The Nigeria Premier Football League has taken decisive action, imposing a significant N5 million fine on Rangers International FC for a series of infractions during their Match Day 35 encounter against Enyimba International FC. The fiery clash unfolded at the iconic Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday, June 9, amidst an atmosphere charged with anticipation and tension.
The decision to levy such a substantial penalty underscores the severity of the breaches committed by Rangers International FC during the tumultuous fixture. This penalty serves as a stern reminder of the league’s commitment to upholding discipline and fair play, ensuring that the integrity of the competition remains intact despite the fervent passions often associated with football matches.
In a communication dated June 10th, Rangers received a formal notification from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, outlining a series of rule violations committed by the club during the tumultuous encounter.
The highly anticipated match between Enugu Rangers and reigning champions Enyimba, held in Enugu on Sunday, descended into chaos deep into stoppage time, marked by a dramatic invasion of the field by fans. This unruly behavior ultimately led to the game’s abandonment and left a stain on what was meant to be a fiercely contested football fixture.
As the match approached its conclusion with the scoreline still deadlocked, the tension on the pitch reached a fever pitch when center referee John Ojeleye made a critical decision to award a penalty to the home side, Rangers. However, before the penalty could be taken, chaos erupted as a wave of away fans stormed the pitch in protest against the referee’s decision.
The sudden invasion of the pitch by disgruntled away supporters threw the match into disarray, bringing proceedings to an abrupt halt and prompting referee Ojeleye to call off the game. This extraordinary turn of events not only marred what was meant to be a tightly contested encounter between two fierce rivals but also cast a shadow over the integrity of the competition.
The scenes of unrest and disorder witnessed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium served as a stark reminder of the passionate and sometimes volatile nature of football fandom. However, such incidents underscored the importance of maintaining discipline and order both on and off the pitch to ensure the safety of players, officials, and spectators alike.
Ruling its verdict on Monday, the letter noted that topping the list of offences, Rangers was found to have violated Rule B15.24, as the club over-ticketed the match, leading to overcrowding at the stadium. This transgression alone drew a fine of N2m.
Furthermore, the club was cited for failing to provide adequate and effective security measures, contravening Rule B13.52. This lapse attracted a fine of N1m.
Accordingly, Rangers also fell foul of Rule B13.52.1, failing to implement adequate and effective crowd control measures, resulting in an additional fine of N1m.
Also, the club was deemed to have breached Rule B13.52 by failing to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to restricted areas, leading to a further fine of N1m.
Consequently, the NPFL has imposed a total fine of N5m on Rangers International FC for the various infractions.
In addition to the financial penalties, the league has ordered Rangers to “implement a more effective crowd control mechanism in subsequent home games.”
Rangers have further been given 48 hours to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the prescribed sanctions or elect to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel. Failure to comply or a frivolous appeal may result in additional sanctions, as per Rule E1 of the NPFL’s Frameworks and Rules.
