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By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Football Federation NFF have slammed a fine of N2, Million on Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL side, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

The fine was in relation to the aborted Matchday 20 league fixture involving FC Ifeanyi Ubah and MFM which was scheduled to hold at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

In ordering the replay of the match, the NFF disciplinary committee ruled that FC Ifeanyi is to pay the indemnities of the match officials as well as defray MFM FC’s N2, million expenses they inccured as a result of the aborted match.

Below is the judgement as delivered by the Disciplinary Committee:

This case involves FC Ifeanyi Ubah Vs. MFM FC in a matchday 20 fixture scheduled to be played on the 9th May, 2021 at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Though Nnewi Township Stadium is the traditional home venue of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, part of the disciplinary sanctions imposed on the Club by League Management Company (LMC), in the aftermath of their matchday 15 fixture was, “an order moving FC Ifeanyi Ubah to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu”, until a satisfactory revised stadium security plan is
provided and approved by the League Management Company (LMC).

On the date and time of the fixture, whereas the away team and the match officials were present at the match venue in Enugu, FC Ifeanyi Ubah did not report for the match. Pursuant to the summary jurisdiction of the LMC, FC Ifeanyi Ubah was thereafter charged with failure to honour the fixture, in breach of Rule B13.25 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League and
the match was awarded to MFM 3 points, 3 goals.

Dissatisfied with the summary jurisdiction by LMC, FC Ifeanyi Ubah appealed to be heard by the NFF Disciplinary Committee.

FINDINGS:

1. That having heard from officials of the two (2) clubs and the COO of the LMC, it was established that a typographical error in the
   fixture stating Nnewi as the venue of the match, may have caused FC Ifeanyi Ubah to erroneously assume that the match venue would be Nnewi instead of Enugu.
2. That the visiting team and match officials were in Enugu for the fixture, and a walk over was conducted in the absence of the home team (FC Ifeanyi Ubah).

DECISIONS:

In view of the above findings, the Disciplinary Committee hereby rules as follows:

1. The match between FC Ifeanyi Ubah Vs. MFM FC is hereby ordered to
   be played at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on a date to be determined by the LMC.
2. In furtherance of paragraph 1 above, FC Ifeanyi Ubah is hereby ordered to pay the match officials indemnities and the cost of
   organising the aborted fixture to be determined by LMC.
3. FC Ifeanyi Ubah is hereby ordered to pay the financial expenses of MFM FC in the sum of Two Million (N2,000,000.00) Naira only, before
   the date of the rescheduled match.
4. That the above decision is without prejudice to the right of appeal.