The Nigeria National League (NNL) board, under the leadership of veteran journalist George Aluo, has pledged to uphold firmness and fairness as the league’s second stanza approaches.
Yakubu Sarma, Chairman of the league’s Disciplinary and Organising Committee and also the Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association, reiterated this commitment during a recent media briefing at the NNL secretariat in Abuja.
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Sarma emphasized the board’s zero tolerance for hooliganism and urged clubs to adhere strictly to the rules during the crucial second phase of the ongoing season.
“In the first round, the Disciplinary and Organising Committee ensured that protests brought before it were looked into fairly and quickly too,” Sarma stated.
“We meted out sanctions to erring clubs and recommended to the appropriate bodies referees and match commissioners that didn’t live up to expectation.”
He further highlighted the challenges ahead in the second stanza, acknowledging the desperation of clubs to secure top positions or avoid relegation.
Sarma assured that the board would maintain a vigilant stance to uphold integrity and discipline within the league.
“We will be firm and fair to all the clubs,” Sarma affirmed.
“We just appeal to them to play according to the rules because we will not compromise if any club falls short, especially when it comes to the issue of hooliganism.”
The decision to delay the start of the NNL second stanza by two weeks was made to accommodate clubs’ requests for additional preparation time.
The league management remains committed to creating an environment where fans can enjoy matches peacefully and accept outcomes with sportsmanship.
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