Heartland want club owners in LMC out

Heartland’s General Manager, Fan Ndubuoke has called on Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Clubs’ officials serving on the board of the League Management Company (LMC) to quit in the spirit of fairness and equity.

Ndubuoke, in a chat with NationSport, alleged that NPFL representatives in the LMC are using their position to intimidate match officials that are billed to handle their home games.

He noted that although Heartland lost 1-2 to Sunshine Stars in Akure, his players and officials were allegedly assaulted by fans of the home team when Heartland were leading 1-0 at halftime.

He queried the continuous relevance of club owners/managers who are serving with the LMC if the league body is serious about fair officiating in the league.

“I want to call on all club owners and managers that are serving on the board of the LMC to resign forthwith from the league body, because they are using their positions to intimidate match officials designated to cover their home games,” Ndubuoke claimed.

The Mbaise-born former Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) boss also admonished the LMC to also scrutinise match officials who are allegedly on the payroll of clubs in the league.

He said the episode where particular referees have been consistently used by same clubs for their home matches does not augur well for the development of the league if the LMC is serious about changing the face of the league.