Chief Ifeanyi Ubah has been banned for 10 games and fined N2.5 million following his violent conduct during a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game featuring his club, Ifeanyi Ubah FC and Heartland.
The billionaire proprietor had encroached on the pitch during a fracas after the South-Eastern derby and slapped Heartland FC goalkeeper Ebele Obi, elder brother of Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel.
The League Management Company (LMC) had initially fined the club N500,000, with Ubah merely getting a caution for his role in the uproar, while the Heartland goalkeeper got a 6-match ban.
However, emergence of a video that showed Ubah slapping Obi forced the Shehu Dikko-led LMC to review the sanctions and drop the hammer hard on the billionaire.
In addition to the fine and stadium ban, chief Ubah has been requested to offer a letter of apology along with an undertaken of good conduct.
In a bid to forestall a recurrence of such acts in the future, the LMC has forthwith banned all self-procured security personnel in and around NPFL match venues except those sanctioned by the regulatory body.
Ubah has until 5:00pm Saturday to appeal the decision.
The following tweets from the official handle of the LMC confirm the development.
League Management NG ✔ @LMCNPFL
Chief Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, proprietor of FC Ifeanyiubah, is suspended from all #NPFL match venues for the next 10 matches.
5:19 PM - 31 Mar 2016
League Management NG ✔ @LMCNPFL
He has now been fined N2.5m because LMC found him guilty of encroaching field of play & assaulting Heartland player Ebele Obi.
5:26 PM - 31 Mar 2016
League Management NG ✔ @LMCNPFL
The fabled billionaire is expected to offer a letter of apology & an undertaking to be a good ambassador of the #NPFL.
5:31 PM - 31 Mar 2016
League Management NG ✔ @LMCNPFL
The LMC further bans all self-procured security services other than those sanctioned by the LMC from all #NPFL match venues henceforth.
5:33 PM - 31 Mar 2016
League Management NG ✔ @LMCNPFL
Ubah has up till 5pm on Saturday to appeal this decision if he objects the ruling. - See more at: http://www.gbam.tv/sport/ifeanyi-ubah-slammed-10-game-ban-n25-million-fine-slapping-heartland-goalkeeper#sthash.hquqB4Vm.dpuf
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