Swift sanction to Dakkada FC official for assault is good omen from LMC
The LMC has announced the immediate expulsion of Sunday Etefia, the Dakkada FC assistant coach
The League Management Company’s swift sanction of Dakkada Football Club and it official that assaulted an assistant referee in the Dakkada versus Remo Stars match in Uyo over the weekend is not only a welcomed development, but it is also the beginning of a new thing that may restore confidence in the league if sustained.
When LMC issued a statement that it will look into the altercation that occurred in the Matchday 4 fixture many doubted the body given its past antecedents.
But before anybody could say jack LMC announced the immediate expulsion of Sunday Etefia, the Dakkada FC assistant coach that assaulted assistant referee Sani Baba and also recommended to the NFF to review the coaching license of Etefia "as you have failed the threshold to be a coach under the NFF License"
The LMC also fined Dakkada FC a total sum of N3.5m and ordered the club to play their next three home matches at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin for breach of Rules B13.52 and C9 following the incidents of the MatchDay 4 fixture.
The body also recommended a review of the performance of the match Officials including the Match Commissioner N Anyanwu for her failure to duly report the incident of assault on the assistant referee 11. It noted that " curiously, the Match Commissioner identified the perpetrator as a fan whereas it was a club official"
Match referee Matthew Manimu from Plateau State was also recommended for a performance review for his match management and failure to timely submit the match report given the serious nature of the incident.
Dakkada were ordered to pay the sum of N250, 000 each to the assistant referee and General Manager of Remo Stars for medical expenses and may include any additional verifiable and authenticated medical costs.
While ordering Dakkada to play a minimum of three home matches at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the LMC ruled that the club would only be permitted 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.
The prosecution must be authenticated by the LMC legal team and compliance unit.
The club must pay the stipulated fines within seven working days and have a two points deduction which shall be suspended for a probationary period of the remainder of the season.
Both the club and the charged official have 48 hours from the date of the notice to submit to the summary jurisdiction or elect to face a disciplinary hearing.
