THE hammer of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has come down heavily on Kano Pillars in the aftermath of the violence that followed yesterday’s league match against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Kano.
Kano Pillars supporters at the Sani Abacha Stadium invaded the pitch and violently attacked 3SC players as well as match officials after the visitors scored a stoppage-time equaliser to tie the game at 1-1.
The NPFL management promised to take swift action, and they have now announced sanctions against Kano Pillars, punishing the repeat offenders for lax security and failure to keep their unruly fans in check.
“Kano Pillars have been charged for breaching the Framework and Rules of the NPFL following Sunday’s incidents in the Matchday 8 fixture vs Shooting Stars,” the NPFL stated today.
“Kano Pillars failed to provide adequate and effective security which resulted in unauthorized persons gaining access to restricted areas/field of play.
“The Kano club also failed to ensure proper conduct of their supporters which led to harassment of the away team and match officials.
“Supporters of the club also threw objects towards the pitch and at the away team and match officials. Kano Pillars’ supporters further displayed conduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“The club’s supporters further gained access to restricted areas and assaulted players of the away team and match officials.”
Announcing the sanctions, the NPFL said: “The club have been fined N1m each for failing to provide adequate and effective security; throwing dangerous objects onto the pitch; failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters and misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute, totalling N4m.
“A further fine of N2m is placed on the club for assault on the players of the away team and match officials.
“As compensatory cost for treatment and damages on players of Shooting Stars and the match officials, Kano Pillars have also been fined N2m.
“Kano Pillars will also pay a fine of N1.5m as compensatory damages of N250,000 each to the match officials.
“Kano Pillars will now play their home matches in Katsina for the rest of the season, or minimum of 10 matches until the club prove such incident will not happen again.
“Otherwise, Sani Abacha Stadium remain closed to hosting Kano Pillars’ home games indefinitely.
“The club have further been directed to produce the perpetrators of the ugly incident on Sunday and show proof of prosecution as well as put in place an effective matchday security arrangement which must be submitted to NPFL within 7 days of this notice.”
The NPFL gave Kano Pillars 48 hours to accept the sanctions or launch an appeal.