The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has held the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nasarawa United Football Club, and the League Management Company (LMC) responsible for the tragic death of defender Chineme Martins, citing gross negligence and failure to uphold basic medical standards.
Martins, 23, collapsed on the pitch during a Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) match at the Lafia Township Stadium on March 8, 2020, and was later pronounced dead. His sudden death shocked the nation and spotlighted deep concerns over player safety and emergency preparedness in Nigerian football.
In a scathing verdict, the court described the circumstances leading to Martins’ death as “reprehensible,” pointing to a systemic failure to ensure adequate medical protocols. The court criticized the involved football authorities for their “shocking failure to meet basic medical requirements.”
An investigation conducted by the NFF’s Adhoc Committee on Safety and Security revealed several alarming lapses:
- Martins was allowed to play without undergoing mandatory pre-season medical tests, including an echocardiogram.
- There was no functional ambulance available at the match venue.
- The club’s medical team was headed by a retired community health assistant, lacking the qualifications of a doctor or physiotherapist.
- The absence of competent medical staff contributed to the mismanagement of the emergency response.
- Martins was not stabilized at the scene and died before reaching the hospital.
The court concluded that Nasarawa United FC and the Nasarawa State Football Association had failed in their duty to provide proper emergency medical care on matchday, ultimately contributing to the preventable loss of life.
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