Rangers International of Enugu and Enyimba International of Aba have both been charged and fined for several infractions of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) rules arising from their respective conducts in the Matchday 35 fixture last Sunday in Enugu.
Enyimba was charged with a slew of breaches and fined a total of N10, 000, 000 (Ten million Naira) including forfeiture of three points and three goals as well as a directive to identify and produce for further investigation and appropriate sanctions players and officials complicit in the disruptive conducts (particularly against the match officials) that led to a discontinuation of the game.
Rangers, the host team, was cited for breach of Rule B15.24 relating to selling tickets beyond the capacity of the stadium and leading to overcrowding and endangering the safety of players, match officials and fans.
Based on the same rule B13.52, Rangers were also charged for failure to provide adequate and effective security before, during and after the match.
On a third count, Rangers were charged with a breach of Rule B13.52.1 for failing to implement adequate and effective crowd control measures. On a fourth count, the Enugu side was also charged for failure to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to restricted areas.
For the listed breaches, Rangers was fined a total of N5,000,000 (Five million Naira) and ordered to implement a more effective crowd control mechanism in subsequent home games
In specific charges brought against Enyimba International, the NPFL listed breaches of Rule C9, B6.23, B13.18, C1.1 and B13.24.
On charge B6.23, Enyimba was fined N5,000,000 for disrupting on-going transmission of a live match broadcast.
The NPFL Summary Jurisdiction also made “an order for the forfeiture of three points and three goals in favour of your opponents for refusing to allow the penalty awarded in favour of your opponents to be taken, thereby disrupting the match and bringing the game to disrepute”.
It further ordered Enyimba to “identify and produce for further investigation and appropriate sanctions, other players and officials complicit in the disruptive conducts (particularly against the match officials) that led to a discontinuation of the game, in addition to the following identified players; Eze Ekwutoziam (Jersey No.6), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Jersey No.27), and Akanni Elijah (Jersey No.10)”.
The two clubs are expected to, in accordance with Rule C26, required, within 48 hours of the date of the issuance of the notice of the charges and the fines, to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the sanctions or elect to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel.
They are also required to communicate in writing whichever option they adopted within seven working days.
