FOLLOWERS of the Nigeria Premier Football League have applauded the NPFL board for not wasting time in punishing reigning champions Enyimba and leaders Enugu Rangers over the violence which disrupted their potential 2023/24 match-day 35 title decider in Enugu on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.
What could have been the biggest game of the season ended embarrassingly at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium when Enyimba players walked off in protest of a late penalty awarded to the hosts and the fans in turn descended on the pitch to wreak further havoc.
The league body acted swiftly on Monday by awarding three points and three goals to Enugu Rangers plus a fine of N5m for over-stretching the capacity of their stadium while Enyimba were handed a N10m fine for disrupting the live match among other breaches of the league’s framework.
Enyimba were also ordered to produce some of their culpable officials and players who were involved in the assault of the match officials.
NPFL commentator, Ralph Chidozie-George described the decision as apt but called for more punishment for Rangers and the match commissioner.
“By walking out of the game and preventing the penalty to be taken, Enyimba brought the game to disrepute so they had that fine coming and Enugu Rangers benefited the three points and three goals from that behaviour,” Chidozie-George told our correspondent.
“In Enugu Rangers case, the N5m fine is kind of a slap on the wrist for me because what they did was mismanage the game in terms of crowd control. In addition, I also think the match commissioner in charge of that game should be banned because he is not even supposed to start a game of that magnitude when he saw the measures to control the crowd were inadequate.”
Some fans also shared the commentators view about stiffer punishment for other actors who were involved in the incident.
“In Nigeria, we don’t act until things go out of hands. Subsequently poor officiating and home advantage have taken the league to the ground. Punishing the club is a welcome development but looking into the loopholes that lead to the fight is the best thing to do,” Esiaba Victor said.
“I also think the ref should be sanctioned too, I like the fines awarded to both teams. N5m to Ranger and N10m to Enyimba, but our refs should also face panels and get sanctioned too. We need to do better.” Groover Eben Eweamah added.
An Enyimba fan, Chinedu Ndibe, also backed the league body’s decision.
“Perfect, though I’m a supporter of Enyimba FC, their conduct on Sunday is absolutely unacceptable and we can’t build a better league like that.”
The three points Enugu Rangers benefited from the decision put the four points ahead of Enyimba and Remo Stars in the title race as they face 3SC in Ibadan on Wednesday (today) while the reigning champions are also at home to Bayelsa United while Remo Stars will welcome Heartland to Ikenne.