Organisers of the Nigeria National League, the country’s second tier domestic football league, have come down hard on some clubs over what it described as breaches in the League’s rule book, which, if left unchecked was capable of bringing the the nation’s ‘most important league’ into disrepute and ridicule.
Rising from its meeting in Abuja where various incidences that overshadowed some of the NNL matches were thrashed out, imposed some financial sanctions on some clubs, suspended some players and ordered some of the clubs to play some matches behind closed doors in a bold move to instill sanity in the domestic second tier football league.
Admitting that the referee who handled the Jigawa Golden Stars versus Sporting Supreme clearly ‘messed up the match’, Jigawa Golden Stars were handed a N1m and their player, Mohammed Salim, suspended for the rest of the 2023/2024 season as well as the entirety of the next season, 2024/2025 campaign. The league body, however, allowed the result of their vexatious Match Day 17 clash against Sporting Supreme to stand.
Similarly, the NNL also adjudicated on the incident that blighted the fixture between Sokoto Utd and Kebbi Utd.
The referee of the match had allowed Gabriel Jordan, a Kebbi Utd player who he had earlier red-carded to still remain on the pitch. But in their wisdom, the league organisers revised the red card, Sokoto United were ordered to play their next home match behind closed doors.
Abia Commets against Stommers of Abeokuta also came under NNL scrutiny with the General Manager of Stommers handed a three month ban.
In the same vein, the Secretary and Chief Coach of the club were handed serious warning that further involvement in any act/s capable of bringing the league into disrepute shall attract stiffer sanctions.
Stommers player, Oluwatosin Ibrahim, was banned for 10 matches.
Stommers were fined N1m and an additional N100, 000 meant for the match referee’s medical.
In the match between Ijebu Utd and Osun Utd, NNL invoked the spirit of Article 15.5 and Article 15.7 of its rule book to slam a N500, 000 fine on Osun Utd.
Another fine of N500, 000 was imposed on the club for allowing their fans to conduct themselves in a manner that’s not acceptable.
Osun Utd Secretary was similarly suspended for two matches.
However, Ijebu Utd are ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors.
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