Warri wolves to appeal against LMC sanctions

The management of Warri Wolves says it will appeal against the sanctions imposed on the club by the League Management Company (LMC), following their fans’ behavior after their league match against visiting Wikki Tourist of Bauchi. It ended 1-1.

Wolves and FC IfeanyiUbah were on Thursday handed varying fines and in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued the two clubs for alleged breaches of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Rules during their respective Match Days 25 and 26 fixtures.

According to LMC, Warri Wolves were cited for multiple breaches, which include Rules B13.18, B8.21, B13.52 and C1. Under Rules B.13.18, Warri Wolves was charged for the encroachment on to the field of play by their Stewards and Supporters immediately after the match and fined N1, 000, 000. The club was further fined N750, 000 for breach of Rules B8.21 and B13.52.

The LMC statement further stated that Warri Wolves was cited for breach of Rules C1 in that the club stewards and supporters severally assaulted the match officials after the match against Wikki Tourists on Match Day 26 including at their hotel rooms thereby failing to show sportsmanship and conducting themselves in a manner capable of bringing the league to disrepute.

Consequently, the club was fined N1, 250, 000 representing N250, 000 each as compensation for the assault on the Match Commissioner and the four Referees. The club was also directed to pay another N250, 000 being the value of the items lost by the match officials in the course of the assault.

LMC also ordered that Wolves’ next three home games be played behind closed doors with the execution of the last two suspended subject to good conduct for the remainder of the season.

But the chairman of Warri Wolves, Neville Bikederemo, told The Guardian yesterday that the club would appeal against the LMC sanctions saying: “We have to appeal against it because what happened on that day was outside the stadium. Beside, it was only the center referee that was involved in a small problem with some of the boys in his hotel.

“One other issue is that if truly the referee was seriously beaten on Sunday as claimed, how come he was able to travel to Makurdi, Benue State to officiate in the match involving Akwa United and Sunshine Stars on Tuesday? There are certain things we will not take and we have decided to appeal against the LMC decision,” he said.