Title holders Enyimba penalised for breaching NPFL rules

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) reigning champions, Enyimba, have faced charges for violating league regulations during their recent Matchday 24 clash against Doma United.

According to an official statement from the NPFL, Enyimba failed to uphold adequate security measures during the match, leading to issues with crowd control and unauthorized individuals gaining access to restricted areas. Additionally, there were instances of pitch encroachment by unauthorized persons at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.

The disruptions extended to the live broadcast of the match due to Enyimba’s unsporting behavior and inability to manage the crowd effectively.

As a result of these infractions, Enyimba has been slapped with multiple fines:

1. A fine of N1 million for failing to provide sufficient security and prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas.
2. Another N1 million fine for pitch encroachment.
3. A hefty N5 million fine for disrupting the live broadcast of the match.

Furthermore, Enyimba Stadium will be closed to fans for the next three home matches of the club as part of the sanctions imposed.

Enyimba has a 48-hour window from the date of the notice to appeal these sanctions.

Despite the off-field controversies, Chijioke Mbaoma’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory for Finidi George’s side in the match. However, the disruptions during the game have led to these significant penalties for the club.