In response to the assault on an Assistant Referee at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenegoa, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) has ordered a three-point and three-goal deduction from Bayelsa United.
According to BSNSports.com.ng, the sanction came after a review of the official match report from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 5 match between Bayelsa United and Doma FC on Wednesday, February 1.
The club was charged with Rule B8:21, C11, and B13:52 violations in the memo communicating Bayelsa United punishments.
For failure to provide adequate security for match officials during and after the match, contrary to Rule B8:21, Bayelsa United was fined the sum of ₦1million and another ₦500,000 for failure to ensure the restriction of access by unauthorized persons to all restricted areas.
The IMC directed the deduction of three points and three goals from the accumulated points/goals of Bayelsa United, for the assault on a match official and ordered the club to pay a fine of ₦250,000, being compensatory payment to the assaulted Assistant Referee 2, Ojeleye Ebenezer.
The club has also been ordered to ensure the immediate prosecution of one Mr Joseph Zidougha (a.k.a One Man Riot) for assaulting a match official and furnish the Legal and Compliance Department of the NPFL with verifiable evidence of the prosecution.
While the said Joseph Zidougha has been banned for one year from all NPFL-related activities, the Samson Siasia Stadium has been closed indefinitely to fans.
The IMC directed that the stadium closure shall be in place “until adequate and verifiable security measures including written guarantees to the NPFL to prosecute any person found to create disturbances in the course of your home matches are put in place”.
The club however retains the option within 48 hours by Rule C26, to submit to the decision or elect to appear before a Disciplinary Panel. The fines are to be paid within seven working days.
