LMC fixes Oct. 28 for FC Ifeanyi Ubah/El-Kanemi replay

The League Management Company (LMC) has fixed October 28 for the replay of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Week 33 encounter between FC Ifeanyi Ubah and El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri.

It would be recalled that El-Kanemi failed to honour the encounter at Nnewi against Ifeanyi Ubah, due to a strike by its players over non-payment of their salaries and allowances.

However, LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko, said that the players’ strike was illegal and ruled that the match be played on October 28, while El-Kanemi refund Ubah N2.2 million as cost of organising the match.

“In this instance, we are only dealing with the reason why El-Kanemi failed to honour the match; why will the players say they are embarking on strike without following the procedure? It’s illegal.

“The rule says that before players embark on strike, they must give notice to the club and copy LMC with a 15-day notice, to see if the matter will be resolved.

“There is a provision for strike in the league rules and that is why the team is being fined for the cost of the match and revenue loss to FC Ifeanyi Ubah.’’

The NPFL boss who doubles as 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) noted that the league body was only abiding by the statutes.

“The formalities are done at the pre-match meetings; the referee will do his work and forward to the LMC.

“The club that did not show up will come and provide the LMC with valid reason why they did not show up; if LMC finds that reason acceptable, then, the match will be rescheduled.

“But if their reason is not acceptable, then, the three goals, three points will be awarded to them; so, that is how the rule works.

“If a club fails to show up without any valid reason to the LMC, the club will be fined N10 million, in addition to losing three points and three goals; that is what we are applying,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, Chuma Ubah, the Chairman, FC Ifeanyi Ubah, had said that the LMC was trying to “shift the goal post at the middle of a game’’.

Ubah wondered why the LMC should counter the decision of officials it commissioned for the match.

“Why should the LMC be making a U- turn in a match that has been settled; it is not our fault that El-Kanemi didn’t pay its players. This is not about FC Ifeanyi Ubah or El kanemi warriors but about maintaining the high standard of the league as well as its growth and development as practiced elsewhere.

“It will be difficult for us to honour any other match this season against El-Kanemi, should it insist on a replay,’’ Ubah said.

Ubah said the club had officially written the LMC to express its displeasure and reason why it might not honour a replay of the match.