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Oriental Derby: Enyimba Faces N10m Fine, Forfeits 3 Points To Rangers

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After the inconclusive Match Day 35 fixture between the Rangers International FC of Enugu and the Enyimba International FC of Aba, perceived to be abandoned by the later, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has hammered them with a fine of N10 million, in addition to a forfeiture of three points and three goals.

The much talked about oriental derby, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday, June 9, which was televised live, also attracted record fan-attendance with the stadium reportedly filled to the brim.

The NPFL conveyed its verdict in a letter dated June 10 and addressed to Enyimba International FC.

Issued under the signature of the Chief Operating Officer, NPFL, Davidson Owumi, it set out multiple breaches of its rules committed by Enyimba during the ill-fated encounter.

According to the NPFL, Enyimba was found in violation of Rule C9, having failed to ensure the proper conduct of its players, officials, and supporters.

The club was also indicted for breaching Rule B6.23 – disrupting the transmission of a live broadcast.

Biztellers reports that on Sunday, tempers went high during the highly-anticipated game between the two top football clubs when the centre refree, John Ojeleye awarded the home side a penalty deep into extra time, which the visiting fans protested angrily about.

The fracas led to the game being abandoned as the officials and security personnel were overwhelmed as a result of pitch invasion by the fans.

Delivering its verdict, the NPFL noted that Enyimba contravened Rule B13.18 as its team and supporters threw objects and encroached onto the field of play.

In a particularly damning indictment, the Enyimba was deemed to have breached Rule C1.1 by refusing to continue the match in protest against a penalty awarded to their opponents, an act deemed “against the principles of fair play, sportsmanship, the league rules, and capable of bringing the game to disrepute.”

In addition, Enyimba was found guilty of causing the disruption and discontinuation of the match, a violation of Rule B13.24.

Consequently, the NPFL has imposed a series of stringent sanctions on the club including a fine of N1m for failing to ensure the proper conduct of their team; A fine of N5m for disrupting a live broadcast; A fine of N1m for throwing objects onto the field of play; A fine of N1m for encroachment onto the field of play; An order forfeiting three points and three goals in favour of their opponent for refusing to allow the penalty awarded against them to be taken, thereby disrupting the match and bringing the game into disrepute; A fine of N2m for causing the disruption and discontinuation of the match.

Additionally, Enyimba has been ordered to identify and produce for further investigation and appropriate sanctions other players and officials complicit in the disruptive conduct that led to the discontinuation of the game. The identified players include Eze Ekwutoziam (Jersey No. 6), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Jersey No. 27), and Akanni Elijah (Jersey No. 10).

The NPFL has given Enyimba 48 hours to either submit to the summary jurisdiction and the prescribed sanctions or elect to be dealt with by a disciplinary panel. Failure to comply or a frivolous appeal may result in additional sanctions.

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AC Milan Pull Off Thrilling Injury-Time Comeback To Beat Parma 3-2

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AC Milan staged a remarkable comeback at the San Siro on Sunday, defeating Parma 3-2 in a thrilling Serie A encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

Trailing twice in the match, the Rossoneri produced two injury-time goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Samuel Chukwueze, sealing a historic win and further strengthening their position as title contenders.

Parma took the lead in the 24th minute, with Matteo Cancellieri finishing off a precise assist from Valeri to stun the home crowd.

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Milan struggled to break down Parma’s defense but found their equalizer in the 38th minute after a foul on Pavlović in the box resulted in a penalty.

Christian Pulisic stepped up and calmly converted, leveling the score at 1-1.

The visitors regained the lead in the 80th minute when Enrico Delprato capitalized on a swift counterattack to put Parma 2-1 ahead.

With time running out, it seemed as though Milan might fall short, but the team refused to back down.

In the 90+2 minute, Reijnders scored a vital equalizer, driving home a well-placed pass from Musah.

Just three minutes later, Chukwueze completed the turnaround, striking a clinical winner from Pavlović’s assist in the 90+5th minute, sending the San Siro into raptures.

