NFF reaffirms Giwa’s expulsion from NPFL, fines, warns Lobi Stars

The disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday upheld the League Management Company’s (LMC) decision to expel Giwa FC from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) for allegedly flouting the rules of the game.

In a communiqué issued yesterday, the committee ruled that Giwa FC breached Rule B13.28 of the NPFL Frame Work and Rules, which states that
“If a club failed to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without an acceptable reason to the LMC, such a club shall be expelled from the league and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled.”

The committee, headed by NFF’s former Secretary General, Musa Ahmadu, fined Giwa FC N10 million for staying away from the league match against Enyimba without an acceptable reason.

The committee ordered the Jos-based club to pay to Enyimba N1 million and pay the match officials N650, 000.

Giwa FC has 48 hours to appeal the decision.

Also punished by the Disciplinary Committee is Lobi Stars of Makurdi, who alleged breached the rules during their Match Day 18 game against Nasarawa United.

The committee ruled that the “decision of the LMC as contained in the Summary Jurisdiction Notice dated May 23, 2016 is hereby upheld by the Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee.”

It said that Lobi Stars breached the rules in the course of their Match Day 18 fixture against Nasarawa United played in Makurdi “when their supporters severally interrupted the match by throwing objects, including stones and water sachets, on to the field of play during the match.”

The club was also held culpable for allowing its supporters to encroach on to the field of play immediately after the match, adding that “their officials and supporters conducted themselves in a manner capable of bringing the game to disrepute, including general unruly behaviour, disorderly conduct, failure to show due respect for the decisions of the Referee and harassment of individuals.”

The committee, therefore, fined Lobi Stars N500, 000 for acts of throwing objects on to the field of play and severally interrupting the match and anotherN500, 000 for encroachment on to the field of play immediately after the match.

The club was also directed to pay N1 million for “general acts of disorderliness and misconduct in breach of Rule C1.”