Odunlami, Aggrey banned

Odunlami and Aggrey with their strips off. Photo Credit-Kabiru Abubakar

Two players of Sunshine Stars who stripped themselves to celebrate their winning goal against Dolphins FC on Match Day 4 in Akure have been suspended for one match each and also fined N50, 000 for indecent exposure and conduct capable of bringing the league to disrepute.

Prince Aggrey and Ebenezer Odunlami however has in line to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) framework and regulations, the two players have 48 hours to either submit to the League Management Company (LMC) decision and or elect to be dealt with by a special LMC commission.

But it was contrasting fortunes for some Referees who officiated on the same Match Day as the NFF Referees Committee upheld a recommendation of the League Management Company (LMC) to sanction two match officials involved in the fixture in Akure between hosts, Sunshine Stars and Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt.

Center Referee, Mr. John Charles from Enugu State Referees Council and his Assistant Referee II  Mr. Matador Ogunta from Abia State Referees Council were suspended from further officiating in matches of the Glo Premier League for the rest of the season. The two match officials overall performances during the match was considered below the standard required for top flight football and capable of bringing the league to disrepute. 

Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ahmed Yusuf Fresh announced the decisions and also said the match officials who handled the fixtures in Ilorin and Kano have been formally commended for their excellent performances.

Center Referee Patrick Ishaya from Kaduna State referees council and S.K Akinwale from Oyo State referees council became the first match officials to receive commendation from the league body for their excellent performance in a move that is aimed at motivating the match arbiters to stay unbiased in their officiating.

“We made the recommendations to the Referees Committee as a deliberate step to ensure that officiating in the league is fair and consistent with global refereeing standard”, said Salihu Abubakar, Chief Operating Officer of the LMC.

Furthermore, the coach of Dolphins FC, Mr. Stanley Eguma has also been fined N100, 000 by the LMC for his comments to the media after the match in Akure against Sunshine Stars FC. The LMC said the comments could bring the league to disrepute and disparage the brand. The LMC advised Coach Eguma and indeed all stakeholders to utilize proper channels to ventilate their complaints and grievances and avoid making public comments capable of bringing down the league.