Indebtedness To Players; LMC Issues Dolphins 60 Days Notice

Club To Pay Up Or Lose Six points

Following a conclusive investigation of the very first formal complaint by a player on breach of contractual agreement by his club, the League Management Company (LMC) has moved to sanction a club invoking extant provisions of the Nigeria Professional Football League Rules and Frameworks 2014/2015 season.

Emeka Atuloma of Dolphins FC filed the complaint dated May 25, 2015, against his employers citing non-payment of his salary since the commencement of the 2014/15 season which kicked off on
March 8. The LMC has therefore charged Dolphins FC with breach of contract with not only the complainant player, but with all its players following the club’s own admission vide a letter dated June 12, 2015, that no player of the club has received his salaries  during the period which has exceeded the 60 days cap.

The LMC in a letter dated June 19, 2015 notified the Management of Dolphins that they are in breach of Article B9.45 which they must remedy within 60 days or be liable to the deduction of six points in line with the provisions of the NPFL Rules and Framework for 2014/15 season. They will lose a further three points for every 30 days the breach was not remedied after the expiration of the 60 Days notice of default period.

In the notification letter to Dolphins and signed by the LMC Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, the club’s attention was drawn to Article B9. 45, which states that, “The terms of a contract between a club and a player shall be strictly adhered to and where a club fails to pay remunerations and entitlements due to a player for a period of more than 60 days such club shall be liable to a deduction of 6 (six) points and a further deduction of 3 (three) points every 30 days for which the entitlement remains unpaid”.

The LMC has thus directed Dolphins to comply with the cited provision within 60 days and pay all its players failing which the league board will exercise its summary jurisdiction to deduct 6 (six) points from the club’s total accrued points so far in the league season.

“You are therefore required, to within 60 days from the date of this notice to remedy the breach, otherwise, the Board intends to exercise its summary jurisdiction and to impose on you an initial deduction of 6 (six) points and a further deduction of (3) three points for every further 30 days for which the entitlement remains unpaid”.

The LMC noted that this decision against Dolphins have become absolutely necessary for the dual reason that the Club has not provided any satisfactory plan of paying the due amounts anytime soon and had also failed to provide the mandatory Financial Performance Guarantee as required by the Rules and Framework. The purpose of the Financial Guarantee has been to safeguard the financial interest of players against insolvency in clubs as the amount owed players would have been drawn from the guarantee in proven cases of default such as we have with Dolphins.

The LMC further said the strict enforcement of the regulation will spread to other NPFL participating clubs that are not meeting obligations to the players and other employees whenever a formal complaint has been filed, investigated and proven.

The LMC has therefore urged State owners of clubs to work towards the transfer of club ownership to the fans through the Community Ownership model which has gained currency in some European countries as well as sourcing other alternative revenue streams for the club. The LMC also advocated that in the interim, respective State Governors may transfer Club administration to the Governor’s office for ease of regular payment of players’ entitlements.

“We believe that Clubs would be better off having their charges under the Office of the Governor which has been found to have worked for some of the successful Governors. “This will reduce if not eliminate the hindrances in payment of players’ salaries and dues since the players are paid once the Government house workers are paid.

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