The League Management Company (LMC) has issued sanctions against four clubs and two “club leaders” for engaging in conduct that “undermined the security of Match Referees at their home games”.

Rangers International, Warri Wolves, Dakkada FC and Akwa United, were fined for falling foul of LMC rules while the General Managers of Rangers and Warri Wolves, were also cited in the disciplinary rulings announced on the LMC website. 

The LMC said the disciplinary measures were taken after it considered reports of the Match Commissioners at the fixtures of MatchDay 20 and 21 involving the four clubs.

Warri Wolves were fined N200,000 for failing to submit their team list for matchday 20 in breach of Rule B13.37 and N750, 000 after their supporters threw objects on the pitch in contravention of Rule 13.18.

The club chairman Moses Etu was issued a reprimand and warned about his future conduct after he was found to have incited supporters “to harass and intimidate the visiting team and match officials” and also leading a supporter, “Isiah Ughojor to assault a Media Official of the visiting team and a Journalist covering the game in breach of Rule C1.3”.

Rangers International were fined N1,500,000 for the assault on match officials following the conclusion of the match against Akwa United. A further fine of N1,000,000 was issued as compensation for the match officials.

Davidson Owumi, the club’s General Manager was charged with exposing the match officials to verbal abuse by club supporters at his residence and for “personally verbally abusing the match officials at his residence in a language unbecoming of a club official”.

He was, however, let off with a reprimand and a caution as to his future conduct.

Akwa United were fined N1,000,000 for failing to provide adequate security in the matchday 22 encounter against Warri Wolves which exposed the match officials to assault after the game in Uyo.

A further fine of N1,000,000 will serve as compensation for the officials.

Another Uyo based club, Dakkada FC were fined a cumulative N3,000,000 for objects thrown on the pitch and for assault of match officials in the MatchDay 21 game against Kwara United.

The club has also been ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors to fans.

A third of the sum will serve as compensation for the match officials. 

The clubs and the cited club officials have been given 48 hours to communicate in writing to the LMC their acceptance of the sanctions or intention to appeal.