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By Johnny Edward.
El Kanemi Warriors were fined ₦750,000 by the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Premier Football League on Wednesday for failure to provide adequate and effective security for all persons involved in their match-day five game against leaders Bendel Insurance in Maiduguri last week, The PUNCH reports.
In a statement issued by the IMC and signed by Harry Iwuala on Wednesday, El-Kanemi were also ordered to play their remaining home matches of the first half of the season behind closed doors.
The statement read in part, “The IMC after a review of findings of the official reports of the match-day five fixture between El-Kanemi Warriors and Bendel Insurance, found the host team to have breached Rule B13.52 for failure to provide adequate and effective security for all persons involved in the match and which led to the destruction of the camera tripod of the away team, and disagreements prior to the resumption of the second half.
“El-Kanemi was thus fined ₦500,000 for failure to provide adequate and effective security, ₦250,000 being compensatory payment to Bendel Insurance coach, Monday Odigie, and an order to replace the damaged camera tripod of Bendel Insurance.”
Bayelsa United coach, Deprieye Tebowei, was handed a final warning to be of good conduct after he apologised for his unguarded public statement on the NPFL.
Tebowei had accused the match referee of biased officiating in the wake of their 3-0 defeat to Lobi Stars in Makurdi.
“The respondent and officials of Bayelsa United are further advised to direct their grievances and complaints through the official channels in the future,” the IMC stated.
The IMC also rejected fixtures adjustment request from three clubs, Lobi Stars, Enyimba and Abia Warriors. The body explained that there was a need to maintain the fidelity of fixtures and avoid future fixture congestion.
Lobi Stars sought to reschedule their match-day seven fixture against Dakkada, while Abia Warriors also requested a shift in date for the game against Wikki Tourists. Enyimba requested a change in date for their match-day eight game against Shooting Stars.
Abia Warriors were consequently directed to host Wikki Tourists at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba on same date, just as Lobi were advised to make adequate arrangements to play their match-day seven game on the scheduled date of February 11.
Shooting Stars and Abia Warriors were handed three weeks ultimatum to improve the condition of the playing pitch of their stadiums before the end of the first half of the season (week nine).
Abia Warriors have been provisionally permitted the continued use of the Umuahia Township Stadium for the remainder of the first stanza of the season. Subsequently, the ground would be evaluated to decide if it met Club Licensing Infrastructure requirements.
“The present condition of the playing turf at the Lekan Salami Stadium (Ibadan) is not television-friendly and falls short of acceptable standards. You are therefore directed to take immediate steps to improve the condition of the playing pitch before the end of the first half of the season (Week 9),” the statement added.
“The club was warned that failure to comply would lead to its home games moved to an alternate ground before the start of the second stanza.”
Nasarawa United also got approval to return to the New Jos Township Stadium for their remaining fixtures of the season, with a warning that further requests for venue change would not be entertained.
Nasarawa will thus host Kwara United in Jos for their match-day seven fixture this weekend.