The League Management Company (LMC) has slammed a N3 million fine on Akwa United for breaching the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
LMC in a statement on Tuesday said Akwa United contingent harrassed match officials as they made their way to the dressing room after the match.
The statement further added that the acts according to the charge amounted to a breach of Rule B8.21 (failure to ensure adequate security for match officials) and C1.1 (misconduct) of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL
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The statement reads as follows;
“Akwa United has been fined a total of N3 million for breach of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL, in the course of the Matchday 5 fixture against Wikki Tourists.
“Aome members of Akwa Utd contingent accosted & harassed match officials as they made their way to the changing room immediately after the match, in the process of which the Assistant Referee II sustained injuries to his head & face.
“The acts according to the charge amounted to a breach of Rule B8.21 (failure to ensure adequate security for match officials) and C1.1 (misconduct) of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL
‘Consequently, the following sanctions has been imposed:
a) a fine of N1 million for failure to ensure adequate protection for match officials &
b) a fine of N500,000 for harassment of match officials.
“Furthermore, the LMC also imposed another fine of N1 million to be paid as compensation to the match officials; & an additional fine of N500,000 for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Akwa Utd has also been issued a censure with a warning that any repeated or similar breach shall be dealt with as an aggravated breach & attract severe sanctions, including but not limited to an order moving the club to a different venue for its home matches, deduction of points, etc.
“Akwa Utd are required, within 48 hours of the date of the notice, to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the sanctions or face a commission.
In another development, the LMC also fined the club head coach Kennedy Boboye for his comment.
Boboye was reported to have blamed the officials for their 2-1 loss to Heartland in his post-match interview .
“Akwa Utd coach Kennedy Boboye been charged with breach of paragraph 7 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL for making public comments in criticism of match officials.
“The comments made after the Heartland vs Akwa Utd match amounted to a breach of paragraph 7 of Appendix B: Code of Conduct for Managers and Coaches (public criticism of match officials) and C1.1 (misconduct) of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
“For the breach, a fine of N250,000 has been imposed on Boboye and a ban from NPFL match(es) and activities for a period of one match (i.e, the next match – Matchday 7).”