The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has expelled Ocean Boys

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has expelled Ocean Boys from the top flight this season, after the Bayelsa-based club failed to honour four matches, Premier League board member, Joe Amene disclosed on Wednesday. According to Amene, the arbiter of the premier league had to adopt the recommendation of the three-man committee that sat on the issue involving Ocean Boys. "Yes, the board just met (on Wednesday) and decided to expel Ocean Boys from the league on the back of the three-man committee set up, which I am a part of,” Amene said. "Also we looked at the rule book, which the club in question went against.” Ocean Boys, the team that won the 2006 edition of the league, flouted the Article 4.2 (3) of the 2012 NPL Regulation that states: "If a club fails to honour two consecutive matches without an acceptable reason, such a club shall be expelled from the League and its matches played and unplayed shall be cancelled." The Divine Warriors, already relegated before the final day billed for this Friday, failed to honour four matches against Kano Pillars, Kaduna United, Rising Stars and Wikki Tourists. Last month, Ocean Boys announced that they had pulled out of the league, only to return to play against Sharks in Port Harcourt -- a match they lost 0-2 on August 25. Another Premier League executive member, Owolabi Wopa, confirmed that Kano Pillars are now "technically champions" of this season. He explained that all points accumulated by Ocean Boys during the season will be deducted, leaving just 19 teams instead of 20. Wopa said nine games, instead of ten, will now hold on Matchday 38 this Friday.