“This match was a testament to the character of this team,” said AC Milan coach Conceição. “We kept pushing, kept believing, and in the end, we were rewarded.”

The victory not only moved AC Milan to 34 points, consolidating their spot among Serie A’s top teams, but also highlighted their potential as serious title contenders.

Reijnders, the league’s leading central midfield goalscorer, now has six goals this season.

Chukwueze’s decisive goal marked his first of the season, while Pulisic ended a nine-game goal drought with his successful penalty.

The match also featured a milestone for Tammy Abraham, who made his 100th Serie A appearance.

 

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Belgium Appoints Rudi Garcia As National Team Coach

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The Belgian Football Federation has named Frenchman Rudi Garcia as the new head coach of the national team, following the sacking of Domenico Tedesco after a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.

In a statement released on Friday, the federation confirmed the appointment of the Underworld former Napoli, Lyon, and Roma manager, who will be formally introduced to the press later in the day.

READ MORE: Nuri Sahin Fired As Borussia Dortmund Head Coach

Garcia’s task will be to rejuvenate the Red Devils after their early exit from the European Championship and underwhelming performances in the Nations League.

Belgium recently parted ways with Tedesco, who had been in charge since February 2023.

The Italian-German coach was brought in to rebuild the squad following the departure of the country’s celebrated “golden generation” under Roberto Martinez but failed to deliver the expected results.

The team now faces a critical relegation play-off against Ukraine in March, before beginning their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a trip to North Macedonia in June.

Garcia brings a wealth of experience, having coached top European clubs such as Marseille and Lyon.

He also made his mark at Lille between 2008 and 2013, leading the French side to a Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 2011.

However, his most recent role at Napoli in 2023 ended in disappointment after just five months.

 

 

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Nuri Sahin Fired As Borussia Dortmund Head Coach

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Borussia Dortmund have sacked head coach Nuri Sahin after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Bologna in Tuesday’s Champions League match, marking the club’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions.

The decision follows a string of poor performances that have left the club in 10th place in the Bundesliga, 20 points adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich.

Sporting CEO Lars Ricken expressed that the club had “lost faith” in Sahin, explaining that the decision was painful but necessary.

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“We have unfortunately lost faith that we will achieve our sporting goals,” Ricken said. “We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, we hoped for a long collaboration, but after the game in Bologna, this was unavoidable.”

Sahin, who had been promoted to head coach in the summer following his role as assistant to Edin Terzic during Dortmund’s surprise Champions League final run last season, acknowledged the disappointment.

“Unfortunately, I was not able to live up to Dortmund’s sporting ambitions at this point in time. I wish this special club all the best.”

The defeat against Bologna caps a difficult season for the club under Sahin’s stewardship.

Despite their strong showing in last season’s Champions League, where they lost to Real Madrid in the final, Dortmund have struggled in the Bundesliga and were eliminated from the German Cup by Wolfsburg.

Their away form, in particular, has been disastrous, with only four wins and nine losses in 15 matches away from the Westfalenstadion.

Dortmund’s leadership, which has historically favored former players in managerial roles, now faces the task of finding a suitable replacement for Sahin.

German media reports suggest potential successors could include Erik Ten Hag, the former Manchester United boss who has been spotted attending Dortmund games recently, or Roger Schmidt, formerly of Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen.

In the interim, U19 coach Mike Tullberg has been appointed to take charge of the first team, starting with Saturday’s home match against Werder Bremen.

The sacking of Sahin is the latest chapter in a turbulent managerial history for Dortmund since the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2015, with the club having cycled through eight different head coaches in that time. Only Lucien Favre managed to stay longer than two years.

Sahin’s tenure as manager was a significant moment for Dortmund, as he was one of the club’s own, having come through the ranks and played over 270 games for the team, including being part of the squad that won the 2011 Bundesliga title.

However, his time at the helm of the senior team has proven to be short-lived as Dortmund now seek a new direction.

 

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