ENYIMBA AND KATSINA UNITED ACCEPT SANCTIONS BY THE LMC

Following the incident that took place on matchday 18 at different centers of the NPFL that recorded violence and chaos during and after the league games, the LMC issued their verdict to the involved teams.

Hence, each parties involved were asked to respond within the next 48 hours to the sanctions leveled on them by the LMC.

Teams who have responded have released an official statement. 

An official statement from Katsina United
Katsina United have accepted in good faith the sanctions handed them by the League Management Company (LMC) following the rather unfortunate incidents at the NPFL match involving Enyimba in Katsina on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Katsina United have been fined and will play at least one game behind closed doors after some miscreants smashed the team bus of Enyimba after the game in question.

In a letter signed by Katsina United chairman, Aminu Balele Kurfi, the club informed the LMC they will not appeal against the LMC sanctions even though it is within their rights to do so.

They also totally condemned those behind the unnecessary vandalisation of the Enyimba bus.

Katsina United stated that in the main their supporters are peace loving and law abiding and they have now been charged by the club management not to lose their heads no matter the provocation.

Enyimba FC
Having reviewed the match tape of the incident involving Enyimba goalkeeper Fatau Dauda and a ball boy in the 84th minute of the Match Day 18 Nigeria Professional Football League fixture against Katsina United, the club has reached the following conclusions

• That Dauda simply sought, in the aftermath of Katsina United’s second goal, to retrieve the ball from the ball boy in order to facilitate a quick restart.
• That Dauda knocked the ball out of the grasp of the ball boy, who had clasped the ball to his midriff to prevent access to it.
• That Dauda did not punch the ball boy, as alleged by the home side, and contrary to widespread reports.
• That Dauda did not assault or beat up the ball boy in question, let alone to the “point of coma” as some sensationalist reports have purported.
• That any contact with the ball boy in the process of dislodging the ball was clearly and purely incidental.

Dauda is a seasoned professional and a Ghana international who has represented his country at a World Cup, the biggest footballing stage in the world. He has maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing from the first, and the video evidence supports his claim.
In light of this, Enyimba Football Club demands that the unsportsmanlike and violent conduct of fans of Katsina United be condemned outright for what it is: a brutal and violent assault on our team.
This misrepresentation of facts; that the action of goalkeeper Dauda is somehow responsible for the brutality meted out to our players and officials is not only disgraceful, but unacceptable. Such violence has no place in our league and we maintain our call for strong sanctions against Katsina United.

Only few clubs have responded, the others are yet to issue their official statement of acceptance or disagreement to the sanctions from the LMC.

However, Kano Pillars expressed their discontempt following the incident which their fans were involved.

Kano Pillars unreservedly condemn the behaviour of the individuals involved in incidents during today's fixture against Akwa United.

— Kano Pillars FC (@pillarsfc) April 9, 2017

See also: LMC sanctions clubs for indecent act

Tags: Nigerian League, Sports, NPFL, LMC, Katsina United, Enyimba FC

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