Displaying zero tolerance for crowd violence, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has fined Bendel Insurance N3,250,000 and Plateau United N4,500,000 as both teams were each docked three points from their haul in the ongoing season.
Both teams will also play their next three home games without their fans and supporters for breaching the NPFL frameworks and guidelines and were consequently punished for the infractions.
This was as a result of crowd restiveness that marred both teams last weekend games against Kano Pillars in Benin and Rangers International FC in Jos.
Bendel Insurance lost 1-0 to Kano Pillars in Benin following a stoppage time penalty kick awarded to the visitors. Angry fans allegedly took laws into their hands and descended on the match officials at the end of the game played on Saturday.
The NPFL said inter alia : “3 points & 3 goals has now been deducted from Bendel Insurance’s points & 3 goals for the assault on the match officials. The club has also been fined N1 million each for failing to provide adequate & effective security as well as failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters, totalling N2 million. The club will pay another N1 million fine for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Bendel Insurance will further pay a fine of N250,000 each to the assaulted match officials talking about Adeniyi Adewale, Anuoluwapo Balogun & Sodiq Sonibare. Bendel Insurance will also play their next 3 home matches behind closed doors at their Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.”
In the same vein, fans allegedly loyal to Plateau United were also on parade in Jos shortly after their goalless draw at home to Rangers International FC.
They reportedly beat the match officials and wounded a player of Rangers’ Daniel Onyia as well.
“Plateau United shall have three points and three goals deducted from their accrued points & goals for assaulting a match official, the NPFL stated.
“Plateau United will pay a fine of N1 million each for failing to provide adequate & effective security as well as for throwing objects towards the field of play, totalling N2 million.
“Plateau Utd will further pay N1 million each for failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters & misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute, totalling another N2 million.
“Plateau Utd will pay another fine of N500,000, being compensation of N250,000 each for the assaulted match official (Zakari Aminu) & Rangers player, Daniel Onyia.
“Plateau Utd shall underwrite the cost of repairing the damaged team bus of Rangers & other verifiable loss/damage incurred during the incident.
“Plateau Utd will play their next 3 home matches behind closed doors at their New Jos Stadium ground 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.
Both clubs, according to NPFL, have 48 hours to appeal these sanctions.
