NPFL Issues  Marketing Practice Direction To Clubs, Decries Ambush

NPFL Issues  Marketing Practice Direction To Clubs, Decries Ambush

Ibrahim Lateef

The 20 clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have been reminded that all rights contracts must be vetted by the league before they become operational, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

In apparent reaction to observed breaches of the NPFL Marketing codes through unauthorized Man-of-the-Match awards, the Chief Operating Officer,  Davidson Owumi, drew the attention of the Clubs to Rule A7.6 of the NPFL Framework and Rules.  “All rights contracts to be entered into by any Club shall first be subject to the vetting and approval of NPFL, before execution. This rule serves as a safeguard to help prevent such abuses, and we expect strict adherence moving forward", Owumi wrote in a memo to the clubs. He expressed concerns about the increasing incidence of unauthorized invitations of unaffiliated brands to league venues and offering such brands the NPFL platform for promotional purposes. "We wish to draw your attention to the growing incidence of unauthorized ambush marketing activities at NPFL match venues by unaffiliated brands. These actions severely undermine the marketing efforts aimed at securing sponsorships for the league and go against the collective interests of the league and all participating clubs", remaked the COO of the league. He concluded by advising the clubs to adhere to the provisions of the codes in their marketing activities. "We are happy to see our clubs engage in raising their revenue base, but please ensure that all marketing activities at your match venues are properly authorized by the league to maintain the integrity and commercial value of the NPFL"