LMC sanction Sunshine Stars, Abia Warriors

The LMC on Thursday, September 14 announced that the NPFL sides have been sanctioned for the disruptive behaviour of their fans in recent matches.

Sunshine Stars of Akure have been fined N2.7m for the breach of several rules including failure to provide adequate security, assault on match officials, throwing of an object into the field of play, delaying the start of the second half and throwing of object at an official of Heartland FC.

An additional fine of a one-match stadium ban has also been imposed on Sunshine Stars for a similar offence in their Match-Day 17 fixture against Warri Wolves.

The assaulted Assistant Referee and the injured Heartland official will be paid compensations of N250, 000 each from the fine, the LMC also announced.

For Abia Warriors, they have been given a fine of N2.5m in addition to two match behind closed door for the conduct of their fans in the Match Day 34 fixture against FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

The club was also fined N1m for encroachment of fans into the field of play while a fine of N750, 000 is to be paid for the club’s failure to provide adequate security for the match officials immediately after the match.

Each of the three match officials are to be paid N250, 000 each as compensation by the club for the assault perpetrated by their fans on the match officials.

Abia Warriors are also to replace the FIFA match wrist watch the referee lost during the fracas.

Abia Warriors have also been ordered to produce the culprit(s) after seven days from the date of the notice.

A fine of N250, 000 shall accrue for each day until the order is complied with.

The club has until close of business on Friday, September 16 to respond in writing indicating acceptance of the charges or electing to appear before a commission.

The LMC have also made moves to suspend 12 referees over integrity concerns in recent league matches.

The LMC have written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to for the immediate exclusion of four center referees and eight assistant referees who officiated in fixtures between, Nasarawa United, Rangers International (Match Day 33), Abia Warriors and FC IfeanyiUbah (match day 34), FC IfeanyiUbah and Akwa United and Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba (match day 35).

Enyimba’s Masseur, Mr. Ifeanyi Kalu has also been handed a one year ban from all activities of the NPFL and the club fined N250,000.