NPFL
By Olamilekan Abayomi
The Nigeria Premier Football League has imposed heavy sanctions on Kano Pillars Football Club following violent incidents during their Matchday 8 fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. The league found Kano Pillars guilty of multiple rule violations, including failure to provide adequate security, poor control of fans, throwing dangerous objects, assaulting players and officials, and misconduct that brought the game into disrepute.
Kano Pillars have been fined a total of ₦9.5 million. The breakdown includes fines for failure to provide adequate security, throwing dangerous objects, failure to control supporters, misconduct capable of bringing the game into disrepute, and assaulting visiting players and officials. The club will also compensate match officials and pay for treatment and damages to victims, amounting to ₦2 million and ₦1.5 million, respectively.
In addition to the financial penalties, the club was docked three points and three goals from their accrued total. The Sani Abacha Stadium has been closed indefinitely, and Kano Pillars will play their remaining home matches in Katsina or another approved venue for at least ten games. The club has been directed to identify and prosecute those responsible for the violence and submit evidence of improved crowd control within seven working days.
The NPFL has warned that failure to comply or file a proper appeal within 48 hours could result in further disciplinary action. The league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, reiterated the league’s zero-tolerance stance on violence, saying they will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behavior by fans, players, and officials out of the league.
The NPFL’s decision to sanction Kano Pillars is a clear demonstration of its commitment to maintaining discipline and decorum in Nigerian football. The league’s stance on violence is unequivocal, and clubs are expected to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents. The sanctions imposed on Kano Pillars serve as a deterrent to other clubs and fans, emphasizing the importance of fair play and respect for the game.
