Why LMC Will Always Struggle to Find the Right Cure for Home-Win-Syndrome In NPFL

Home-Win-Syndrome is a malaise that has bedeviled Nigeria football, where home team want to win at all cost. And in such orchestration team officials fix matches ( predetermine the scoreline) or induce referees through bribe or threat to compromise on the rules of the game or outrightly unleash mayhem through home fans or hired hooligans.  Home-Win-Syndrome is killing the business of football in Nigeria. I think there's an urgently need to find the right cure.

The thing that draws all of us back, match after match like addiction, is the possibility that our great game football, can inspire moments of ecstatic celebration and entertainment to we football lovers. The unpredictable nature of the game, not knowing what will happen next in a switch of time bring about such ecstatic moments of sadness and joy for our enjoyment.

The beauty is lost when violence rear its head again and again in Nigeria Professional Football league (NPFL) games. It becomes more of a security risk to go to the stadium to watch a match...fear for your life quickly drawn the adeline rush down your spine  and make responsible fans withdraw themselves  from attending NPFL games

Moreover, when matches are fixed or Referees induced to compromise the rules of the game, the unpredictable nature that cause us to be on the edge of our seats as we keep watching, is taken away. It's like when salt has lost its taste, it is of no use any longer to keep following or patronizing NPFL.

This season alone, in week one in Plateau, Plateau united supporters beat the referees mercilessly in a home draw against IfeanyiUbah fc. And in week three similar incident happened in Sagamu, where Remo stars supporters also unleash mayhem on the referees, in a home draw against Bendel Insurance. The list is endless from season to season.

Remember the match fixing scandal, where a Bauchi-based referee Marcus Bwashi faced the wrath of football fans after it was confirmed he has been ordered to favour FC Ifeanyi Ubah by all means against MFM FC. A top referee Chief has been fingered as the mastermind of the match fixing scandal that rocked the League in 2016.

Of course we all know the world's most shameless match fixing was in Nigeria. Remember, the soccer abracadabra that saw two teams recording 146 goals in two matches. Plateau United Feeders beat Akurba FC 79 - 0 while Police Machines hit Bubayaro FC 67 -0 in Nigerian Nationwide League Division 3.

What Is the Right Punishment?
League Management Company (LMC) has been fighting this syndrome since they took over as administrators of NPFL. They have used punishments like fine, banishment from home ground, deduction of points from the erring club as a means to curb the malasie. Yet, away win is still celebrated as some kind of Miracle in NPFL.

The thing is what's the right punishment? Is it payment of exorbitant fine and if the club cannot pay, what happens? An inside information, told us this erring clubs never get to make full payment... They just drop a minor deposit and that's it!

What about banishment from home ground. Is banishing a club for three months or for a whole season, the right punishment? If a banished teams play in a stadium with little or no spectators, how does it affect the team? After all, not so much people come to watch NPFL games.

There are some cases where banished team even fell in love with their exile stadium. For instance,  in 2015,  Ikorodu United started considering to make MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta their permanent home ground after they where banished from  their home ground Onikan Stadium Lagos. They found out they were performing better in MKO Abiola Stadium. And the stadium is a close distance to Ikorodu town, so their fans can attend their games.

Again, deduction of three points or more may not matter much unless the club is battling relegation or contesting to win the league. In such cases, LMC may just decide not to deduct or give what may be regarded as boardroom points (another malaise in Nigeria football).

The Challenges LMC Must Overcome
Most time the LMC hands are tied due to inconclusive investigations... No video evidence because NPFL matches are not covered or broadcast live on tv. Since, these shameless acts are perpetrated by home team officials, they destroy whatever evidence they can find. And you are in grave danger if you are found taking photos or recording videos with your smartphone.

You cannot even run to security personnel because they also have bias for the home team and will surely hand you over to the team officials.

In cases like this, the match commissioners are highly induced to compromise in their match report.

No matter how you see it, the bulk stops at the LMC/NFF table and they must device a way to completely  eradicate or at least curb to the minimum, the home-win-syndrome if they are serious in growing our football. They should have the willpower to persecute and Jail the perpetrators of  these murderous acts. Perhaps, if the LMC make one or two the scapegoat, others will learn their lessons.

The Cost of Home-Win-Syndrome
Home-Win-Syndrome and its syndicates (match fixing, hooliganism, boardroom manipulations, Referees working under durex) is costing a lot to the business of football in Nigeria. It lowers the quality and beauty of the game by every standard.

 1. Audience Apathy: football consumers disassociate with the league. They do not go to stadium to watch or even see the few ones broadcast on television.

2. Corporate Brands Dis-association: Corprate brands are not attracted. If large crowd don't watch the games, advertisers and sponsors will not be keen in partnering with  the league. That's loss of lots of money considering the size of active football consumers in the country, over a 100 million.