Ocean Boys, Heartland game called off

The Week 31 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) match between Ocean Boys and Heartland has been postponed by the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

SuperSport.com was informed that the committee took the decision in a meeting on Tuesday following Ocean Boys' banishment to play in Abuja after crowd trouble in Yenagoa after their game against Kwara United last month.

The NPL had ruled that Ocean Boys will play their remaining home games of the season at the Old Parade Ground but a protest by the club at the NFF committee upturned the decision in their favour.

The organising and disciplinary body instead ruled that Ocean Boys should play their next three home games behind closed door at their ground - the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.

However, the NFF committee had to put forward the game after Heartland arrived in Abuja on Monday only to be informed that Ocean Boys will host them in Yenagoa.

The protocol officer of Heartland, Tonnex Chukwu, said they are at loss over how they will be compensated for their road trip expenses that include hotel accommodation for two nights.

"This is so unfair. Someone had prior knowledge of all of this and kept it to himself until we showed up in Abuja. Now that we have spent money travelling to Abuja who will make the refund?" the official of Heartland queried over telephone with SuperSport.com.