Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side El-Kanemi Warriors have been ordered to play behind closed doors till the end of the 2018/19 season following unruly fans behaviour in their last match, reports www.aclsports.com
A video of the fans’ unsportsmanlike conduct after their team played out a 2-2 draw against Go Round FC on Saturday in Maiduguri went viral on the internet, with members of the Nigerian Army shooting in the air in an attempt to dissuade the fans.
The organisers of the NPFL, the League Management Company (LMC) charged the Group B side with a three-count offence in which they are fined a total of N3 million naira aside the N250,000 naira to be paid to the centre referee Rilwan Ayeni for the assault on him.
“The League Management Company (LMC) in exercise of Summary Jurisdiction notice signed by Salihu Abubakar, the Chief Operating Officer, charged the Maiduguri club for breaches of sections of the Framework and Rules including Rule B13.18 and B13.52.2,” read an LMC statement made available to www.aclsports.com
“You are in breach of the Framework and Rules of the Nigeria Professional Football League, in that on summary, 5th May 2019, in the course of your Match Day 17 Fixture: El-Kanemi Warriors vs. Go Round, some of your supporters severally threw objects including water sachets, plastic bottles and stones towards Match Officials and towards the field of play.”
“LMC imposed financial sanctions ranging from N1m for throwing objects at Match Officials in breach of Rule B13.18, N1m for failure to ensure restriction of access by unauthorised persons to restricted areas, in breach of Rule B13.52.2, N1m for encroachment onto the field fo play immediately after the match, in breach of Rule B13.18 and N250,000 to be paid as compensation to the Referee for assault pursuant to Rule C12.”
The club will now play its remaining two home matches against Delta Force and FC Ifeanyiubah at the El-Kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri behind closed doors, consequent upon the judgement.
El-Kanemi Warriors will face Yobe Desert Stars in their Match Day 18 game in Damaturu on Wednesday.
