By STEPHEN BENJAMIN

Peace Football Club of Anambra has been sanctioned by the Disciplinary Committee of the Nationwide League One (NLO) for fielding professional players in the amateur league and providing false information during player registration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NLO disclosed this in a statement published on its official website on Thursday.

According to the statement, the infractions were discovered during a routine verification exercise conducted by the league secretariat.

The statement said Peace FC was found guilty on two counts bordering on the illegal participation of professional players in the amateur league and the provision of false information during registration.

It added that the club violated provisions relating to player eligibility and amateur status under Article 3:01 (5), 3:01 (8), 3:01 (11), 3:01 (13), and Article 9:02 of the NLO regulations.

The committee identified three players registered and fielded by the club despite holding active licences with clubs in the Nigeria National League (NNL).

The players are Abasim Henry, who holds an active licence with Solution FC Anambra valid until June 20; Mbakaogu Chibuike, licensed with Edel FC Anambra until Oct. 30, 2027; and Ekwo Stanley, also registered with Solution FC Anambra until Aug. 30, 2026.

Following the findings, the NLO ordered the immediate forfeiture of all matches in which the affected players participated.

It stated that opposing teams in the affected matches would be awarded three points and three goals, or retain the actual scoreline where it exceeded 3-0.

The disciplinary committee also imposed a fine of N500,000 on Peace FC, payable to the NLO within seven days.

In addition, the club was suspended from all NLO competitions for the remainder of the ongoing season.

The committee further placed the club on a two-year probation, warning that any further violation could attract stiffer sanctions, including possible expulsion from the league.

The statement, however, noted that Peace FC reserves the right to appeal the ruling before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee within 72 hours of receiving the decision. (NAN)

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