NPFL slams heavy sanctions on Kano Pillars over crowd violence

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has imposed heavy sanctions on Kano Pillars following violent scenes that erupted during their Matchday 8 fixture against Shooting Stars at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

The game was marred by a pitch invasion and attacks on match officials and players, prompting the league body to shut the Sani Abacha Stadium to fans for the rest of the season. Kano Pillars will now play their home matches at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

In a swift disciplinary action taken less than 24 hours after the incident, the NPFL deducted three goals and three points from the club’s total for breaching Rule C1.1, which prohibits assault on the away team and match officials.

The league also imposed a series of financial penalties on the club. Kano Pillars were fined ₦1 million for failing to provide adequate security, ₦1 million for the misconduct of their supporters under Rule C9, and another ₦1 million for fans throwing objects onto the pitch in violation of Rule B13.18.

Additionally, the NPFL fined the club ₦1 million for bringing the league into disrepute and ₦2 million for the assault on the away team and match officials. A further ₦2 million was imposed as compensation for Shooting Stars players, while ₦1.5 million will be paid as restitution for the assault on match officials.

NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, who announced the decisions in letters to the clubs and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), reiterated the league’s zero-tolerance stance on violence. “We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour by fans, players, and officials out of the league,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the NPFL has called on the NFF Match Officials Appointment Committee to review the performances of match officials from the Kano Pillars versus Shooting Stars and Nasarawa United versus Rangers games. Those affected include centre referee Mohammed B. Tuta and assistants Bem Japhet and Shehu Isah, as well as referee Ikechukwu Taiwo and assistant Usman Opeyemi Edward.

Kano Pillars have the right to appeal the sanctions, although the NPFL warned that additional penalties could follow if the appeal fails.