Following disclosure by the chairman and Vice chairman of the Players board, of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers, NANPF, captains Abe Sunday and Golbe Elijah, of Sunshine Stars and Plateau United Football Clubs, in separate interviews on channel sports Sunday programs that some players are directly or indirectly engaging in games betting and also come under severe attacks by fans who are involved in betting.
While the union acknowledged that sports betting has become part of Football globally, but definitely not for players because of its potential to erode the integrity of results of matches.
The union wants to believe that players who have been engaging in it have been doing it out of ignorance, without the full knowledge that that their involvement directly or by third party is not only a serious infraction on their contract as Professional Footballers but also a criminal offence in accordance with the relevant provisions of FIFA regulations.
In fact it is one of the major obligations in a player contractwhich he or she must meet as a professional. As a rule, the player is obliged to refrain from placing sports bets or endeavouring to do so – either himself or through third parties, in particular close relatives, for his own account or for the account of others – on the result or course of football matches or football competitions in which teams of the Club or the parent association or the subsidiary are directly or indirectly involved.
The Player is not permitted either to guide or support third parties in the placing of such bets. He is obliged not to provide third parties with information not generally accessible nor with his special knowledge related to such sports bets.
The Player acknowledges that breaches against the preceding obligation not only constitute a violation of the Contract and thus a reason for dismissal, and also at the same time a criminal offence in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Football Federation and the leagues regulations .
For fans or individuals putting pressure on players because of their involvement, the Player is obliged to inform the Club immediately if he is incited by a third party to manipulate a match of his Club or another club (for victory, draw, defeat or result etc.) in return for the promise of money or payment of money, conferring of any advantage or under threat of violence or similar, the same procedures shall also apply if the Player has declined to accept money or other financial benefits or has not agreed to the manipulation.
This conversation shall form a major point of discussions on players Professional contract of employment amongst other issues during the upcoming Players Congress.
