NPFL21: Sunshine Stars, FC Ifeanyiubah banished for harassment

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides Sunshine Stars and FC Ifeanyiubah have been banished to Lagos and Enugu respectively after dressing room disturbance marred both teams’ Match Day 15 games.

Enyimba’s Match Day 15 clash with Nasarawa United ended 0-0 at the Ondo State Sports Complex but the game had to be concluded on Monday after match officials were reportedly harassed at half time, led by a Sunshine Stars club official.

www.aclsports.com reports that the League Management Company (LMC) has now punished the Owena Whales with a two-game banishment to the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos for their next two home games in the league.

That means that Sunshine Stars’ Match Day 17 encounter with Enyimba FC will now be played in Agege on Monday, March 22, 2021, a day after MFM FC would have faced Akwa United in same venue.

News of Sunshine Stars’ banishment will come as a further blow to Gbenga Ogunbote-led side who have failed to win any of their last nine matches and are just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Earlier on Friday, the club reported that their official who was fingered in the assault on match officials on Sunday, Abdulrahman Abdulsalam has been suspended pending the outcome of further investigation on the matter.

For FC Ifeanyiubah, their Match Day 15 game with Rivers United also ended 0-0 and match officials were reportedly accosted on their way to the dressing rooms.

The club has now been banished to the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu until further notice. They will now face Jigawa Golden Stars in Enugu on Sunday in their Match Day 17 encounter.