The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has taken decisive action to enforce the arbitration rulings of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status/Arbitration Committee, after several clubs failed to comply with payment decisions regarding unpaid salaries and entitlements owed to former players and coaches.
The affected clubs had been granted additional time to settle their obligations but failed to do so, prompting the NPFL to step in and take action. According to Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, the league has now moved to withdraw the licenses of newly registered players for these clubs as the first enforcement step.
In a letter sent to the clubs, titled “Indefinite Withdrawal of Licenses of Newly Registered Players for the 2024/25 Season due to Non-Compliance with NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee Decision,” the NPFL made it clear that the action will take effect from Matchday 10 of the ongoing season. The licenses will remain suspended until the clubs fully comply with the NFF’s decisions and settle their debts.
Owumi explained, “Having exhausted the period of grace, we have moved to enforce the judgment, and the first step is to withdraw licenses of all newly transferred and registered players of the affected clubs for the ongoing season.”
Clubs such as Plateau United (14 players), Lobi Stars (15 players), Kwara United (20 players), Enyimba International (18 players), and Akwa United (17 players) are among those affected. Others include Katsina United, El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United, and Abia Warriors, all of whom have several players whose licenses will be suspended.
This means that from Matchday 10 onwards, these clubs will not be able to field their newly registered players until they comply with the committee’s decisions. The NPFL has stressed that the licenses will only be restored once official confirmation is received that the club has fully complied with the rulings and settled their financial obligations to former players and coaches.
