The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) board has taken decisive action against Rangers International FC and Abia Warriors FC following a pre-match altercation preceding Sunday’s Oriental Derby in Umuahia.
An incident unfolded between officials of Abia Warriors and Rangers before the matchday 10 fixture, prompting the NPFL to administer stringent measures against both teams.
Rangers International FC, arriving earlier in their customary attire and engaging in spirited singing and dancing, faced consequences for their conduct.
Despite losing 1-0 in the derby, they were fined N1 million for misconduct that risked tarnishing the game’s reputation.
The NPFL board sternly warned Rangers about potential severe sanctions for any recurrence of such misconduct and instructed them to identify the officials involved within 48 hours for further penalties.
Abia Warriors FC faced more severe repercussions, receiving a N3 million fine for various acts of misconduct during the match. These infractions encompassed obstructing Rangers’ access to the pitch, leading to disorderly incidents, and failing to ensure adequate security, resulting in physical altercations by some of their officials.
Abia Warriors had faced reprimand for impeding NPFL broadcast partners from capturing pre-match content and harassing the official broadcast partner’s media crew.
They were similarly given a 48-hour window to identify the involved official for further sanctions and warned against barring visiting teams’ access to the field in future matches.
The NPFL board cautioned both clubs that repeated misconduct could lead to more severe consequences. They urged all NPFL clubs to comply with league rules and regulations to uphold a conducive environment for the sport.
