Chairman of Nigeria league side, FC IfeanyiUbah, Ifeanyi Ubah, says he won’t appeal the sanction imposed on him by the League Management Company (LMC) – apologising instead for the charges brought against him.
Ubah, 45, was slapped with a 10-game ban and fined N2.5 million on Thursday after the LMC found him guilty of “assaulting Heartland player Ebele Obi” in a Nigeria Premier League game on March 23.
In a letter accepting to submit to the summary jurisdiction, the billionaire pleaded with the LMC, fans of the club and football followers all over the world while explaining that his actions were due to his overriding passion for the NPFL and its development.
The kerosene merchant added that he was moved to intervene by the actions of Heartland players towards the referee after the match In Nnewi, an action which led to some over reaction that he regrets.
“May I conclude by rendering my unconditional apology to my numerous fans nationwide and in Diaspora for the incident and outcome,” Ubah wrote in the letter dated April 2 and addressed to the LMC chief operating officer.
He added: “To the football family and the LMC, I promise to uphold the tenets of the game while promising to remain a good ambassador of the sport. To those who feel disappointed by the outcome, I plead that you find a place in your hearts to forgive me.
“With a deep sense of humility, I ask Nigerians for their support and encouragement as I wish to state categorically that this will never repeat itself again as dire lessons have been learnt.”
However, the graduate of Business Administrator from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, failed to acknowledge his prey, Obi, the elder brother of Super Eagles skipper, John Obi Mikel.
The Heartland goalkeeper who received a six-game banned threatened to take legal actions against Ubah who appeared to have punched him.
“I am taking Ifeanyi Ubah to court for assault,” Obi told AfricanFootball on Saturday.
“It was God who saved me on that day.”
