The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) has come down hard on Enyimba FC of Aba following their dramatic walkout during the high-profile Oriental Derby against Rangers International of Enugu.
The incident, which unfolded in the dying moments of a crucial match week 35 encounter, saw Enyimba players and supporters erupt in protest after Rangers were awarded a penalty. This led to a complete breakdown of order, with Enyimba refusing to allow the penalty to be taken and ultimately walking off the pitch before the final whistle.
Determined to send a strong message, the NPFL announced a series of harsh sanctions against Enyimba on Monday evening. The club faces a hefty fine of 10 million Naira, coupled with a potentially season-defining three-point deduction. These deducted points, along with three awarded goals, have been awarded to their rivals, Rangers International.
The breakdown of the sanctions details Enyimba’s various offenses:
- A 1 million Naira fine for failing to control player conduct.
- A 5 million Naira fine for disrupting the live broadcast.
- A 1 million Naira fine for throwing objects onto the field.
- A 1 million Naira fine for encroachment onto the field.
- A 3-point and 3-goal deduction for refusing to allow the penalty and disrupting the match.
- A 2 million Naira fine for causing the match disruption and discontinuation.
- An order for Enyimba to identify and produce three players (Eze Ekwutoziam, Chibuike Nwaiwu, and Akanni Elijah) for further investigation regarding their roles in the incident.
Enyimba has 48 hours to decide whether to accept the imposed sanctions or request a hearing before a disciplinary panel.
The heavy punishment serves as a significant setback for Enyimba’s title aspirations as they now face an uphill battle to climb back into the title race.
