Rivers United handed suspended ₦15m fine over NPFL broadcast breach

Rivers United have been issued a suspended ₦15 million fine and threatened with a three-point and three-goal deduction after allegedly preventing Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) broadcast partners from entering their stadium.

The incident occurred during their Matchday 11 home fixture against Rangers International on Sunday, which had been scheduled for live television coverage.

The sanctions will be activated only if Rivers United commit another breach of the league’s broadcasting regulations during the ongoing season.

In a summary jurisdiction decision sent to the club, NPFL Chief Operating Officer Dr Ayo Abdulrahman said the league had received reports that Rivers United refused access to its broadcast partners for the match.

The club was specifically accused of denying entry to Murphy Ben International (MBI), the league’s broadcast production partner. Abdulrahman described the refusal as a serious breach of NPFL regulations and an unacceptable disruption of the league’s broadcasting operations.

He added that such conduct threatened the league’s commercial and broadcasting agreements, while also damaging the integrity and reputation of the competition.

The NPFL referred Rivers United to Section B, Rules 6.22 and 6.23 of the NPFL Framework and Rules. Those provisions give the league’s broadcast rights owner exclusive and unrestricted access to every venue hosting an NPFL fixture, without the need for prior notice.

Rule 6.23 states that a club found guilty of breaking the provision can receive a fine of up to ₦15 million. It also allows for three points and three goals to be deducted from the club’s accrued totals.

Although the league recognised the seriousness of the incident, it said it had taken into account some of the circumstances surrounding the disruption before issuing Rivers United with a formal and final warning.

As a result, the prescribed sanctions have been suspended. The fine and the deductions will come into force if Rivers United commit another violation of the same regulations before the end of the season.

The NPFL also made clear that suspending the sanctions does not prevent it from imposing further punishment where the Framework and Rules allow it.

Rivers United were warned not to repeat the offence, with the league stressing that authorised broadcast partners must be granted access as a matter of regulation. That access, it said, is not dependent on the approval or discretion of an individual club.

The NPFL reiterated that clubs are not permitted to obstruct, limit or refuse broadcast partners entry to league venues, particularly when a match has been designated for live coverage.