IMC not smiling, slaps heavy fine and docked points on Wikki Tourist

IMC not smiling, slaps heavy fine and docked points on Wikki Tourist

Izuchukwu Akawor 16:28 - 11.04.2023

Wikki Tourist are the latest club to fall foul of the IMC after they were docked points and fined for breaching league rules.

The NPFL governing body is stamping its authority in the league after meting out another heavy punishment to the Bauchi side on Tuesday.

Wikki are the third club to be fined and docked points this season as the IMC looks to sanitise the football league.

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The latest punishment comes after Wikki were found guilty of violent conduct during the week 13 encounter against Bayelsa United at the weekend.

IMC’s ruling

Signed by its head of operations, Davidson Owumi, the IMC ruled that Wikki will pay a total sum of N2.5 million, be docked three points and three goals.

Bayelsa United were assaulted in Bauchi

Also, in their ruling, the IMC added that the Bauchi side will have to play their home games without the fans in the stadium for the rest of the season.

According to its ruling, the punishment was arrived at after the Tourists were found guilty of breaching four rules in the NPFL framework.

The ruling in details

According to the ruling, Wiki, who are in Group B, breached rules B8.21. C11, B13.52 and B13.18

For breach of Rule B8.21, the club was fined ₦1m for failing to provide adequate security for the match officials before, during, and after the match which resulted in the assault of the match officials.

In a second charge for breach of Rule C11, Wikki Tourists was ordered to be deducted three points and three goals for assault on Match Officials by the fans.

In the third finding for breach of Rule B13.18, the club was fined ₦500,000 for failure to provide adequate security and implement effective crowd control resulting in the fans throwing objects onto the field of play, targeting Match Officials and disrupting play.

Robert Mizo was on target again for Bayelsa United won 2-1 in Bauchi.

Wikki was also ordered to make a compensatory payment of ₦1m to the four Match Officials at ₦250,000 for each.

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