The Delta Football Association (DFA) has taken disciplinary action against De-Sapele Lions Official, suspending the club president, Elvis Ewruje, for six months and slapping the Sapele-based team with a ₦400,000 fine over misconduct during the 2026 Delta State President Federation Cup.
Key Highlights:
DFA suspends De-Sapele Lions Official president for 6 months
Club fined ₦400,000 over Federation Cup misconduct
Protest led to match delay and disruption of semi-final fixture
Officials accused of confronting referee and walking off pitch
DFA warns clubs against indiscipline and match interference
The sanctions, contained in separate letters dated June 5 and signed by DFA Assistant Secretary Umuago Akpome Paul, followed incidents that disrupted the smooth conduct of the state’s premier knockout football competition.
The DFA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee invoked Article 20:3(a) of the 2020 DFA Statutes in suspending Ewruje after he allegedly confronted a match referee and led his team off the pitch during a protest in the semi-final clash against Intellectual FC.
The committee further ruled that De-Sapele Lions FC be fined ₦300,000 for conduct deemed disruptive to the competition, including a protest that delayed the semi-final by about 10 minutes and a late arrival of over one hour for the final fixture.
In addition, the club was ordered to pay ₦100,000 in outstanding caution and expulsion card fees, bringing the total sanction to ₦400,000, payable within 72 hours.
The DFA said the disciplinary action is part of its commitment to uphold order, discipline, and respect for match officials across all levels of competition.
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It stressed that adherence to rules, fair play, and respect for referees remain non-negotiable in maintaining the integrity of football in the state.
The association warned that any future misconduct would attract strict penalties, reinforcing its stance that indiscipline—on or off the pitch—will not be tolerated.
The sanctions serve as a firm reminder to clubs and officials that performance alone is not enough, as breaches of competition rules will continue to attract sanctions from the authorities.
