FIFA Licensed Football Agent, Eddie Iseri Ogbemudia has called for caution on the celebration that greeted the decision of NPFL to withdraw the license of newly registered players by some clubs over their indebtedness to players until the rule is implemented, Sports247 reports.
The NPFL eventually agreed to implement the sanctions recommended by the Players Status and Arbitration Committee on indebted clubs after several postponements of the set deadline by writing to the affected clubs last week notifying them that newly signed players will not be allowed to continue to represent them until they are able to pay up their overdues .
Speaking to Sports247 on the development, Eddie Iseri Ogbemudia, the managing partner of Myron Topclass Sport Outfits, the firm representing some of the affected players, opined that this action is long over due.
Ogbemudia said the NPFL have finally taken the right steps, though it’s coming late but nothing to celebrate yet until the clubs comply and the NPFL enforce the rules, not minding the encomium that envelope the NPFL media space after the NPFL issued that directive and subtle extended the days of grace till Matchday 10.
He explained that the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee did notified all Nigerian League bodies since 13th August 2024 about these decisions even before the commencement of the league, to implement the transfer ban.
For the management of the NPFL to have delayed the supposed implementation until November 3rd (Match day 10) speaks volume on the importance the league body places on the players and coaches.
He disclosed that some of the clubs are not making any move whatsoever to pay up the players but banking on another round of postponement of the implementation of the transfer ban on the indebted clubs.
“It will interest you to know that some of these affected clubs are not even making any move to obey this new directive to pay up what they owe.”
“They are so confident maybe NPFL management will introduce another strange extension to allow them to play with the newly registered players, we all keep our fingers crossed anxiously waiting for match day 10″, Ogbemudia told Sports247.
He spoke further on why he is waiting anxiously for Matchday 10 if the NPFL will truly revoke the newly transfer players licence
” I was speaking with one of the affected players, who said his former club is adamant pushing blame on the former management of the club. That the new management is not responsible and not indebted to the player.”
” The player was told to reach out to the former GM because his salary was released to the former GM to get his money, to tell how unyielding some of these clubs are on the issue,” Ogbemudia explained.
“Let’s see what happens this weekend. If those club who refused to pay these indebtedness would be allowed to play with the newly registered players. I have spoken with some of the affected players our firm represents to be calm and not take laws into their hands.”
“It is now left for the management of the NPFL to prove their integrity after shifting ground on several occasions.”
He then commended the good work done by the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee led by Otunba Dele Ajayi .
“We must commend the wonderful job, though not perfectly done by the Otunba Dele-Ajayi led NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee, they are the reason we are at this stage at the moment” He concluded.
According to NPFL, withdrawal of newly signed players’ licenses will be effective from Matchday 10, (this coming weekend round of matches) and the affected clubs are Plateau United, Lobi Stars, Kwara United, Katsina United and Enyimba FC. El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United, Akwa United and Abia Warriors.
Some other affected clubs like Heartland FC, 3SC, Bendel Insurance to follow suit.
