NPL Sanctions Lobi, Sharks, Others

The hammer of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) descended on Lobi Stars and Sharks following the unruly conduct of their home fans and player during league matches, last weekend.

According to the acting Executive secretary of the Nigeria Premier League, Tunji Babalola, Lobi has been fined N400,000 for allowing its fans to attack the Assistant Referee shourtly after United of Uyo at the Katsina-Ala Stadium.

In line with Article 5.8 of the Rules and Regulation, the payment is expected to be made before Lobi’s home match.

The secretariat also expressed worry over what it described as unnecessary harassment of match officials during eth match involving Sharks and Warri Wolves in Port Harcourt where, supporters of the home team (Sharks) harassed the Assistant Referee 1 for picking an offside play.

Sharks’ ThankGod Amaefule was also said to have assaulted the Assistant Referee 1 immediately after the match.

To this end, Sharks FC has been fined the sum of Two hundred Thousand Naira (200,000.00) only and their subsequent home matches to be played behind closed door while the player (Amaefule) has been banned for four matches.

In a related development, Coach Erasmus Onuh of Ababakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Football club of Ilorin has been banned for four matches with a fine of N200,000 to be paid before his club’s next home game.

Onuh was penalized for what the league board described as his unsporting behaviou during the league match involving Warri Wolves and ABS at the Warrie Township Stadium.

According to the Acting Executive Secretary of the league board, the match report stated that Coach Onuh assaulted the Assistant Referee 1.

Meanwhile, the match reports have been sent to Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary and Referees Committee for further action.

Preliminary decisions were taken pending final determination of the cases regarding the conduct of matches by the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.