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Rivers United have been handed a suspended fine of ₦15 million, alongside a three-point and three-goal deduction, for denying the Nigeria Premier Football League ,NPFL, broadcast partners access to their stadium during their Matchday 11 fixture against Rangers International on Sunday.
The sanctions will only take effect if the club commits another breach of the league’s broadcasting regulations at any point during the ongoing season.
In a summary jurisdiction decision communicated to the club, NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Ayo Abdulrahman, outlined the circumstances surrounding the disruption of the fixture, which had already been advertised for live television coverage.
According to Abdulrahman, the league received reports that Rivers United denied its broadcast partners access to the stadium for the live transmission of the home fixture.
He described the club’s refusal to grant access to Murphy Ben International (MBI) as a serious violation of established league regulations and an unacceptable interference with the NPFL’s broadcasting operations.
The NPFL official further stressed that such conduct undermines the league’s commercial and broadcasting agreements while damaging its integrity and reputation.
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Abdulrahman also drew the club’s attention to Section B, Rules 6.22 and 6.23 of the NPFL Framework and Rules, which guarantee the league’s broadcast rights owner exclusive and unrestricted access to all league venues without prior notice.
Under Rule 6.23, any club found guilty of violating the provision is liable to a fine of up to ₦15 million, as well as a deduction of three points and three goals from its accruable points and goals.
However, while acknowledging the seriousness of the incident, the NPFL said it had considered some of the underlying circumstances surrounding the disruption before deciding to issue Rivers United a formal and final warning.
Consequently, the league placed the prescribed sanctions under suspension, meaning the ₦15 million fine and the three-point and three-goal deductions will be activated if the club commits another breach of the same regulations during the ongoing season.
The NPFL, however, warned that the suspended sanctions would not prevent it from imposing additional penalties where necessary under its Framework and Rules.
The league further cautioned Rivers United against repeating the offence, emphasising that access for authorised broadcast partners is a regulatory obligation and not subject to the discretion or approval of individual clubs.
It reiterated that no club is permitted to obstruct, restrict or deny broadcast partners access to league venues, particularly for fixtures scheduled for live coverage.
