The ruling that found Nigeria’s top football institutions negligent in the death of 25-year-old Martins Chineme in March 2020 has been described as “precedent-setting” by the global players’ union, Fifpro.
Chineme, who played for Nasarawa United in the Nigerian Premier League, collapsed on the pitch and was suspected to have died of cardiac arrest.
After more than five years of legal proceedings, the club, the LMC, the NFF, and match commissioner Christian Mbah were all found guilty of failing to meet their duty of care toward the player.
Following the decision by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), the player’s family has been awarded compensation.
Although this ruling came late, it can now serve as a legal precedent for similar cases in the future.
A Tragedy Without Medical Preparedness
Chineme collapsed during a match, but at the time, there was no ambulance or defibrillator at the stadium. First aid was inadequate, and the club doctor was unqualified to handle such an emergency.
Additionally, the player had not undergone a mandatory medical examination, despite having a known family history of heart issues.
Nasarawa United also failed to provide insurance for the player. These were all violations of league rules, and the court found all defendants guilty as a result, condemning their actions as reprehensible.
A Brother’s Fight for Justice
Initially, Chineme’s family did not see the lawsuit as a realistic path forward.
His brother, Michael Chineme, said,
“Most people said you can’t go up against the authorities—they’re too powerful. But I thought, we can’t go on like this—justice had to be served.”
Delays and Denials from the Club
The case was prolonged due to Nasarawa United’s repeated objections and attempts to delay the process with legally weak motions.
In 2020, the club had been fined just $15,000 for multiple violations, including failing to provide a qualified doctor for the match. However, the club consistently denied wrongdoing.
When the provided medical and insurance documents were examined in court, it was revealed that the tests only screened for conditions like HIV, malaria, and typhoid, with no checks for heart problems.
A Legacy Beyond Compensation
Michael Chineme also revealed that his late brother’s former teammates were too afraid to testify:
“I begged three players to take the stand, but they were scared it would harm their careers,”
“Now those same players are celebrating the outcome of the case.”
The compensation awarded to the family does not cover the legal expenses, but the case may help reduce the likelihood of similar incidents in the future through increased accountability and better safety standards in football.