Table of Contents
- Martins Chineme died as a result of negligence
- He suffered cardiac arrest while playing for Nasarawa United
- He collapsed and died on the spot
The late Nigerian footballer Martins Chineme died as a result of negligence by his club and the Nigerian Football Federation, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has ruled.
Chineme lost his life in 2020, aged 2,5, while on the pitch. He was playing for Nasarawa United, then a top club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NFPL) then known as League Management Company (LMC).
He collapsed and passed away during a match. Fifpro, a global players’ union, pushed for justice for five years, which the court finally delivered in 2025.
The union accused NFPL under the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Christian Mbah of neglecting a player who succumbed to cardiac arrest.
Martins Chineme Death and How it Triggered a Landmark Ruling
An official probe and court testimony found a serious lapse in emergency medical treatment at Nasarawa’s Lafia Township Stadium.
The court heard that there were no qualified medical personnel, functioning medical equipment such as a defibrillator and an ambulance.
Thus, Martins Chineme lost his life to cardiac arrest, which would have been mitigated with the availability of an emergency medical team.
Nasarawa United in play. Photo/Daily Trust
Further, the court heard that Chineme failed in his pre-season medical assessment with the team. An echocardiogram test showed he wasn’t a good match to play for Nasarawa United.
His whole family have suffered from heart issues, and proper tests would have revealed all this. However, the league allowed him to play.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) ruled that the respondents, NFF, Mbah and NFPL failed in their obligation of care. NICN awarded damages to Chineme’s family in the historic ruling.
Loic Alves, who acted on behalf of Fifpro as a lead counsel, said the court set a precedent with the ruling over sport negligence.
Alves hailed NICN for holding NFF, NFPL and Mbah liable for the death of Martins Chineme. He said that it’s a big thing seeing a football federation being indicted for its failure in the responsibility of care.
“It’s a proper landmark case in football. I have not seen another ruling where a federation is held liable to the extent that they are in this case. This is rare,” he said in an interview with BBC Africa Sport.
NICN has jurisdiction over civil cases involving employment matters. Its recent ruling in Chineme’s death established that the respondents failed in their duty under common law.
Martins Chineme Family Reacts to Court Ruling
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria made a landmark ruling in the death of its players Martins Chineme. Photo/Online Shopping Kenya
Chineme’s family stated that NICN’s ruling gave them relief that they haven’t had since March 2020, when their son, Martins Chineme collapsed and died on the pitch.
Michael, a brother to the late Chineme, described the last five years as ‘emotional’, pursuing justice. The family noted that their son would still be alive if there had been functioning medical equipment and personnel on the fateful day.
Alves said that the obligation of players’ care extends to the federation and not just the club alone. The NFF has a role in enforcing all rules, including players’ working conditions.
Fifpro played a big role in pushing for justice for Martins Chineme because his family was, at first, reluctant to pursue justice in court.
Michael revealed that the fear stemmed from fears that it would be an exercise in futility since the parties involved are influential.
As expected, Nasarawa United tried to subvert justice through many applications and objections to delay the case. The club’s lawyers challenged NICN’s jurisdiction over the case, but all of its preliminary objections were quashed.
