The League Management Company (LMC)) has announced a number of sanctions against Kano Pillars Football Club, over Monday’s incident involving their supporters and players.
Salihu Abubakar, LMC’s Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement that the sanctions were as a result of crowd disturbances and harassment of match officials.
The incident happened during and after one of Match Day 4 fixtures at the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Championship Playoffs in Lagos.
“Kano Pillars have been fined the sum of N8 million, while their captain, Rabiu Ali, has been banned from all NPFL activities and matches for a period of 12 matches,” Abubakar said.
Supporters believed to belong to the Kano side had invaded the pitch, damaged perimeter fences and advertising panels.
They had also hauled objects at the VIP stands, at the end of the fixture between Kano Pillars and Rangers International, which ended 1-1.
LMC, in a summary jurisdiction notice, charged Kano Pillars with four breaches of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL including breaches of Rule B13.18, C9, C1.1.
Ali was charged with accosting the match referee and, in so doing, he had incited others to commit acts of violence and misconduct in breach of Rule C1.3
The notice to Ali read, “Consequently, and taking into consideration your role as the captain of the team, by which your conduct is deemed to be an aggravated breach with a view to imposing more severe sanctions pursuant to Rule C19, the LMC intends to exercise its summary jurisdiction.
“By this, LMC will impose on you the following sanction: a ban from all NPFL matches and activities for a period of 12 matches, commencing immediately”.
Kano Pillars were also charged for failing to control and ensure proper conduct of their players and officials, who accosted the match referee in protest.
This constituted a breach of Rule C9.
The third charge read, “you are in breach of Rule B13.18 of the Framework and Rules of the NPFL.
“This is because on Monday, immediately after your NPFL Championship Playoff Match against Rangers International, some of your supporters encroached onto the field of play, pursuing match officials”.
The fourth count was hinged on the violent conduct of the supporters in a manner capable of bringing the league to disrepute.
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