The League Management Company (LMC) has declared as illegal, the decision of the management of the Shootings Stars Sports Club (3SC), Ibadan to terminate contracts of some registered players, addding that failure to adhere to rules guiding the Nigeria Professional Foot all League (NPFL) will amount to transfer ban among other sanctions.
OYOMIND earlier published that the club, in order to strengthen and improve the squad results has sacked seventeen (17) players.
In a statement signed by the LMC, COO, Salihu Abubakar expresses that the club has not followed the contract agreement and that due process is not followed.
According to him, the framework and rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League restricts the unilateral termination of players contract during the course of a season.
The statement reads thus:
“Our attention has been drawn to recent media reports which disclose that your club intends to terminate the subsisting contracts of some of your currently registered players. Be informed that both Rule B9.40 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, and Article 16 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players explicitly restricts the unilateral termination of Players Contracts during the course of a season.
“Note however that where a Club and a Player agree to mutually terminate the Player Contract, they shall immediately notify LMC to that effect by Article B9.52 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
“Note further that other than termination by mutual agreement, Article B9.59 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, a Club may unilaterally terminate a player’s contract only if the player is guilty of gross misconduct, fails to heed any final written warning or is convicted of a criminal offense punishable with a term of imprisonment of three (3) months or more.
“These provisions exist to protect the sanctity of contracts between Clubs and Players. You are therefore advised to comply with the above provisions as they will be strictly enforced. You may wish to avail yourself of the LMC Circular on the issue dated 9th January 2015 and duly published on the NPFL website (www.Appl.ng) for further guidance.
“Failure to comply with these extent football regulations will result in appropriate sanctions against your club, which may include and not be limited to an immediate transfer ban, pending the fulfillment of all financial obligations to the players concerned.
“The above is for your information and consequent compliance.”
