LMC talks tough ahead of abbreviated league

The League Management Committee (LMC) has told all clubs involved in the abbreviated league to avoid any acts of violence or be prepared to face a harsher sanction.

Amid objections from some stakeholders, the LMC yesterday laid out its plans to kick off the abbreviated league on January 8, 2023.

“Any club that engages in violent conduct will not be penalized N500,000.00 as was the case in the past, but three points will be deducted as punishment,” Nigeria Professional League Interim Management Committee Chairman Gbenga said yesterday. choosebeleye. .

“We know what it means to have three points deducted from the points already won by a club in the league. Clubs have been informed to avoid any act of violence during the course of the league,” he said.

In the draws held at the Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, Abuja, the IMC divided the 20 clubs in the league into two groups of 10 in an abbreviated version.

Two-time CAF Champions League champions Enyimba, Nassarawa United and newly promoted Bendel Insurance are drawn into Group A, which also features Plateau United, Kwara United and El Kanemi, and Group B features the champions of the last seasons, Rivers United, Dakkada, Abia Warriors and Bayelsa. United, which also rose alongside Doma United in this same group.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles winger Edema Fuludu has supported the start of the abbreviated league, describing those who oppose it as enemies of Nigerian football.

“I don’t know why some people are against the abbreviated league,” Fuludu told Newslodge. “If our league is to be in line with what is obtainable in parts of the world, then we have to accept the abbreviated league, which I think is more realistic now, because 2023 is a general election year in Nigeria and the target is for the Season to end in May. The Players Union supports the new format,” stated Fuludu.

The new NPFL season will start on January 8, 2023 and end in May.