Ifeanyi Ekwueme, a former Nigeria international and Sporting Director of Enyimba Int'l FC, has boldly rubbished claims and insinuation that The People's Elephant 'walked out' of the pitch during Sunday's NPFL Match Day 35 Oriental Derby' clash against Rangers, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The top of the bill clash was blighted by ugly scenes during stoppage time when the match official pointed to the spot after a Rangers striker went to the ground inside the area.

Amidst suggestion that the Flying Antelopes front man was in an offside position before he was pulled off striking position, spectators surged onto the turf, leading to the game being overshadowed by ugly scenes.

And Ekwueme, who had an incredible career stint in Poland, reckons that the nine-time NPFL winners did not stage any walk out during the bitter clash.

"Enyimba is a thorough professional and has never, and can never be cajoled into walking out during a match", Ekwueme told Exclusivenews.com.ng Tuesday afternoon as he tried to give a graphic illustration of what really transpired Sunday night inside The Cathedral, Enugu.

"Before the incident, I had severally, up to five or six times, walked up to the Match Commissioner and as well Rangers GM on the over crowded arena and surging spectators that should anything untoward happen, the situation would be difficult to control.

"Eventually when the bubble bust, our players came to the byline to receive technical instruction from their coach. I came around and having received signal from 'Papilo' Nwankwo Kanu, I asked the players back to the pitch but then the goalkeeper went to collect his towel in his goalpost but was met by Rangers 'fans' who were throwing objects at him and before you knew it, Rangers Supporters began to clash with their Enyimba counterparts.

"That was what really happened and its wrong of anyone to suggest or accuse our players of 'walking out' of the field thereby 'abandoning' the game".

Organisers of the domestic top flight, NOFL, promptly reacted to the incident, slamming a N10m sanction on Enyimba and awarded the match points and goals to Rangers.

NPFL equally handed out a N5m sanction on Rangers for 'over ticketing', 'inadequate security', 'not implementing crowd control measures', and 'allowing unauthorised bodies to access restricted areas'.