The Nigeria Professional Football League’s (NPFL) hammer has descended on defending champions, Remo Stars, over the fan trouble that trailed the Ikenne-based club’s Week 20 game against visiting Ikorodu City on January 14. The NPFL fined the club N7 million for breaching of the league’s Framework and Rules and also banished the side to Ibadan.

In its ruling on the issue, the league body said that Remo Stars failed to provide adequate and effective security during the game against Ikorodu City leading to a brawl between fans of both clubs and resulting in injuries on away fans and damaged vehicles.
It added that Remo Stars also failed to ensure proper conduct of their supporters, resulting in the harassment and intimidation of the match officials.

The NPFL added that Remo Stars’ supporters also threw objects onto the pitch, resulting in several stoppages during the match, saying that the home supporters displayed barbaric behaviour by bringing dangerous objects and weapons into the stadium, thus bringing the game to disrepute.

The breakdown of the fine shows that Remo Stars will pay N2 million for failing to provide adequate and effective security, and another N1 million for throwing objects towards the field of play.

“Remo Stars will also pay a fine of N1m for the improper conduct of their supporters, as well as another N1m for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.

“A further fine of N2m has been imposed on the club to serve as compensatory cost for the damages on the away team bus and supporters.

“Additionally, Remo Stars will play their remaining home matches at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan following the incident at their Ikenne ground,” the NPFL ruled. It gave the 48 hours from the date of notification of the sanctions to appeal the ruling.