Ubah banned for 10 matches, asked to apologise in writing

The League Management Company (LMC) on Thursday banned for 10 matches the proprietor of Nnewi-based FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Ifeanyi Ubah, and fined him the sum of N2.5 million.

In a statement by Harry Iwuala, LMC’s Head of Special Projects, the league managers also asked the club proprietor to write a letter of apology.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ubah has also been asked to sign an undertaking to be a good ambassador of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) henceforth.

In a landmark case, following Ubah’s status as a chief financial supporter of football activities in the country, the LMC said its actions followed the review of new video evidence.

It said it had reviewed again the incident which occurred immediately after the Match Day 8 fixture in Nnewi between FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Heartland Football Club of Owerri.

“LMC is now issuing fresh charges against Ubah and is now handing him a fine of N2.5 million, in addition to a 10-match ban from all NPFL venues in a Summary Jurisdiction notice issued Thursday afternoon.

“Relying on the Match Commissioner’s report which did not capture the incident, the LMC had earlier charged Ubah for encroachment on the field of play only.

“But, having received additional evidence that supported a case of assault on goalkeeper Ebele Obi, fresh charges have been drafted.

“Ubah was charged for breach of Rule C1 of the NPFL Rules and Framework for an offence of misconduct, in that immediately after the match he encroached on the field of play and assaulted Obi while his personal security aides further assaulted the player.

“For this, the LMC ruled in an exercise of summary jurisdiction to suspend Ubah from all NPFL match venues for then next 10 matches,’’ the statement said.

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