Abuja – League Management Company (LMC) has slammed a fine of N500, 000 on Nembe City FC of Bayelsa for the invasion of the pitch by its fans.

The development occurred in a week 27 match of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) between Nembe and Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi in Omoku, Rivers on Sept. 21.

A statement issued on Thursday by Harry Iwuala, the Media Consultant of the LMC, also said Nembe will play their next three home matches in Benin.

“The LMC found that the match was discontinued as a result of fans invading the pitch in protest of extra time penalty awarded by the centre Referee against Nembe City.

“Play could not have resumed even if Nembe City players returned within five to 25 minutes as stipulated by the Rules when the fans refused to vacate the pitch,’’ the statement said.

It also said that the botched match would be concluded at a neutral venue on a date preceding the 2014 Federation Cup finals.

The statement further said that the match would be re-started from the time it was halted and with the same result that prevailed at the time of the disruption.

Meanwhile, Rumson Baribote, the proprietor of Nembe City FC, in his reaction, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that the decision was harsh.

Baribote said the club would appeal the LMC’s decision which he alleged was made to send the team to relegation.

“We will write the Disciplinary Committee because there was no invitation from the LMC to hear from the club.

“Nobody touched the referee; is it enough to banish a team and fine it N500, 000 because fans invaded the pitch?

“This is a message that they want us to be relegated to the lower division.

“I will write them that we are not going to Benin because we did not attack match official; there are instances where fans attacked referee and they were not banished.

“The highest they can do is to tell us to play behind closed doors,’’ Baribote said. (NAN)