The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ruled that Nasarawa United, the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) were negligent in the death of player Chineme Martins in March 2020.
Martins, a 25-year-old defender for Nasarawa United, collapsed during a match and later died due to insufficient medical services at the Lafia Township Stadium. A 2020 report on the NFF’s website revealed that Nasarawa United had no medical doctor or physiotherapist at the game, and there was no functional ambulance at the stadium.
The court found that Nasarawa United breached its duty of care towards Martins, ordering the club to compensate his family. The league, the NFF, and the match commissioner were also found to have failed in their responsibility to ensure that the club adhered to the required regulations. The court described it as “reprehensible” that Martins was allowed to play without comprehensive medical tests, such as an echocardiogram, which was never conducted during his three seasons with the club. It also criticized the lack of proper medical facilities at the stadium.
FIFPRO, the global players’ union, assisted Martins’ family in pursuing the negligence claim. Martins’ brother, Michael, expressed his grief, saying, “The court has spoken and ruled that Nasarawa United, the league management company, and the NFF did not take into consideration my brother’s safety, health, and welfare, which contributed to his death.”
He added, “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.”
This ruling highlights the need for better medical support and safety measures for players in Nigeria’s football league system.
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