Enyimba have seen its appeal against the three points and three goals awarded to Rangers International in their NPFL matchday 35 game dismissed by the Nigeria Football Federation appeal committee, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Nigeria Premier Football League had found Enyimba guilty after the players staged a workout at the Cathedral after the players' perceived wrong penalty call by the centre referee.
Leading to a three points deduction and three goals awarded to Rangers International plus ten million naira fines.
However, the N10 million fines were reduced to N4 million naira by the committee after its findings on the matter.
DECISIONS OF THE MEETING OF THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION (NFF) DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE HELD ON 21ST JUNE, 2024 ON THE PROTEST LODGED BY ENYIMBA FC AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NPFL) ON THE MATCH PLAYED BETWEEN RANGERS INT’L FC VS. ENYIMBA FC ON THE 9TH DAY OF JUNE, 2024 AT NNAMDI AZIKIWE STADIUM, ENUGU.
FINDINGS:
1. The Committee found out that, the match venue was overcrowded. A 32,000 capacity Stadium was said to have admitted 70,000 spectators.
2. That Enyimba Football Club protested the award of a penalty kick in favour of Rangers International FC at the 90 + 5 minutes of play and disrupted the game.
3. That Enyimba Football Club players, with jersey numbers 10, 27 and 6 attacked the Assistant Referee One (AR 1) when he raised up his flag to signal for a penalty kick against their club.
4. That Enyimba Football Club supporters encroached into the field of play and chased away the match officials.
6. That the officials of Enyimba FC admitted in evidence that the actions of their players and fans were condemnable and not too good for the promotion of football and against the spirit of sportsmanship.
DECISIONS:
Based on the above findings, the Committee decides as follows:
1. That the Committee adopts the Summary Jurisdiction (Form 16) contained in paragraph 1 and upholds the One Million Naira (N1,000,000) fine against Enyimba FC for failure to ensure the proper conduct of their players, officials and supporters.
2. That the Committee disagrees with the decision in Paragraph 2 of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice form 16 that the live broadcast transmission was disrupted by Enyimba FC for want of evidence. Therefore, the Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) fine imposed is hereby set aside.
3. That the Committee disagrees with the decision in Paragraph 3 of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16 that the supporters of Enyimba FC threw objects into the field of play for lack of evidence. The one million naira (N1,000,000) fine is hereby set aside.
4. That the Committee agrees with the decision of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice Form 16 contained in paragraph 4 against Enyimba FC for refusal to continue with the match in protest against the award of the penalty. The 3 points and 3 goals awarded in favour of Rangers International FC is hereby upheld in accordance with Article 13.26 of the NPFL Framework and Rules.
5. The Committee upholds the fine of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) imposed on Enyimba FC for encroachment unto the field of play in accordance with Art.13.19 NPFL Framework and Rules.
6. That the Committee agrees with the fine of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) fine imposed on Enyimba FC for the disruption and discontinuation of the match in accordance with Article 13.24 of NPFL Framework and Rules.
7. That the above decisions are without prejudice to the right of appeal.
In attendance: Barr. J.B.C. Obikwelu (Chairman), Barr. Wole Ademoyegun (Member), Barr. Bello Galadi (Member) and Queen W. Otarakpo, Esq. (Secretary)
Uche Dozie