NPFL Bans Sani Abacha Stadium, Fines Pillars Over Crowd Trouble

‎The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced sweeping sanctions against Kano Pillars Football Club following crowd disturbances during their Match Day 8 fixture against Shooting Stars of Ibadan last Sunday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
‎According to the NPFL notice, the club was found guilty of multiple breaches of the league’s Framework and Rules, including failure to provide adequate security, failure to control supporters, and acts capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
‎The NPFL cited specific violations of Rules B13.52, B13.18, C1.1, C9, and C11, noting that unauthorized individuals invaded restricted areas, harassed players and match officials, and threw dangerous objects onto the field of play.
‎As a result, the NPFL imposed a N1,000,000 fine on on Kano Pillars for its failure to provide adequate and effective security; N1,000,000 fine for throwing dangerous objects toward the pitch and at match officials; N1,000,000 fine for failure to ensure proper conduct of supporters, and N1,000,000 fine for actions capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
‎The league governing body also slammed N2,000,000 fine on the Kano soccer lords for the assault of Shooting Stars players and match officials; N2,000,000 as compensatory damages and cost of treatment for affected players and officials; N1,500,000 compensation to match officials (N250,000 each); deduction of Three (3) points and three (3) goals deduction from Kano Pillars’ accrued points, and an indefinite closure of the Sani Abacha Stadium for the remainder of the season, or at least 10 home games, pending evidence of improved security measures. The club will now host home matches in Katsina.
The club was also mandated to identify and produce the perpetrators of the invasion and provide proof of prosecution, alongside a revised matchday security and crowd control plan within seven (7) working days.
Besides that, the NPFL further directed Kano Pillars to either accept the summary jurisdiction and sanctions or elect to face a disciplinary panel within 48 hours of the notice.
‎Failure to comply or lodging a frivolous appeal, the NPFL warned, could attract additional sanctions under Rule E1.
‎The league body reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on hooliganism, emphasizing that protecting the integrity and safety of all participants remains a top priority.