Nigerian Premier League Fines Enyimba Club N10million
The Nigeria Premier Football League has fined Enyimba football club N10 million for destructing Match Day 35 Fixture between the club and Rangers Int’l FC held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on June 9, 2024.
The league also awarded three points, three goals to Enugu Rangers FC as part of punishment for the destructing the match, which was aired live.
The fine contained in Form 16, summary jurisdiction notice addressed to Enyimba Int’l FC dated June 10, 2024, and signed by Chief Executive Officer of the League Management Company Davidson Owumi.
Upon review of the findings of the official reports for the Match Day 35 Fixture: Rangers Int’l FC vs. Enyimba Int’l, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on 9″ June 2024, the League said that Enyimba breached Rules C9, B6.23, B13.18, C1.1 and B13.24 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League.
The notice partly read: “You are in breach of Rule C9 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Sunday 9 June 2024, in the course of Match Day 35 Fixture: Rangers Int’l FC vs. Enyimba Int’l FC, you failed to ensure the proper conduct of your players, officials and supporters.
“You are in breach of Rule B6.23 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Sunday 9 June 2024, in the course of Match Day 35 Fixture: Rangers Int’l FC vs. Enyimba Int’l FC, you disrupted the transmission of a live broadcast.
“You are in breach of Rule B13.18 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Sunday 9 June 2024, in the course of Match Day 35 Fixture: Rangers Int’l FC vs. Enyimba Int’l FC, your team and supporters threw objects and encroached unto the field of play.
“You are in breach of Rule C1.1 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Sunday 9 June 2024, in the course of Match Day 35 Fixture: Rangers Int’l FC vs. Enyimba Int’l FC, you refused to continue with the match in protest against the penalty awarded in favour of your opponents, and act that goes against the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, the league rules, and, is capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“You are in breach of Rule B13.24 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier football League, in that on Sunday 9 June 2024, in the course of Match Day 35 Fixture: Rangers Int’l FC vs. Enyimba Int’l FC, you caused the disruption and discontinuation of the match.”
For breaching these rules, the NPFL, however, imposed a fine of N1 million for failing to ensure the proper conduct of their team.
Other sanctions imposed on Enyimba include: “A fine of Five Million Naira only (N5,000,000) for disrupting a live broadcast.
“A fine of One Million Naira only (N1,000,000) for throwing of objects unto the field of play.
“A fine of One Million Naira only (N1,000,000) for encroachment unto the field of play.
“An order forfeiting 3 points and 3 goals in favour of your opponent refusing to allow the penalty awarded in favour of your opponents to be taken, thereby disrupting the match and bringing the game to disrepute.
“A fine of Two Million Naira only (N2,000,000) for causing the disruption and discontinuation of the match.”
It ordered Enyimba to identify and produce for further investigation and appropriate sanctions, other players and officials complicit in the disruptive conducts (particularly against the match officials) that led to a discontinuation of the game.
This, it said was in addition to the players already identified – Eze Ekwutoziam (Jersey No.6), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Jersey No.27), and Akanni Elijah (Jersey No.10).
In accordance with Rule C26, the League noted that Enyimba is required, within 48 hours of the date of the notice, to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the sanctions contained herein; or elect to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel.
“Any such election must be in writing addressed to the undersigned at the office of the NPFL. Should you submit to the summary jurisdiction and the prescribed sanctions, kindly note that the fines therein are to be paid within 7 working days.
“Note that in accordance with Rule E1, where an appeal or election to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel fails or is found to have been frivolous, such party may be liable to such additional sanction(s) as may be deemed fit in the circumstances,” the notice partly read.
