Three Clubs Incur NPL Punishment

Three top-flight clubs have been sanctioned for the roles of their supporters in violence that broke out last weekend at their home grounds during league games by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

According to an official statement from the Head of Competition of the Premier League, Tunji Babalola, to Naijaligue.blogspot.com, the affected clubs are Kwara United, Zamfara United and Ranch Bees.

Babalola fingered Kwara United for the attack on the chairman of Kaduna United, Sabo Babayaro, which left him with serious injuries that needed three stitches.

NPL’s Head of Competition also stated that the act of Kwara United supporters breaches Article 5.8(1) of the Premier League rules and regulations.

Kwara United was fined to the tune of N1.4 million, and has been ordered to play its remaining home games from Week 29 without fans at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

From the N1.4 million, Kwara United would pay N200,000 each to referee Paul Umuagbo from Delta State and Babayaro as medical bills.

The NPL also directed the Afonja Warriors to foot the cost of repairing the bus of Kaduna United as well as fish out those behind the attacks in the Week 27 game.

Zamfara United was ordered to pay N200,000 to Assistant Referee I, Akpo Victor, after he was assaulted.

The Gusau-based modest outfit was told to caution its fans to desist from bringing the game to disrepute after disrupting the pre-match meeting.

The NPL also ordered Ranch Bees to replace the stolen items of Assistant Referee I, Joseph Okeke, as well as the flag of Assistant Referee II, Abbas Mohammed.

Items that unidentified hooligans dispossessed from Okeke are cash and kits.

Bees would now play its subsequent games behind closed door from Week 29, as ordered by the Premier League.