LMC lifts ban on Agege Stadium

The League Management Company on Friday lifted its three closed door match ban on Agege Stadium in Lagos State.
LMC’s Special Projects Manager, Harry Iwuala, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
The LMC had ordered MFM to play three home matches behind closed doors and pay N4 million fine.
The punishment came as a result of fans encroachment on the field during MFM’s Match Day 23 fixtures against 3SC of Ibadan on June 19.
MFM, however, has served the first closed door match punishment during its Match Day 27 fixtures against Heartland FC of Owerri, which it won 2-0.
The Olukoya Boys were looking forward to play the next match against Plateau United in the Match Day 29 fixtures before they were granted pardon by LMC.
Commenting on the pardon, Iwuala said the league body rescinded the duration of the ban based on existing laws guiding the body.
He said: “We have the prerogative based on the provision of the laws guiding the conduct of the league to reduce the ban.
“The laws state that the ban will be served based on the conduct of the club and fans and this window allows for the reduction of the ban.”
MFM spokesman, Olawale Quadri, said the club was happy with the development.
Quadri said: “We are happy with this because we have missed our fans so much and we will be happy to have them back on the stands.
“We want them to enjoy our matches and we promise not to disappoint them.
“The Chairman of the club, Godwin Enakahena, has urged the fans to come out with the same passion which they have showed in the past by cheering the team to victory.
“The next match against Plateau United is a crucial one and we want to claim the three points at stake.”
Reacting to the ban reduction, a fan of MFM, Rotimi Arabi, also said the suspension was a welcome development for the club.
Arabi said: “This comes good for the club.
“MFM is known to be a non-violent club and will not indulge in any violence whatsoever.
“LMC has done what is right in the first instance by being an impartial judge when it comes to dispensing justice on infractions.
“The reduction of the ban will allow the club to concentrate more on the match with its fans on the stands to cheer.”
NAN