In a bid to sanitize the league system, the League Management Company (LMC) has moved to reassure fans, players and coaches of their safety at league venues on match days.
The league body said it will continue to enforce safety regulations and sanction every acts of violation to deter unruliness at match venues.
“We recognise that football is a game of passion and there are bound to be emotional outbursts when people pursue their passion especially in supporting their favourite clubs. It is also in recognition of this that regulations have been put in place placing responsibility of on clubs to ensure safety of all on match days and expecting our players and coaches to uphold the highest level of decorum and discipline in carrying out their duties on the field”, the LMC said in a statement.
Pursuant to these values of ensuring safety standards at all times and at every match venue, the LMC has reviewed a number of incidents across match venues and imposed appropriate sanctions on clubs, their fans and players found culpable.
Kano Pillars, Remo Stars, Katsina United, two players of Kano Pillars and a goalkeeper of Enyimba International were among those whom the hammer fell on following a pocket of trouble at their match venues. Pillars bagged a fine over NGN7 million, Remo received a fine of NGN2.5 million, Katsina United was also placed on a suspended sanction of three points’ deduction for probationary period lasting the rest of the season, while Enyimba’s goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda was suspended for one match and fined N50, 000 for aggression towards a ball boy during their match against Katsina United.
The LMC says that towards preventing repeat of some of the observed breaches, clubs have been strongly admonished to ensure that their ball boys are properly trained to uphold the very best standard practice.
It also reminded clubs that they have a responsible to ensure that at all times only accredited persons are allowed access to restricted areas in the stadium and also adhere strictly to not selling tickets their stadium capacity.
