tuesday, the LMC said “Akwa United has been fined a total of N3 million for breach of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL, in the course of the Matchday 5 fixture against Wikki Tourists.
“Some members of Akwa Utd contingent accosted & harassed match officials as they made their way to the changing room immediately after the match, in the process of which the Assistant Referee II sustained injuries to his head & face
“The acts according to the charge amounted to a breach of Rule B8.21 (failure to ensure adequate security for match officials) and C1.1 (misconduct) of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL
“Consequently, the following sanctions has been imposed:
a) a fine of N1 million for failure to ensure adequate protection for match officials &
b) a fine of N500,000 for harassment of match officials.
“Furthermore, the LMC also imposed another fine of N1 million to be paid as compensation to the match officials; & an additional fine of N500,000 for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Akwa Utd has also been issued a censure with a warning that any repeated or similar breach shall be dealt with as an aggravated breach & attract severe sanctions, including but not limited to an order moving the club to a different venue for its home matches, deduction of points, etc.
“Akwa Utd are required, within 48 hours of the date of the notice, to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the sanctions or face a commission.”
This is the first punishment meted out to a club in the new season with the only breach in the league rules reported.
Journalists and other stakeholders were reportedly attacked during the match.
Meanwhile, Jigawa Stars coach Gilbert Opana has been charged with breach of NPFL Framework & Rules for his refusal to participate in Matchday 5’s post-match interview after the game vs Kwara Utd & for his public criticism of match officials which brought the game to disrepute.
Opana’s conduct amounted to a breach of rule B6.27 (participating in post-match press conference), paragraph 7 of Appendix B: Code of Conduct for Managers & Coaches (public criticism of officials and failure to co-operate with officials involved in the game) and C1.1 (misconduct) of the Framework and Rules.
The Jigawa coach has been fined the sum of N250,000 and is banned from NPFL matches and activities for a period of two matches (commencing from the next fixture – Matchday 7).
Akwa Utd coach Kennedy Boboye been charged with breach of paragraph 7 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL for making public comments in criticism of match officials.
The comments made after the Heartland vs Akwa Utd match amounted to a breach of paragraph 7 of Appendix B: Code of Conduct for Managers and Coaches (public criticism of match officials) and C1.1 (misconduct) of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
For the breach, a fine of N250,000 has been imposed on Boboye and a ban from NPFL match(es) and activities for a period of one match (i.e, the next match – Matchday 7).
