Nasarawa United, the Nigeria Premier Football League
and the Nigeria Premier Football Federation (NFF) were found negligent for the
death of player Chineme Martins after he collapsed during a game in March 2020,
players’ union FIFPRO said on Thursday.
Martins, who played for Nasarawa United, died aged 23
when he collapsed during a match where the medical services were deemed
insufficient.
According to FIFPRO, the National Industrial Court of
Nigeria ruled the club “breached their duty of care” towards Martins and they
must compensate his family.
The court also said the league, the NFF and the match
commissioner had a duty of care to ensure the club complied with relevant
regulations, and they breached it.
FIFPRO added that an NFF report concluded that there
was neither a medical doctor nor a physiotherapist at the game, while there was
“no functional ambulance at the stadium” when he collapsed.
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“The court’s ruling stated it was ‘reprehensible’ that
Martins was allowed to play without complete medical tests,” FIFPRO said in a
statement.
“An echocardiogram was never conducted on Martins at
the start of each of his three seasons with the club – and without the
provision of adequate medical facilities at the Lafia Township Stadium.”
FIFPRO said its lawyers had helped the player’s family
pursue the claim of negligence.
“I hope that the appropriate medical provisions are
put in place for Nigeria’s footballers going forward, so that no family has to
endure the pain we have suffered,” Martins’ brother, Michael, said.
Reuters has contacted the NFF and the Nigeria Premier
League for comment.
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