GloNPL: Is Kano Pillars Right on Harsh LMC? Read This!!!

SIMILAR INCIDENCES AND LMC DECISIONS(HUKUNCIN RASHIN ADALCIN DA LMC TAYIWA KANO PILLARS AWASANMU DA EYIMBA)

1. WEEK 3: RANGERS FC VS WARRI FC

Incidence: Irate Rangers fans and players assaulted Centre Referee Audu Ibrahim.

Decision: To play six home matches behind closed doors.

2. WEEK 4: KADUNA UNITED FC VS RANGERS FC

Incidence: Kaduna United fans descended on the match officials and Rangers Cameraman, players and team officials held hostage after the match.

Decision: To play four home matches behind closed doors.

3. WEEK 29: KWARA UNITED FC VS WARRI FC

Incidence: Kwara United fans manhandled the Assistant Referee which resulted lost his teeth and break his head.

Decision: Ilorin Stadium closed to all fans till end of season.

4. WEEK 22: WIKKI FC VS ELKANEMI FC

Incidence: Wikki fans invaded the pitch and assaulted the match officials after away team scored a goal at 85h minute.

Decision: Fined the sum of N2rfl and to play their home matches behind closed doors.

WEEK 32:KANO PILLARS VS ENYIMBA

Incidence:Kano Pillars fans invaded the pitch to celebrate a goal scored at the 87th minute.

Decision:Fined N5M
To play 3 remaining home matches at ABS – Kaduna.
To replay full 90 minutes + added time in Lagos. To bear the cost of Enyimbas participation, match official expense, LMC, provide security etc. To repair Enyimbas damaged camera.

The attached listed cases had demonstrated the pattern that had been adopted by the league Management Board in previous cases which were more severe than our case and yet the LMC did not impose the type of wide – ranging and severe sanctions as we are witnessing in this case.

Why, then is our case different? Why are we being treated with such a heavy – handed approach? Is it a case of big offence, light punishment and light offence big punishment.

In the first letter conveying LMC’s preliminary decisions we have this:

Decision:The remaining part of the match must be concluded. It will be 3 minutes regular time plus added time.

Within hours of receiving this letter another one came:

Decision:The match will be played in full 90 minutes of regular time plus added time’

Secondly, we were ordered to pay/bear the full costs of hosting the match i.e. Enyimba Int’l FC cost, match officials, LMC, Security, Stadium and General Organisation.

This decision in as much as it is laughfable it is also so vague and ambiguous. How do you enforce it.

As lawyers would say, the sanction, as couched appears to us to be unenforceable due to its ambiguity and lack of clarity. And my appeal to the LCM is when ever they want to take this kind of decision there should be specifics about it and upper limit should be placed.

Thirdly and more importantly:

Kano Pillars Fan’s did not stop the match from continuing. After the infiltration onto the pitch in the 88th minute or thereabout which was motivated by joy and excitement the Centre Referee has taken his position at the Centre and his 2 AR’s have done the same at the wings. He blew his whistle for the match to begin but Enyimba Players refused to continue. They claimed that there was threat to their lives. Unfortunately the MC, the CR and his 2 AR’s have NOT noticed any Threat. He waited till the end of 90 minutes regular time after which he blew the FINAL whistle. So who actually refused to go back onto the pitch to finish the match?