NPFL Threatens Rivers United With ₦15m Fine: Three Points, Three Goals At Risk Over Broadcast Breach
Rivers United have been handed a suspended fine of ₦15 million, alongside a three-point and three-goal deduction, for denying the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) broadcast partners access to their stadium for the Matchday 11 fixture against Rangers International on Sunday, November 1.
The sanctions will be activated if the Port Harcourt club commits another breach of the league’s broadcast access regulations during the ongoing season.
In a summary jurisdiction decision communicated to the club, NPFL Chief Operating Officer Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman recalled the circumstances surrounding the disruption of the advertised fixture’s live broadcast.
‘The EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has received reports of the Club’s action in denying the League’s Broadcast Partners access to its stadium for the live coverage of its home fixture,’ Abdulrahaman stated in the letter.
He described the denial of access to Murphy Ben International (MBI), the league’s broadcast partner, as a serious violation of established regulations and unacceptable interference with the NPFL’s broadcasting operations.
According to him, the action undermined the league’s commercial and broadcasting arrangements and brought its integrity and reputation into disrepute.
Abdulrahaman also drew Rivers United’s attention to Sections B, Rules 6.22 and 6.23 of the NPFL Framework and Rules, which guarantee the league’s broadcast rights owner exclusive and unfettered access to all league venues without prior notice.
Rule 6.23 prescribes a fine of up to ₦15 million and the deduction of three points and three goals from a club’s accruable totals for violating the broadcast access regulations.
However, while acknowledging the seriousness of the offence, the league considered the circumstances surrounding the incident before issuing Rivers United a formal and final warning and suspending the prescribed sanctions.
‘In view of the seriousness of this incident, the League hereby issues Rivers United FC a formal and final warning and places the prescribed sanctions under suspension,’ the letter stated.
‘Accordingly, the fine of ₦15,000,000.00 together with the deduction of three (3) points and three (3) goals from the Club’s accruable points and goals, is hereby suspended. These sanctions will activate if the Club commits any subsequent breach of these provisions, without prejudice to any additional sanctions applicable under the Framework and Rules.’
The league warned the club against repeating the offence, stressing that access for its broadcast partners was a regulatory requirement rather than a matter subject to individual clubs’ discretion.
‘No Club is permitted to obstruct, restrict or deny such access, particularly in respect of scheduled live matches,’ the letter added.
