Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter has been fined ₦500,000 and cautioned by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following an inquest into comments he made during a post-match press interview.
Sports247 reports that the sanction followed an inquest held on Wednesday over Buter’s remarks after Sporting Lagos’ Lagos Derby against Ikorodu City on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
During the inquest, the Sporting Lagos coach admitted that he was in error over the statements made during the interview.
Following his admission, the league imposed a ₦500,000 fine and cautioned Buter to refrain from making unsubstantiated public statements concerning the league and match officials.
The NPFL explained that the relatively lenient sanction was largely influenced by Buter’s admission of error and his comparatively limited experience as a coach in NPFL27.
The league also used the opportunity to issue a broader warning to coaches and club officials, urging them to exercise greater responsibility when making public comments about the competition and its officials.
According to the league, reckless or unsubstantiated statements could undermine public perception of the EuroMatch NPFL and its credibility.
Coaches and club officials have consequently been advised to make use of the league’s established dispute-resolution mechanisms whenever they have complaints or concerns regarding decisions or other matters arising from matches.
Rather than resorting to public accusations, clubs and their representatives have been encouraged to seek redress through the appropriate official channels.
Buter has been given seven working days within which to pay the ₦500,000 fine.
Failure to comply within the stipulated period could result in more stringent sanctions, according to the league.
The development serves as another reminder to NPFL coaches and club officials of the importance of responsible public communication as the 2026/27 campaign continues.
For Buter, the matter now leaves him with a financial penalty and a formal caution, while Sporting Lagos will hope the incident does not distract from their preparations for upcoming league fixtures.
