Nigeria national league (NNL), has handed a one year suspension order to six players of Warri based football club, J’Atete for assaults on match referees during their group B1 match day 19 fixtures against Ekiti United ,at the Out-Jeremi Stadium, Delta State.
The players Onus John,Daniel Adu ,Godstime Edowor,Zibiri Eromosel; Edafe Steven and Shemaye Atemajiro who physically attacked the match officials after the match are to stay away from all NNL organized matches forthwith, in keeping with provisions of the NNL rule book.
Centre referee Ms.Patience Nweke led by Onus John was beaten to a state of unconsciousness by the players and was revived four hours later at the hospital she was taken to.
Furthermore, J’Atete were banished to the P.A Oruta Ngele Stadium,Abakaliki,Ebonyi state were they will play their last two home matches for the season strictly under closed doors. The Otu-Jeremi Stadium was placed on indefinite ban for incessant violent reports and will longer host NNL matches till further notice.
Consequently, the club is to pay the sum of N1million as recompense for assault on the centre referee and another N1million for breach of security rules.
Nigeria national league upheld the result of the match 0-1(An own goal scored in the 68minutes by Onura Nwukwoku) in favour of Ekiti United.
Similarly, NNL has also exiled FC One Rocket to the Rojeny Stadium,Oba ,Anambra State where they will play their final two home games of the season under controlled closed doors,for beating up and inflicting bodily injuries to coach of Go-Round FC ,Mr.Ngozi Elechi and his players .
They are also to pay N1million as medical bill for the injured Go-Round FC players, officials and items lost in the process of the attack, and another N1million for not providing adequate and effective security before ,during and after the match day 21 fixture in group B2 decided at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium “The Nest of Champions” Uyo as enshrined in the codified NNL rule book.
While upholding the result of the match which ended 2-0 in favour of FC One Rocket, NNL extended an invitation order to the chairman of FC One Rocket, Rt.Hon.Nse Essien to appear before its Compliance Unit to explain the alleged threats and utterances before the match with Go-Round .
In a note of grave concern, NNL frowned at what it called total negligence of its prior letter by the Akwa Ibom Football Association which bordered on the provision of adequate and effective security for the match.