LMC fines Pillars N7.25m, bars fans from Kano stadium indefinitely

• Katsina, Remo Stars, Enyimba goalkeeper also sanctioned

The League Management Company (LMC) yesterday fined Kano Pillars a total of N7.25 million and also closed the Sani Abacha Stadium to fans indefinitely as punishment to the former Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, whose fans attacked match officials, players and officials of Akwa United after their Week 15, which the visiting Uyo team won by a lone goal.

The league body also fined Katsina United and Remo Stars N2.5 million each, among other sanctions as punishment for their fans misbehaviour after last weekend’s games in Katsina and Oshogbo.

Enyimba’s goalkeeper, Fatau Dauda was suspended for one match and fined N50, 000 for aggression towards a ball boy during their match against Katsina United, while Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali and Murtala Adamu were suspended for one match only.

The LMC in a statement yesterday reassured fans, players and coaches of their safety at league venues on match days, adding that it would continue to enforce safety regulations and sanction every acts of violation to deter unruliness at match venues.

“We recognise that football is a game of passion and there are bound to be emotional outbursts when people pursue their passion especially in supporting their favourite clubs. It is also in recognition of this that regulations have been put in place placing responsibility of on clubs to ensure safety of all on match days and expecting our players and coaches to uphold the highest level of decorum and discipline in carrying out their duties on the field.

“Pursuant to these values of ensuring safety standards at all times and at every match venue, the LMC has reviewed a number of incidents across match venues and imposed appropriate sanctions on clubs, their fans and players found culpable,” it said.

The LMC warned clubs to ensure their ball boys were properly trained to uphold the very best standard practice, cautioning the clubs against selling tickets above their stadium capacity.

The LMC directed Kano Pillars to “identify and hand over to the Police for prosecution, its match security stewards, who led the attack on match officials during the Match Day 18 fixture against Akwa United.”

The LMC gave the clubs and players 48 hours to accept the LMC decisions in writing or appeal the decision, adding, however, “further sanctions would be imposed should their appeals not be upheld.”