Sports
Oriental Derby: NPFL Awards Rangers 3 Points Against Eyimba, N5m Fine
The rancour that attended 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, has seen the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) award the three points and three goals to the home side, though they were hammered with a fine of N5 million.
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 award of the three points and three goals were predicated on the Peoples Elephant being found guilty of failing to control their fans and players, in addition to abandoning the match, after their hosts were awarded a penalty.
The NPFL in a letter to Rangers FC, dated June 10, under the signature of its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, detailed the breaches of its rules committed by Rangers during the ill-fated encounter.
Prominent on the list of offences was over-ticketing, which led to overcrowding. Rangers were held guilty of violating Rule B15.24. The NPFL for this transgression handed down a fine of N2m.
Furthermore, the club was indicted for failing to provide adequate and effective security measures, contravening Rule B13.52. This lapse attracted a fine of N1m.
Rangers, the NPFL held, also breached Rule B13.52.1, failing to implement adequate and effective crowd control measures, resulting in an additional fine of N1m.
In addition, the club was deemed to have breached Rule B13.52 by failing to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to restricted areas, leading to a further fine of N1m.
Consequently, the NPFL has imposed a total fine of N5m on Rangers International FC for the various infractions.
In addition to the financial penalties, the league has ordered Rangers to “implement a more effective crowd control mechanism in subsequent home games.”
Rangers have further been given 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, as per Rule E1 of the NPFL’s Frameworks and Rules.
Chelsea FC have been slammed with a £10.75 million ($14.27 million) fine and hit with a suspended one-year transfer ban by the Premier League for historical breaches of league rules.
The sanctions, announced on Monday, also include an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban, preventing Chelsea from registering new youth players from other academies during this period.
The Premier League said the penalties stem from information provided by the consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly following their takeover of the club in 2022 from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
SEE ALSO: Abramovich Clashes with UK Gov’t Over £2.35bn Chelsea Sale Funds
While the one-year transfer ban is suspended and may only be enforced if further violations occur, the fine and academy ban immediately take effect, marking a significant regulatory action against one of England’s top football clubs.
Chelsea are currently competing in domestic competitions while rebuilding their squad under Boehly’s ownership.
The club is yet to release an official statement responding to the sanctions.
Joan Laporta has been re-elected as president of FC Barcelona after securing a commanding victory in the club’s latest presidential election.
Laporta polled over 68 per cent of the votes cast by members, comfortably defeating his main rival, Victor Font, who received close to 30 per cent of the ballots.
The remaining votes were declared void or invalid.
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The victory secures Laporta another five-year term beginning July 1, 2026, marking his second consecutive term and fourth overall as president of the Catalan giants.
Laporta previously led Barcelona between 2003 and 2010, a highly successful period that included the appointment of legendary coach Pep Guardiola, under whom the club enjoyed one of the most dominant eras in its history.
Speaking after his re-election, the 63-year-old expressed confidence about the club’s future, promising more success in the coming years.
“It makes us unstoppable. No one will stop us. Exciting years lie ahead,” Laporta said.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the squad and completing the ongoing redevelopment of the iconic Camp Nou stadium.
The election recorded a turnout of about 42.34 per cent, with nearly 48,500 club members participating in the voting process.
Despite financial challenges in recent seasons, Barcelona have enjoyed a strong campaign this year, already securing a domestic treble and currently sitting four points ahead of rivals Real Madrid in the La Liga title race.
The Spanish side are also preparing for the round-of-16 second leg of the UEFA Champions League against Newcastle United after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
African club football is set for a financial shake-up as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announces a substantial increase in prize money for its top club competitions this season.
According to a CAF statement released on Monday, winners of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League will now take home $6 million (≈€5.18 million), up from $4 million last season. Meanwhile, the CAF Confederation Cup champions — Africa’s second-tier club competition — will earn $4 million, marking a 50% increase from last year.
SEE MORE: CAF Switches Afcon to Hold Every Four Years From 2028
Prize money for runners-up remains unchanged, with Champions League finalists receiving $2 million and Confederation Cup finalists $1 million.
The move has been welcomed by clubs, which have long complained that competing in African competitions often results in financial losses.
High travel costs, particularly airfares, have been a major challenge, with many clubs forced to take longer, costlier routes through Europe or the Middle East due to limited direct flights between African countries.
Since Patrice Motsepe, the South African businessman and CAF president, took office in 2021, prize money for African club competitions has steadily increased.
Motsepe, now in his second four-year term, has been championing financial sustainability and growth for African club football.
CAF’s quarter-final first-leg matches kick off this weekend, starting in Pretoria, South Africa, where Mamelodi Sundowns host Stade Malien of Mali in the Champions League.
Football fans across the continent are eagerly anticipating a weekend full of high-stakes action.
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