DETERMINED to take the Nigerian Premier League to a greater height, leadership of the Nigerian Premier League (NPL), has said that henceforth, any club found guilty of match fixing will be made to pay a fine of N20 million and all its members, including the Sports Commissioner, coaches, manager and players place on a five-year ban.

Also yesterday, Chairman of the NPL, Oyuki Jackson Obaseki, said the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) owes the body the sum of N250 million as broadcast right since 2005.

Obaseki, who spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while declaring open a two-day Globacom Pre-season International Seminar, said the decision to slam the five-year ban and N20 million on club found guilty of match fixing, was part of efforts to sanitise the Nigerian league.

He said: "Our target is to make the Nigerian league one of the best in the world. The purpose of this seminar is to broaden our mind and knowledge on how to run the league more better. The various club managers, coaches and referees have done well, but there is room for improvement".

Obaseki tongue-lashed the Nigerian media for keeping blind eyes, when the world football ruling body rated the Nigerian league as Africa's No 1 and 23 best in the world.

He said: "Our league was rated No 1 in Africa and 23 best in the world and no single mention of it in the media. If it were to be one of those countries like Benin Republic that got that rating, the Nigerian press would have called us (NPL) all sorts of names. What have we done? We must learn to appreciate our own. We welcome constructive criticism, but you must not insult us".

On the N250 million allegedly owed by NTA, Obaseki said: "In 2005 when I came on board, the NTA and AIT bidded for the broadcast right to show our league matches. At the end of the exercise, AIT won but the NTA lobbied its way and we gave it to them.

"I regret that decision because up till this moment, the station (NTA) is yet to pay the N250 million for the deal. It is so sad because this is the same NTA that paid three million pounds to the English FA to enable it show Premier League matches to Nigerians. It is a big shame. If NTA can pay three million pounds to the English FA, they should pay us our N250 million.

The two-day seminar, which was attended by top football managers, administrators and journalist from all parts of the country, saw people presenting papers on various topics, including 'Role of media officers in developing and propagation of clubs in the Nigerian premier league, The Ethics of League reportage, Public Relations and Marketing in premier league club and Duties and functions of media officers.