The General Manager of Kano Pillars Football Club, Ahmed Musa, has apologised to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) referees and players of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) over assault by fans of the club.
NPO Reported the NPFL match between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars recorded a bloody ending on Sunday as home fans at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, stormed the pitch and attacked the match officials and players of the visiting team.
This occurred after 3SC snatched a late equaliser to deny Kano Pillars all three points.
The visitors found the back of the net in the 94th minute of play to dent Pillars’ 1-0 lead.
Immediately after the referee confirmed the goal which levelled the match to 1-1, hundreds of angry fans stormed the pitch and surged towards the match officials and visiting players.
Videos of the scary incident shard on X on Sunday captured moment hundreds of fans stormed the pitch and charged towards the visiting team and the match officials.
Reacting to the ugly incident in a statement issued on his official X handle, Musa expressed his apologies over the incident which he described as unfortunate and painful.
The ex-Super Eagles captain condemned the fans invasion of the pitch and attack on the visiting team and match officials.
He maintained that the incident does not represent the true values and identity of Kano Pillars, stressing that the club has always stood for community, passion, and respect.
Musa, however, admitted that the club fell below standard with the incident.
While taking full responsibility over the violent attack, Musa charged the home fans that true support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline.
He vowed to do everything necessary to restore trust, respect, and the true spirit of football in Kano and across Nigeria.
The statement read; “I, Ahmed Musa, the General Manager of Kano Pillars Football Club, extend my deepest and most sincere apologies for the unfortunate, painful, and disgraceful incident that occurred during our game against Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday evening.
“What transpired against Shooting Stars is heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable. It does not represent the true values, identity, or the proud history of Kano Pillars.
“This club has always stood for community, passion, and respect, values that must never be overshadowed by violence or indiscipline.
“As a club with deep roots and loyal supporters, we are expected to set an example of fairness and honour on and off the pitch.
“Sadly, today, we fell far short of that standard. I tender an unreserved apology to the players, coaches, officials, and supporters of Shooting Stars Sports Club, to the match referees and league officials who were caught in this terrible situation, to the Nigeria Premier Football League board and its partners at GTI, to the league organisers, and to every football fan across Nigeria and beyond who watched these scenes with anger, shock, and disappointment.
“I know how painful it must have been to witness something so damaging to our game, and I am deeply, deeply sorry. Violence has no place in football.
“It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and goes against everything this beautiful sport stands for. Football is meant to unite, to inspire, to bring joy. When it turns into scenes of chaos and harm, we must not pretend it away, we must confront it head-on.
“I assure everyone that Kano Pillars FC will work closely with the relevant authorities to identify those responsible for this shameful act, and they will face the full consequences of their actions.
“We understand that apologies alone are not enough. Words must be followed by action.
“We would take a huge step internally to ensure that something like this never happens again. To our loyal fans, I want to speak directly to you.
“Kano Pillars is a proud club with a rich legacy, and you are the heartbeat of this club. But true support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline.
“This must be a turning point for us. We must remind the world that our love for this club can be powerful without being destructive, that our passion can lift its image, not stain it.
“Once again, on behalf of Kano Pillars Football Club, I offer my most heartfelt and unreserved apology to everyone affected.
“To the NPFL, to Shooting Stars, to the referees, to the fans of Nigerian football, and to anyone who believes in the spirit of the game, we are sorry. I am sorry.
“We take full responsibility and will do everything necessary to restore trust, respect, and the true spirit of football in Kano and across Nigeria.”
