Negligence Exposed: Court Blames NPFL, Nasarawa United For Player’s Demise

Five years after the tragic death of former Nasarawa United player Chineme Martins during a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match in 2020, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has held the NPFL and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) accountable for the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Martins, just 23 years old, collapsed during a match between Nasarawa United and Katsina United on March 8, 2020, at the Lafia Township Stadium.

In the wake of this incident, FIFPRO intervened in October 2020 to support Martins’ family in seeking compensation for negligence.

The court found that Nasarawa United failed to meet its duty of care towards Martins, ordering the club to compensate his family, though the exact amount awarded has not been disclosed, according to Punch.

The ruling also pointed to the league, the NFF, and match commissioner Christian Mbah, noting their failure to enforce necessary safety regulations for players.

FIFPRO reports that the court criticized the decision to allow Martins to play without undergoing comprehensive medical evaluations, including an echocardiogram, which had not been conducted at the start of any of his three seasons with the club.

The court also raised concerns about the inadequate medical facilities at Lafia Township Stadium.