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Orders Closure of Stadium
- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) has slammed a total of N9.5 million fine on Kano Pillars over their fans’ assault on Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) players and match officials.
NPO Reported that the Kano-based club had on Sunday come under spotlight after their fans invaded the pitch and attacked the visiting team and match officials during their NPFL match at the Sani Abacha stadium.
The scary incident captured in a live broadcast and shared on X showed moment hundreds of angry home fans invaded the pitch and charged after the 3SC players and match officials who were alleged to have poor officiated and robbed the home team in the 1-1 draw against the Ibadan-based club.
Subsequent videos of the incident showed physically assaulted and injured 3SC players in their dressing room with some of their colleagues and medical team attending to their injuries.
In the wake of the tragic incident, Kano Pillars General Manager, Ahmed Musa, had tendered apology to the 3SC players, match officials, and the NPFL board.
In a statement issued in his X handle, the former Super Eagles captain took responsibility of the fans action while expressing willingness to cooperate with the NPFL over the incident.
NPFL in reaction on Monday issued a jurisdiction notice signed by its Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi.
The league body found the club guilty of multiple breaches of its Framework and Rules, including Rules B13.52, C9, B1.31.8, C1.1, and C11.
As contained in the notice, the infractions cited include: Failure to provide adequate and effective security; failure to ensure proper conduct of supporters; throwing of dangerous objects; misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute; and assault on visiting players and match officials.
As a result, the NPFL highlighted the sanctions imposed on Kano Pillars which include; N1 million fine for failure to provide adequate security, N1 million fine for throwing dangerous objects at match officials, N1 million fine for failure to control supporters, and N1 million fine for conduct bringing the game into disrepute.
Kano Pillars was further slammed with N2 million fine for assaulting away team players and officials, N2 million compensation for treatment and damages inflicted on 3SC players and officials and N1.5 million additional compensation to match officials.
These brought the total fine to N9.5 million.
Coupled with the hefty fine, the NPFL deducted three points and three goals from Kano Pillars’ accrued points.
It also slammed indefinite closure of the Sani Abacha Stadium, with the club ordered to play home matches in Katsina for the rest of the season or at least 10 matches.
The NPFL also directed the club to identify and prosecute the pitch invaders, with further directive to submit proof of improved crowd control measures within seven working days.
Meanwhile, the league body warned that Kano Pillars must comply with all sanctions or choose to appear before a disciplinary panel within 48 hours. With all the fines paid within seven working days.
It warned that any frivolous appeal may attract additional sanctions in line with Rule E1 of the NPFL Framework.