Recommends review, sanctions for match referees
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), yesterday, sanctioned Kano Pillars, whose fans went on a rampage at the weekend, beating match officials and players of Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan during a Week Eight game at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
Kano Pillars were leading 1-0 till the dying minutes of the game when Shooting Stars equalised to the chagrin of the fans, who had already started celebrating the three points for their darling side.
Incensed by the leveller, the fans poured onto the pitch and descended on the match officials, 3SC players and every strange face they saw at the stadium.
When the dust settled on the fracas, some 3SC players and the match officials, who sustained different degrees of injury, were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Reacting to the incident, yesterday, the NPFL, in a summary jurisdiction notice, fined Kano Pillars a total of N9.5 million and also banished the club to Katsina for at least 10 league games.
The NPFL found Kano Pillars guilty of multiple breaches of its framework and rules relating to crowd control, security and misconduct.
It ruled that Kano Pillars failed to provide adequate and effective security during the match, allowing unauthorised individuals to gain access to restricted areas and the field of play. The notice also cited the club for failing to control its supporters, who were accused of harassing players, throwing dangerous objects, and assaulting match officials and the visiting team.
In the ruling, the NPFL ordered Pillars to pay a N1 million fine for failure to provide adequate security; a N1 million fine for throwing dangerous objects toward match officials and players; and another N1 million for failure to control their supporters.
The former NPFL champions were also ordered to pay a N1 million fine for conduct bringing the game to disrepute; N2 million for assaulting Shooting Stars players and match officials, N2 million as compensatory damages for the treatment of victims and N1.5 million compensation (₦250,000 each) to the match officials.
In addition, the NPFL deducted three points and three goals from Kano Pillars’ accrued total, just as it shut down the Sani Abacha Stadium indefinitely, “with an order for the club to play its home matches in Katsina for at least 10 games or until the NPFL is satisfied that adequate security measures are in place.
A directive for the club to identify and prosecute those involved in the invasion, and to submit a new matchday security and crowd control plan within seven working days.”
In the judgment notice signed by NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the body told Kano Pillars: “You have 48 hours to either accept the sanctions or elect to appear before an NPFL disciplinary panel. Any frivolous appeal may attract additional sanctions.”
The NPFL, in a separate letter to the NFF Match Officials Appointment Committee, requested a review of the performance and stepping down of centre referee, Mohammed B Tuta of Adamawa State Referees Council and the assistant referees, Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa).
For the match between Nasarawa United and Rangers, the NPFL also called for the review of the performance of centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo of the Rivers State Referees Council and his assistant, Usman Opeyemi Edward from Osun State.
