COVID-19: LMC Promises To Conclude NPFL Season, To Test 1,200 Players

COVID-19: LMC Promises To Conclude NPFL Season, To Test 1,200 Players

By Editor

The League Management Company has taken a decision to conclude the current Nigeria Professional Football League season as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides in the country. The Nigeria Football Federation in a press statement issued on Friday made the disclosure saying it has approved the LMC’s decisions which included the testing of all players and officials of clubs before the recommencement of the season.

In the statement, the NFF said: “The Board received and endorsed the report of a virtual meeting of the League Management Company and NPFL clubs held on Thursday, 23rd April 2020 and at which decisions were taken including commitment to: conclude the league season after the COVID-19 and resumption of football activities; consider the most plausible format for conclusion of the remaining game.”

The federation said it also support the efforts of the LMC to continue to communicate with the clubs and ensure commitment to continuous payment of the salaries of their players, coaches and backroom staff under the current circumstances.

“We also approve the LMC decisions to arrange testing for all players, coaches and backroom staff (about 1,200 persons in all) before the commencement of matches, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC; await realities thence to determine whether matches will be played with crowds or not immediately after the restart,” the statement read. The NFF also said it would make a drastic adjustment to its spending because of the new reality occasioned by the Coronovirus pandemics.