LMC threaten to expel Giwa FC

Giwa FC has again been fined and also warned that it stands to be expelled from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) if it fails to honour a third consecutive fixture having missed two already.

The latest sanction on the Jos-based club was contained in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued by the League Management Compnay (LMC) following the non-appearance of Giwa FC in Ilorin for the Match Day 16 fixture against Akwa United.

 The notice signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar charged the club for breach of Rule B13.25 of the 2015/16 NPFL Framework and Rules in that it failed to honour the Match day 16 fixture without a reason acceptable to the LMC.

Rule B13.25 states, “any club that fails to honour its fixture obligation without any reason acceptable to the LMC may be fined the sum of N10, 000, 000 (Ten Million Naira only) payable to the LMC in addition to all expenses incurred by the home team within fourteen (14) days.

"Provided that where the reason adduced is acceptable to the LMC, the fixture shall be rescheduled, otherwise, in addition to the sanctions above, the erring club shall forfeit 3 points 3 goals arising from the match”

The LMC further noted that it had taken due cognizance of two letters from Giwa FC dated April 25th, 2016 and April 28th, 2016 in which the club communicated that it was obeying a purported court order as reason for not complying with the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee which ordered Giwa FC to play three home games at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

It also drew the Club’s attention to two letters from the LMC dated April 27th and 29th respectively in which Giwa FC was informed that there was no such court order and directive from the NFF directing the club not to comply with decisions of the Disciplinary Committee. It further emphasized that the LMC remains the “competent authority licensed by the NFF to organize the League, all directives in relation to the organization of League matches emanate exclusively from or through the LMC”.

It therefore ruled that the reasons adduced for failing to honour the match day 16 fixture is rejected and, “consequently, the LMC intends to exercise Summary Jurisdiction and impose on you the following sanctions, (a), Giwa FC shall pay a fine of N250, 000 being the sum of expenses including stadium hire, security and other logistics incurred in respect of the match. (b) Giwa FC shall forfeit to Akwa United the three points as well as three goals arising from the match”.

Giwa was then cautioned on the provisions of Rule 13.28 which states as follows,” if a club fails to honour three matches cumulatively within the league season without acceptable reason to the LMC such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled”.

The LMC reminded the club that having failed to honour match day 14 and 16 games, a further failure to honour another fixture will result to its expulsion from the League. Giwa FC was given 48 hours to either submit to the decisions in writing or elect to be dealt with by a commission.