NPFL slaps Kano Pillars with heavy sanctions after violent match against shooting stars

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has handed Kano Pillars a series of strict sanctions following violent incidents at their Matchday 8 home game against Shooting Stars on Sunday at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

In a Summary Jurisdiction Notice dated October 13, NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi stated that the club was found guilty of several serious breaches. These include inadequate security measures, misconduct by supporters, throwing dangerous objects, and assault on both away players and match officials.

The notice obtained by our correspondent read, “Kano Pillars failed to provide adequate & effective security, which resulted in unauthorised 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 & match officials.

“The club’s supporters further gained access to restricted areas and assaulted players of the away team and match officials.”

Consequently, the NPFL docked 3 points, 3 goals from the club’s accrued points for assault on the match officials.

“The club have been fined N1m each for failing to provide adequate & effective security; throwing dangerous objects onto the pitch; failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters & misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute, totalling N4m,” the notice added.

“A further fine of N2m is placed on the club for assault on the players of the away team & match officials.

“Kano Pillars will also pay a fine of N1.5m as compensatory damages of N250,000 each to the match officials.

“As compensatory cost for treatment & damages on players of Shooting Stars & the match officials, Kano Pillars have also been fined N2m.”

It noted that 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 a minimum of 10 matches until the club proves such an incident will not happen again. Otherwise, Sani Abacha Stadium remain closed to hosting Kano Pillars’ home games indefinitely,” NPFL imposed.

“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.

It added that Pillars have within 48 hours to submit to this summary jurisdiction or appeal.

The statement warned that any appeal found to be frivolous or without merit could attract additional sanctions in accordance with Rule E1 of the NPFL Framework.

The sanctions come in the wake of widespread condemnation of the violence that disrupted the high-profile encounter between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars, drawing sharp criticism from football authorities and fans across the country.