Sab Osuji:
Following the review of new video evidence of the incident that occurred immediately after the Match Day 8 fixture in Nnewi between FC IfeanyiUbah and Heartland of Owerri, the League Management Company (LMC) has issued fresh charges against the Proprietor of FC IfeanyiUbah, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah and handed him a fine of N2, 500, 000 in addition to ten match ban from all Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) venues in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Thursday afternoon.
Relying on the Match Commissioner’s report which did not capture the incident, the LMC had charged Chief Ubah for encroachment on the field of play only but having received additional evidence that supported a case of assault on goalkeeper Ebele Obi, Super Eagles captyain and Chelsea of England midfielder, fresh charges were drafted.
Chief Ubah was charged for breach of Rule C1 of the NPFL Rules and Framework for an offence of misconduct in that immediately after the match he encroached on the field of play and assaulted Ebele Obi while his personal security aides further assaulted the player.
For this, the LMC ruled in an exercise of summary jurisdiction to “suspend Chief Ubah from all NPFL match venues for the next ten matches”.
The club owner was also fined N2, 500, 000 and ordered to write a letter of apology and an undertaking to be a good ambassador of the NPFL henceforth.
Arising from the unrestrained behaviour of the personal security of Ubah, the LMC further ruled that club officials and guests to NPFL matches are prohibited from bringing self procured security apparatus to match venues.
However, the last four of the ten match ban has been suspended for a probationary period expiring at the end of the 2015/16 season
The match which ended 1-0 in favour of the home team courtesy of a sixth minute penalty, reportedly turned violent after Heartland goalkeeper Ebele confronted the referee at the end of the match for alleged bias.
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