Kano Pillars gets N2.4m fine, two-match closed door suspended sentence

The League Management Company (LMC) has fined Kano Pillars N2.4 million and slapped the club with a suspended two closed-door home matches as punishment for its fans’ alleged misbehaviour during a Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) midweek game against Enyimba at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Enyimba beat the Kano team 2-1.

The league governing body also directed the club to organise a public workshop on appropriate conduct for its fans following their rowdy behaviour during and after the rescheduled Match Day 7 fixture.

The match recorded an unprecedented attendance of fans for a midweek game estimated to be above 30, 000, but was almost marred by restive home fans who were not happy their team lost to a rival.

The LMC said at the weekend that these sanctions emanated from investigation of the incident by the League Management Company (LMC), which commended the security agencies for their role in containing the situation and ensuring the safe passage of players, match officials and fans.

In a summary jurisdiction notice served Kano Pillars, the LMC charged the club for breaches of Rules B13.18, B13.23 and C1.

“You are in breach of Rule B13.18 of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on 4th May, 2016 in the course of your rescheduled Match Day 7 fixture: Kano Pillars FC vs. Enyimba FC, your supporters threw objects.