George Aluo
Plateau United Football Club have been ordered to play their next three home fixtures at the Ilorin Township Stadium and fined a total of N5 million for breaches of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in the Match Day 1 fixture against FC Ifeanyi Ubah on Sunday, January 13.
The club also risks immediate three points deduction should a similar disturbance occur again during the current season.
The sanctions announced by the League Management Company (LMC) in a Summary Jurisdiction notice sent the club followed the rowdy crowd incidence at the end of the match which saw the match officials assaulted by unruly fans led by one Attahiru Babayo who was identified by the match officials as the leader of the assault gang.
The club has been ordered to assist security agencies apprehend the said Babayo and others for prosecution failing which Plateau United will be liable to pay a fine of N25,000 per day until the culprit is arrested.
Plateau United were found in breach of four rules of the NPFL ranging from failure to provide adequate security, assault on match officials, throwing objects on to the field of play, encroachment on the field of play and conduct capable of bringing the league to disrepute. The rules include B8.21, B13.1 and, C1.1
Top on charge sheet and consequential sanctions conveyed in a letter signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company (LMC), is that “You are in breach of Rule B8.21 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional League Football League, in that on Sunday, 13th January, 2019, in the course of your Match Day 1 Fixture: Plateau United FC vs. FC Ifeanyi Ubah, you failed to provide adequate security for match officials when some of your supporters and other unidentified persons attacked and assaulted the Referee immediately after the match”.
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Plateau United supporters were also found to have thrown objects and projectiles at the match officials as they left the field of play in violation of Rule B13.18 of the Framework and Rules.
The Club was also charged under Rule B13.18 for encroachment on the field of play by their supporters.
The last charge read, “you are in breach of Rule C1.1 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional League Football League, in that on Sunday, 13thth January, 2019, immediately after your Match Day 1 Fixture: Plateau United FC vs. FC Ifeanyi Ubah, some of your designated officials assaulted the Referees, thereby failing to comply with the principles of fair play, sportsmanship and behaving in a manner capable of bringing the League into disrepute”.
The sanctions imposed by the LMC on the club in exercise of its summary jurisdiction include a fine of N1million for failure to provide adequate security, another N1 million pursuant to Rule C12 being compensation to each of the assaulted Match Officials and in addition to any certified cost of treatment.
Other sanctions include a fine of N1million for throwing of objects on to the field of play, N1million for encroachment on the field of play and restricted area immediately after the match and N1million for conduct capable of bringing the League to disrepute.
Furthermore and consequent on the disturbances that occurred in the course of the match, the LMC ruled that “pursuant to Rule B13.21, Plateau United Fc is hereby ordered to play its next three (3) home matches at the Ilorin Township Stadium’.
While warning the club that it will stand to have three points deducted from its total accrued points should similar disturbance occur within the current season, the LMC warned Plateau United to ensure adequate security measures are put in place to forestall future occurrence.
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Such measures expected to be put in place by the club include a revised security plan, seminar for supporters and numbered seats and ticketing.
Finally, the LMC charged Plateau United to within seven days identify and ensure the apprehension and prosecution by the relevant security agencies of one Attahiru Babayo (who was identified and named by the Match Officials as having led the assault) and other persons who carried out the assault on Match Officials.
The former NPFL Champions have 48 hours within which to accept the decisions or elect to appeal.
However, any of the two decisions the club may choose must be communicated in writing to the LMC and should the appeal fail, additional sanctions may be imposed.