NFF fines Onazi $5,000 for Chad red card

Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, who earned a straight red card for an act of retaliation during the match between Nigeria and Chad, has been fined the sum of $5,000 by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The Lazio of Italy player was also issued a letter of reprimand and ordered to produce a written apology.

“The board of the Nigeria Football Federation has viewed your behaviour and conduct during the Nigeria/Chad match as tantamount to gross indiscipline and unprofessional, which undermined the discipline of the team in its totality and a breach of ethics for players as well as the Code of Conduct for players and officials,” read a letter signed by Tunde Aderibigbe on behalf of the general secretary of the NFF.

“Consequently, the NFF, having reviewed the situation, hereby impose a fine of $5,000 (Five Thousand American Dollars Only) on you as well as a written apology. We believe that subsequently you will be of good behaviour and conduct, for a repeat of this behaviour shall earn you even stiffer punishment.

“We hope that this action shall serve as a deterrent to others in our future engagements.”

In a related development, the disciplinary committee of NFF has summoned Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama to appear before it on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.

The Lille OSC of France goaltender is being invited to explain his unguarded statement against the NFF’s choice of Kaduna for Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Chad on Saturday, June 13.

“You will recall that you were queried by the Nigeria Football Federation for your uncomplimentary remarks with regards to safety and security in Kaduna State, host of the Nations Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Chad Republic,” the committee wrote.

“You received the query letter on June 13th, 2015 and refused to reply to the query up till now, which is well over the 48 hours deadline given to you to reply to the query. Consequently, the NFF has referred the matter to the disciplinary committee for adjudication.

“You are by this, invited to appear before the disciplinary committee of Nigeria Football Federation sitting on Tuesday, 23rd June 2015 at the federation’s secretariat in Abuja. The committee sitting will commence at 11 am prompt.”