The Nigeria Football Federation and League Management Company have put modalities in place to ensure players’ health is taken care of during league matches, The Punch report.
The move comes less than 24 hours after the death of Nasarawa United defender, Chineme Martins, in the Nigeria Professional Football League match against Katsina United, played at the Lafia Township Stadium on Sunday.
Martins, who died after slumping in the first half of the match, was not taken to the hospital immediately, as the Peugeot 406 ambulance stationed at the match venue failed to start. The player was eventually rushed to the hospital in one of the vehicles on the convoy of Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, who was in the stadium to watch the match.
A video, which was shared online, also showed crowd gathered round the player, trying to resuscitate him.
The NFF met with the LMC and officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on Monday to discuss the incident and chart a way forward. The football body released a statement after the meeting.
“The Nigeria Football Federation regrets the incidence in Lafia involving a player of Nasarawa United and further condole the immediate family of the late player and the football Stakeholders at large.
“The NFF has in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports engaged the LMC and reviewed the situation.
“As an immediate first step, the NFF has directed that no further match be played except there is a full complement of the medical equipment and personnel as provided in the NFF Club Licensing Regulations.
“All match commissioners and the host FA are to ensure they inspect all the facilities including carrying out test runs before giving go-ahead for any match to be played.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youths of Sports, Sunday Dare, has said the death of Martins was an avoidable one.
In a post on his Twitter page on Monday, Dare, stated, “The death of Nasarawa United defender, Chineme Martins, who slumped during their NPFL match, is sad but regrettably avoidable. While registering my condolences with team and family, the ministry would immediately work with the LMC to work out mandatory conditions before any match is played,” Dare tweeted.
