The League Management Company (LMC) has issued the first order of six points deduction in its bid to secure the welfare of players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with El-Kanemi Warriors handed a 14-working days ultimatum to pay all outstanding financial entitlement of players and officials failing which the automatic points’ deduction will automatically apply.
In another development, Sunday Abe, the captain of Sunshine Stars, has had his remaining two games of a six match ban commuted to a suspended sentence which binds him to be of good conduct for the remaining games of the season.
The decision on El-Kanemi Warriors was conveyed to the club in a letter dated October 7 and warned that if there was no proof of compliance after October 27, the club will be immediately deducted six points having failed to meet an earlier 60-day notice of Summary Jurisdiction.
While the 60-day notice lasted, the LMC had also written to El-Kanemi demanding full details of the club’s financial position as provided in the Rulebook which was response was not satisfactory. A notice of reminder of expiry of the deadline was also sent to the club which formed the basis for the decision to deduct six points from the club’s total points.
Signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, the letter read, “You are hereby notified of the decision of the League Management Company in respect of breach by El-Kanemi Warriors of Article B9.45 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, that is, failure to pay financial entitlements of the players of the club for a period of more than 60 days.”
It explained that the decision was sequel to notice of Summary Jurisdiction (Form 16) issued the club on August 5 wherein El-Kanemi Warriors was given a period of 60 days to remedy the breach. The club was informed that the consequences of their failure to remedy the breach are:
“A deduction of six points is imposed on El-Kanemi Warriors” and that “the application of the points deduction referred in 1 above is suspended for a period of 14 clear working days from the date of this decision provided that if the club fails to remedy the breach within the period, the points deduction shall immediately take effect from October 28, 2015”.
LMC further reminded El-Kanemi Warriors that further breaches of the regulation will be treated in line with the provisions of the rules.
Warri Wolves, FC Taraba, and Dolphins are other clubs that have been issued notices of Summary Jurisdiction (Form 16) with deadlines that fall within the month of October.
In the matter of Abe, the LMC in a communication to Sunshine Stars noted that in view of the apology and pledge to be of good behaviour earlier tendered by the player and the special circumstance of the club having over six players with different national teams, “ it is the decision of the LMC that the remaining two matches of the six-match suspension on the Player, Sunday Abe is hereby commuted to a suspended sentence, provided that the player maintains good conduct for the remainder of the current season.”
Sunshine Stars management had through the Chairman, made a strong appeal to the LMC on the player’s behalf citing their special circumstance and the player’s demonstration of remorse which has served as a lesson for others.
Following the reprieve, Abe will thus be available for selection by the club for their Match Day 33 fixture.
