Remo Stars football team would have to pay a fine worth over N1.75 million according to the Nigeria Professional Football League’s Interim Management Committee (IMC).
OsunDaily News recalls that the IMC started investigating Remo Stars on Monday after an assault on a match official during a league game between Remo Stars and Gombe United on Matchday 12.
Remo Stars’ general manager, Ekene Adams, and other members of the club allegedly assaulted the referee on Sunday which forced the league game to be suspended at halftime and concluded on Monday. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.
After the investigation, Adams and Remo Stars were found guilty of assaulting the referee and breaching other rules of the league. Hence, the IMC suspended the manager for the rest of the 2022-2023 season. While the club was slammed with a fine worth N1.25 million, and deduction of three points, and three goals.
According to Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief of Operations, who also signed a summary jurisdiction notice against the Ogun-based club on Wednesday, the club was also found to have broken Rule B13.21 by causing disturbances and interruptions that forced a league game to be called off, hence, they have to pay another 500,000 fine.
In line with Regulation C.26 of the league, Remo Stars must submit a written response to the IMC’s decisions within 48 hours of receiving the notice, or choose to appear before a disciplinary panel. Also, the penalty must be paid within seven business days.
A statement from the IMC read, “For breach of Rule B8.21 which is 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.
“For breach of Rules C.11, three points and three goals were ordered to be deducted from the total points and goals accrued to the club for the assault on the match official while Mr. Ekene Adams identified as the attacker has been banned from all NPFL activities for the rest of the season”.
Also, Remo Stars might be forced to defend its general manager Adams in court if the referee decides to file an assault case against him.
