The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has held the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Nasarawa United Football Club, and the League Management Company (LMC) liable for the death of former Nasarawa United defender Chineme Martins, citing gross negligence in their handling of player safety and emergency medical response.
Martins, aged 23, tragically collapsed on the pitch during a Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) match on March 8, 2020, at the Lafia Township Stadium, and was later pronounced dead.
His death sent shockwaves across the Nigerian football community and raised urgent questions about player welfare protocols.
In its ruling, the court described the circumstances surrounding Martins’ death as “reprehensible”; and slammed the relevant football bodies for a “shocking failure to meet basic medical requirements.”;
Findings from an investigation by the NFF’s Adhoc Committee on Safety and Security revealed damning lapses:
Nasarawa United fielded Martins without conducting mandatory pre-season medical screening, including an echocardiogram—a crucial heart test.
There was no functional ambulance at the match venue during the incident.
The club’s so-called medical team was headed by a retired community health assistant, not a qualified doctor or physiotherapist.
The absence of proper medical personnel led to the mismanagement of the resuscitation process.
The delay and inadequacy in emergency response meant Martins died before reaching the hospital.
The court ruled that both Nasarawa United FC and the Nasarawa State Football Association failed in their obligations to provide essential emergency medical services on matchday.
