The Nigeria Premier Football League has imposed a hefty fine of N4 million on Abia Warriors FC for violating multiple rules during their match against Enugu Rangers on Sunday.
The Warriors were found guilty of three distinct offenses, as outlined by the NPFL in an official tweet.
Prior to the match, Abia Warriors officials obstructed Rangers’ access to the Umuahia township stadium, leading to a physical altercation.
The NPFL deemed this incident as “capable of bringing the game to disrepute” and fined Abia Warriors N1 million.
The club’s failure to provide adequate security for the away team further aggravated the situation, resulting in pre-match violence. This negligence earned Abia Warriors another N1 million fine.
In a separate incident, an Abia Warriors official harassed the media crew of StarTimes, the league’s official broadcast partner.
The official went as far as seizing the mobile device of the company’s regional manager. This offense resulted in a N2 million fine for the Warriors, and the club was ordered to identify and produce the erring official for further sanctions.
Responding to Abia Warriors’ actions, the NPFL also imposed a N1 million fine on Enugu Rangers for their “violent reaction to provocation from the home team.”
Both clubs were sternly warned that any repetition of their misconduct would lead to more severe penalties.
The match ended with Abia Warriors securing a crucial three-pointer thanks to a lone goal from Chimzulam Nwoburuoke.
