NPFL slams Rivers United with N15m suspended fine, club to forfeit 3 points, 3 goals if repeated

Rivers United has been handed a suspended fine of N15,000,000, a deduction of three points and three goals for blocking the live broadcast of the EuroMatchNPFL Matchday 11 fixture against Rangers International on Sunday, November 1. The suspended fine will activate if the club repeats the breach any time during the on-going season.

In a summary jurisdiction decisions communicated to the club, Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman recalled the circumstances surrounding the eventual disruption of the already advertised fixture.

“The EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has received reports of the Club’s action in denying the League’s Broadcast Partners access to its stadium for the live coverage of its home fixture,” Abdulrahman noted in the signed letter.

He said denying access to Murphy Ben International (MBI) represents a serious violation of established regulations, and therefore unacceptable interference with the League’s broadcast operations.

He further noted that “such conduct undermines the League’s commercial and broadcasting arrangements,

and brought the League’s integrity and reputation into disrepute”.

The League boss also drew the club’s attention to

Section B, Rules 6.22 and 6.23 of the NPFL Framework and Rules, which provides that the League Broadcast Rights Owner exclusive and unfettered access to all League venues without prior notice.

Regarding the consequences of this rule breach, the NPFL referred to Rule 6.23 which prescribes a fine of up to Fifteen Million Naira (₦15,000,000.00) and a deduction of three (3) points

and three (3) goals from the Club’s accruable points and goals.

Noting that the breach was serious, the summary jurisdiction noted some underlying circumstances surrounding the disruption and issued a final warning to Rivers United.

“In view of the seriousness of this incident, the League hereby issues Rivers

United FC a formal and final warning and places the prescribed sanctions under

suspension. Accordingly, the fine of ₦15,000,000.00 together with the deduction of three (3) points and three (3) goals from the Club’s accruable points and goals, is hereby suspended. These sanctions will activate if the Club commits any subsequent breach of these provisions, without prejudice to any additional sanctions applicable under the Framework and Rules”.

“The Club is therefore strongly cautioned against repeating this action. You are

reminded that access by the League’s Broadcast Partners to League venues is a

regulatory requirement and not a matter subject to the discretion or approval of

individual Clubs. No Club is permitted to obstruct, restrict or deny such access,

particularly in respect of scheduled live matches”.