LMC clarifies three-year contract for league players

The League Management Company (LMC) has clarified the rule stipulating a minimum of three years contract for players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The chief operating officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar, said the rule was introduced to stem some problems that were identified after a careful study of the situation that prevailed in the past.

Abubakar spoke in response to issues raised by the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON) that the regulation on contract duration enslaves players.

“The LMC met a situation in the league where a large number of player contracts lasted for a period of one year only. This adversely affected the stability and commercial viability of the clubs as well as the welfare of the players,” he said.

“Contrary to your claim that the rule enhances enslavement and abuse of players’ rights, the rule actually enhances stability in the employment of players. Note that the rule does not prevent players from being transferred to another club after one season upon mutual agreement between both clubs and agreement of personal terms between the player and the transferee club.”

Abubakar outlined some of the problems that plagued the previous contract regime which include mass exodus of players at the end of every season, adverse effects on clubs and players arising from payment of sign on fees, inability of clubs to focus on nurturing and developing players.

Also listed are seasonal large scale alterations to team line-ups which discouraged fans’ followership, unilateral and indiscriminate termination of players’ contracts and payment of seasonal wages as against annual wages.

The LMC further said it was to resolve these problems for the mutual benefit of the clubs and players that the three-year minimum contract rule was enacted and pointed out that the FIFA regulation cited by APFON permitted national associations to vary the minimum and maximum periods of contract duration where it is consistent with national laws.

“We note that your letter conspicuously failed to identify any harm or disadvantage to players or clubs, caused by the provision in the League Rules which stipulates generally that player contracts shall be for a minimum of three years. The said provision, having already been in force one full season, has not been the subject of any complaints from any player or club,” Abubakar said.

According to the LMC, the three-year minimum contract provision is without prejudice to the right of both parties to terminate the contract by mutual consent before the date of expiry, as enshrined in the Rules and also exempted some category of players from the three- year minimum contract.

“It does not apply to players who have played professional football for a total of 10 years or more – they may be contracted to play for not less than 3 months at a time; or players under the age of 18 years whose contracts must not be for more than 2 years.”