January 06, (THEWILL) – Sunday Etefia, the Assistant Coach of Dakkada Football Club in Uyo, has been immediately expelled by the League Management Company (LMC). The LMC announced this in a statement on Wednesday after concluding a preliminary inquiry into the case of an assault on an assistant referee.
Dakkada FC was also fined N3.5 million by the organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The club was also ordered to play their next three home games in Benin’s Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The expulsion, sanction and fines were imposed as a result of the club’s violation of Rules B13.52 and C9 during their Match Day 4 tie versus Remo Stars of Ikenne on Sunday.
The LMC also suggested that the match’s officials, notably Match Commissioner N. Anyanwu, be evaluated. This was due to her failure to disclose the assault on Assistant Referee Two, Sani Baba, in a timely manner.
“Curiously, the Match Commissioner identified the perpetrator as a fan whereas he was a club official,” the league organisers noted.
The Plateau Match Referee, Mathew Tanimu, is also recommended for a performance assessment. Given the significant situation, this was for poor match management and failure to file the match report in a timely manner.
Etefia was charged with assaulting Baba at the end of a match in Uyo versus Remo Stars.
The LMC recommended that Etefia’s coaching licence be reviewed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) “as he has failed the threshold to be a coach under the NFF Licence.”
Dakkada FC was also ordered to pay N250,000 in medical fees to Baba and the General Manager of Remo Stars, as well as any further verifiable and certified medical charges.
The club will only be allowed to return to its home stadium “upon receipt of a satisfactory report or update on the formal report to the Police and prosecution of the official involved in the alleged assault,” according to the LMC.
The LMC legal team and compliance section must also both approve the prosecution.
The club was mandated to pay the fines within seven working days or face a two-point deduction that will be suspended for the duration of the season on probation.
Both the club and the charged official have 48 hours from the date of the notice to decide whether to submit to the summary jurisdiction or face a disciplinary hearing.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
