The League Management Company (LMC) has observed the gradual return to use of languages that brings the league to disrepute by some club officials and has issued a warning that such conduct will be appropriately punished in line with the rules.
The LMC in a statement from the Office of the chief operating officer, Salihu Abubakar, said it would no longer condone such comments by club officials including coaches and managers as well as their players whose comments were capable of lowering the integrity of the League in the eyes of the football public. It reminded the clubs that existing regulations have provided appropriate channels for conveying grievances and protests against perceived wrongdoings by match officials or opponents.
“The LMC wishes to admonish clubs who have issues with the outcomes of matches or conduct of match officials to take advantage of existing procedures and channels of seeking redress and desist from making media pronouncements, especially the print and social media which not only prejudices public opinion but also questions the integrity of the League.
“The LMC wishes to also assure Clubs and their fans that all acts of proven poor officiating and misconduct on the part of match officials will attract adequate sanctions on the culprits. The statement said “while the LMC will not accommodate acts of violent physical and verbal attacks on our appointed match officials and any persons within the jurisdiction of a match, proven acts of misconduct against any of them will be sanctioned in line with prescribed regulations.
“Football is a beautiful game that is meant to be enjoyed, in victory or in defeat. Fans and officials must, therefore, learn to accept results and allow the LMC to take care of disciplinary issues for the game to grow,’ the statement noted.
