The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has withdrawn the licences of newly registered players from nine clubs due to their failure to comply with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status/Arbitration Committee’s directive regarding debts owed to players and some coaches.
The Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, Davidson Owumi, stated that the affected clubs failed to take advantage of the extended moratorium period granted to them.
According to him, the NPFL, on Thursday, moved to enforce arbitration decisions of the NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee, following the clubs’ inability to utilise the extended grace period.
The clubs were taken to the NFF Committee over disputes concerning unpaid salaries and entitlements of some former players and coaches.
The Committee ruled in favour of the petitioners and provided a time frame and procedure for compliance by the affected clubs.
“Having exhausted the grace period, we have now moved to enforce the judgement. The first step is to withdraw the licences of all newly transferred and registered players of the affected clubs for the ongoing season,” explained Davidson Owumi, Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL.
In a letter to the affected clubs, referenced “Indefinite Withdrawal of Licences of Newly Registered Players for the 2024/25 Season due to Non-Compliance with NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee Decision”, the NPFL notified the clubs that the withdrawal would take effect from Matchday 10.
“As a result of this non-compliance, the licences of the following newly transferred and registered players for the 2024/2025 season are hereby indefinitely withdrawn, effective from Matchday 10,” the letter stated.
Some of the clubs affected include Plateau United (14 players), Lobi Stars (15 players), Kwara United (20 players), Katsina United (players), and Enyimba International (18 players).
Others are El-Kanemi Warriors (13 players), Bayelsa United (18 players), Akwa United (17 players), and Abia Warriors (23 players).
The NPFL emphasised that the players’ licences would only be restored upon official confirmation that the clubs have fully complied with the decision.