Organizers of Nigeria’s elite football division, the League Management Company (LMC) have taken severe action on Nigeria Professional Football League side FC Ifeanyiubah following their unsporting behaviour in a Match Day 36 match against Niger Tornadoes on August 28.
Nine first team players of the Anambra Warriors, including home-based Super Eagles invitees Stephen Eze and Olamilekan Aniyikaye were suspended for twelve league matches as the league governing body clamped down on the club for different offences in the game.
Acts ranging from “failure to control or ensure proper conduct of their players” to actions capable of bringing the game to disrepute such as assaulting of match officials attracted the club, based in Eastern Nigeria a hefty fine.
“FC Ifeanyiubah will pay a fine of N1m for encroachment during the NPFL game vs Niger Tornadoes.”
“FC Ifeanyiubah will also pay a fine of N750,000 for failure to control their players & officials during the NPFL game in Lokoja.”
“FC Ifeanyiubah will pay N500,000 being N250,000 each to the assaulted referee & assistant ref + any certified medical bills,” the LMC posted on their official social media platforms on Wednesday night.
The incident that led to these sanctions came in the second half of the game decided at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja after centre referee Nakura Auwal sent off Ifeanyiubah star King Osanga. Video footages went viral over the internet on the incident and the LMC have suspended players that engaged in the act of assaulting the referee.
“FC Ifeanyiubah players Ngoma Luamba, Elu Wilson, Isaac Loute are suspended for 12 #NPFL games each for assault on the referee.
“Also banned for 12 #NPFL games are Stephen Eze, Adeleye Olamilekan, Michael Egbeta, Uchenna Godfrey Jr, Douglas Nkrumah and Kone Soumaila,” the LMC statement added.
The club is expected to appeal the punishment but all nine players will miss the final match of this season on Saturday when their team host Lobi Stars in Nnewi.
