Heartland Football Club of Owerri has been punished for an incident that happened after their Nigerian Professional Football League game against Plateau United.
Fans of the Owerri club had descended on the referee whom they claim allowed Plateau United score a very late equalizer. Not impressed by the home draw, the fans unleashed their anger on the referee and beat him to the point of coma.
Below are the fines/punishment handed to the Owerri based club by the League Management Company, LMC ;
1) Heartland have been docked 3 accrued points after crowd trouble incident vs Plateau Utd on Matchday 18
2) Heartland will play their next 3 home matches behind closed doors.
3) Heartland team manager Mobi Oparaku suspended from all #NPFL activities for the next 10 matches.
4) Heartland have been fined N1m for encroachment immediately after their match vs Plateau Utd.
5) Heartland have also been fined N500,000 for failing to restrict unauthorized persons access to restricted areas during the match vs Plateau Utd.
6) Heartland have also been fined N1m for assault on match officials after game vs Plateau Utd. The club will also pay N1.25m as compensation to the match officials.
7) Another N500,000 fine will be paid by Heartland for failure to use & issue matchday tickets for record & crowd control purposes.
8) Heartland have been further fined N1m for issuing public statement capable of bringing the league to disrepute