Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Sunday  barred journalists from covering the Week 21 Nigeria Professional Football League match against Eyimba Football Club of Aba  at the Akure Township Stadium.

The Akure team is serving punishment of playing their remaining home matches behind the closed doors by the League Management Company following the unruly behavior of the supporters of the club who disrupted the Week 20 match against Lobi Stars of Makurdi.

Many journalists both local ones and those who travelled down to Akure were disappointed at the entrance of the gate of the stadium as they were asked to go back.

However, Sunshine allowed only three journalist to cover the match. They included the Ondo State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Akintunde Akinsemola, his Secretary, Mr. Segun Giwa and one other photo journalist.

The reason for the action of the Ondo State-government owned team was not officially given but it was gathered that the reason was not unconnected with the wide reportage of the  unruly action of the supporters of the team in the media .

A source close to the club said the management the team was not happy with how the media blew the report of the violence that occurred during the match against Lobi Stars.

“The management didn’t like the violence report in the various media houses, they believe the media over-hyped the incident. They said is those reports that instigated the LMC to give the team that heavy sanction. That is why they barred journalists,” the source said.

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