LMC, NPFL agree to work together to finish season

Nigeria Professional Football League clubs have pledged to support decisions aimed at completing the 2019-20 NPFL season, which was suspended on March 18 over the coronavirus outbreak.
The NPFL season was suspended indefinitely last month, in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 which has killed thousands of people across the world.
Furthermore, most states in the country declared a lockdown to curb the spread of the virus, making resumption of league matches impossible.
However, the League Management Company and the Nigeria Professional Football now plan to restart the league immediately normalcy returns to the country.
The two parties met on Thursday via digital video conferencing, and considered a number of options aimed at finishing the suspended season.
“It was unanimously agreed that we would continue to liaise with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Sports Ministry on the possibilities that would work for us and taking into consideration decisions that may be reached by CAF and FIFA with regards to international tournaments, calendar and regulations etc. So, any option and/or format that may be chosen will also consider the available time frame within this framework”, LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, explained.

At the meeting, it was also agreed that “should there be any exceptional support to NPFL , the privately funded clubs in the NPFL will get priority attention in the distribution”.

The clubs also resolved to pay salaries and wages of their players and officials during the period, and not introduce pay cuts.

And to prevent a possible spread of the virus among club personnel when the league resumes, all players, coaches and backroom staff will be required to be tested for COVID 19, while “other strategies will be adopted to guarantee the wellbeing and health of everyone involved with the NPFL. In this regard the LMC will liaise with the Minister of Sports to facilitate this objective”.