Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Remo Stars have been slammed with three points deduction following a case of assault that happened during their Match Day 12 game against Gombe United on Sunday.
Centre referee Ndubuisi Ukah (FIFA) was assaulted at half time by a top official of the club for what was perceived to be a wrongful/harsh sending off of Remo Stars midfielder Dayo Ojo late in the first half.
The club were found guilty of the offence and consequently slammed with three points deduction after the league’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) studied reports of the Match Officials.
“Remo Stars have been docked three points and three goals amongst other sanctions imposed on the club by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the assault on match Referee Ndubuisi Ukah and subsequent disruption of the MatchDay 12 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) against Gombe United,” read an IMC statement on Wednesday.
“The match of Sunday, April 2 was concluded the next day after the Referee was assaulted in the dressing room at halftime as a result of Remo Stars failure to provide adequate security for the match Officials.
“The IMC in a Summary Jurisdiction notice signed by Davidson Owumi, the Head of Operations said the sanctions followed review of findings of the official match report,” it added.
Additionally, for their failure to adequately secure match Officials before, during and after the match leading to the assault on one of them, the club was fined ₦500,000 and also directed to pay ₦250,000 to the said Official, Ukah Ndubuisi as compensation.
The IMC noted that Remo Stars’ General Manager, Hon. Ekene Adams was the offender and thus banned the newly elected parliamentarian from all NPFL activities for the rest of the season.
“Remo Stars is also to ensure diligent prosecution in the law court, of Mr. Adams who is the Club’s General Manager,” the IMC statement added.
Furthermore, Remo Stars were fined ₦500,000 for disturbances and disruptions which led to the discontinuation of Sunday’s game.
Remo Stars have within 48 hours of the ruling to submit to the ruling or elect to appear before a Disciplinary Panel.
Should the sanction stand, the club will drop to fifth position on the NPFL Group A log with the three points deduction and could go further down should they lose to Shooting Stars in Ibadan on Sunday.
