The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has said one of the negative tactics covertly deployed by home teams to run down the clock and win matches is the gradual reduction in the number of balls available for play when the home side is leading. 

According to the NPFL, the Ball Boys are instructed to hide away balls rather than keeping them to return for play when the one in use goes out.

But the NPFL has now moved to stamp out this unsporting behaviour, dangling heavy sanctions on clubs that henceforth fail to carry out a reorientation of their Ball Boys to put a stop to the practice.

In a memo to the clubs, the Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, DAVIDSON OWUMI said the attention of the league has been drawn to the corruption of young boys into bad football practice.

The memo reminded the clubs' hierarchies that at no time during a match should there be less than ten match balls available to the teams.

It said the practice constitutes misconduct under Rule C1 of the NPFL Framework and Rules, a breach of which may lead to appropriate sanctions against erring clubs.