Jolly Nyame Stadium: blacklisted for one year

FC Taraba of Jalingo and Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia will complete their disrupted Match Day 35 fixture on Nov. 4 at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

This decision was one of many taken on Thursday by the League Management Company (LMC) which organises the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

In a statement on Thursday, LMC said both clubs would continue from the 81st minute of the match, the minute it ended on Wednesday at the Jolly Nyame Stadium in Jalingo.

The 2014/2015 Glo Premier League match was abandoned in the 81st minute after it was disrupted by fans on Wednesday. The game was goalless then.

LMC also announced that the Jolly Nyame Stadium has been banned for one year from hosting any NPFL match, in the wake of the encroachment and breach of security.

It also recommended that the three match officials in the FC Taraba/Nasarawa United game be investigated by the Referees Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“The committee was also requested to stand down the match officials indefinitely,’’ the statement said.

Referees Ferdinand Udoh, Efozia P. and Digori Tejiri have been referred to the NFF Referees Committee for further investigation over their management of the match.

The LMC said Udoh should be investigated for allegedly visiting the dressing room of Nasarawa United during the half time break in plain clothes.

“This was an act which is believed to have led to increased tension and eventual encroachment on the field of play,’’ it said.

According to the statement, the three referees will also no longer officiate in any NPFL game until after the outcome of the investigation

LMC also, relying on Article B13.9 of the Framework and Rules, imposed a fine of N5 million on FC Taraba..

“This is for fans’ encroachment on to the field of play and breach of security which led to the discontinuation of the match,’’ the statement said.

The club has further been ordered to pay N250,000 each to the two match officials who were assaulted, Udoh and Efozia.

Further to this, and in line with Article B13.21, FC Taraba have been ordered to play their next three home matches at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

The statement also said LMC frowned at the conduct of the Supporters Club of FC Taraba and have subsequently banned them from all NPFL matches for the rest of the season.

It also invoked Article C12, to direct that the Jolly Nyame Stadium be banned for one year from hosting NPFL matches except the club complied with one other order.

The order is for FC Taraba to produce the first person/fan/spectator who encroached on the field of play for prosecution.

In another ruling, El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri were fined N500,000 for the “disorderly conduct of fans’’ in their Match Day 34 fixture against Jos-based Giwa FC in Katsina.

“As a result of this, their Match Day 36 fixture against Kano Pillars will be played behind closed doors in Katsina.

“The Summary Jurisdiction notice to this ruling was issued the club today (Thursday) and signed by the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar,’’ the statement said.

It also said the Head Coach of Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi, Abdu Maikaba, was also charged for a breach of code of conduct for club managers.

“This followed his unguarded comments after the Match Day 35 game between Giwa FC and his club in Jos.

“The coach was therefore fined N100,000 and cautioned to desist from making comments that are capable of bringing the league to disrepute,’’ the LMC said.(NAN)