Benin City Youth League Fines Dynamo Academica ₦100,000 Over Award Ceremony Controversy

Benin City Youth League Fines Dynamo Academica ₦100,000 Over Award Ceremony Controversy

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The Benin City Youth League has fined Dynamo Academica ₦100,000 for what it described as conduct that undermined the competition's integrity and prestige during the league's official closing ceremony.

The league said the club held an independent awards presentation on the same podium, within the official tournament environment, shortly after the organisers had concluded their awards. It described the action as inappropriate, unprofessional, and disrespectful to the competition, participating clubs, match officials, sponsors, guests, and other stakeholders.

The league argued that football competitions operate under established protocols that reserve official award presentations exclusively for competition organisers. It said clubs do not stage parallel award presentations during an organiser's official ceremony.

The organisers also issued a directive prohibiting clubs from conducting independent award presentations, distributing medals, trophies, certificates, cash gifts, or other forms of player recognition during official league ceremonies without prior written approval. Future violations could attract stiffer sanctions, including higher fines, suspension from league activities, forfeiture of privileges, or other disciplinary measures.

The Benin City Youth League said it remains committed to maintaining professionalism, discipline, and integrity in football and would continue to take firm action against conduct that undermines those values.

In a statement signed by the league secretary, Kennedy Ugbodaga, the organisers congratulated Dynamo Academica on winning the title but condemned the club's actions during the official presentation ceremony. Ugbodaga is a seasoned administrator with extensive experience in football management and has been instrumental in shaping the league's policies and decisions.

The league said consultations with football administrators and competition organisers informed its decision to sanction the club. It warned that allowing such practices to continue could undermine discipline and order in future editions of the tournament.

Dynamo Academica had not publicly responded to the sanctions at the time of filing this report. The club has a strong reputation in the league, with a talented team and dedicated coaching staff. It is one of the top-performing clubs in the league and has a loyal fan base.

Beyond the financial sanction, the league directed Dynamo Academica to submit a formal written apology to the league management and relevant stakeholders within 48 hours. Failure to comply could result in further disciplinary measures.

The Benin City Youth League said it would continue to uphold the values of respect, discipline, and integrity in football and would not hesitate to take action against any club that undermines these values. The league's commitment to maintaining a clean and fair competition is unwavering, and it will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that football remains a sport of integrity and respect.