Court Finds Nigerian Football Club Negligent In Player’s Death

By: Gyang Dakwo

A Nigerian court has ruled that Nasarawa United Football Club, along with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the league management, were negligent in the death of footballer Chineme Martins.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria gave the ruling five years after Martins collapsed and died during a match in March 2020. He was playing for Nasarawa United at the Lafia Township Stadium when the incident happened. He was 25 years old.

According to the court, it was wrong and dangerous for the club to allow Martins to play without proper medical checks and without having emergency medical support on the ground. The court described the situation as “reprehensible.”

The judge ordered the club to pay compensation to Martins’ family. Martins’ brother, Michael, said the ruling showed that those in charge had ignored the safety and health of his brother. He said he hoped the ruling would lead to better medical care for footballers in Nigeria.

A report on the NFF website in 2020 confirmed that there was no doctor, no physiotherapist, and no working ambulance at the stadium on the day Martins died. It also revealed that Martins had not received key heart tests during his three years at the club.

The world football players’ union, FIFPRO, helped Martins’ family in taking the matter to court.