THE organisers of the Nigeria Premier Football League have sanctioned Kano Pillars and Heartland for the clubs’ inability to properly control their fans.
Kano Pillars have been fined N1 million for their supporters’ encroachment onto the field of play during the Matchday 4 fixture against Rivers United on Sunday.
On their part, Heartland of Owerri were issued a stern warning to curb ‘restive acts’ of their supporters and advised to organise reorientation for the supporters to inculcate in them the spirit of fair play.
The NPFL said it reached the respective decisions conveyed in separate Summary Jurisdiction notices..
Kano Pillars fans were found to have jumped the barriers onto the pitch to celebrate their 92nd minute winner in the encounter at the Sani Abacha Stadium, which they won 1-0.
“After reviewing reports from the match officials, the NPFL charged the club with a breach of Rule B13.18. The club was consequently ordered to pay the fine within 14 days and warned that failure to comply within the stipulated time would be considered a continuous breach of the NPFL Framework and Rules,” the league body stated.
For Heartland, the NPFL in the memo with the heading ‘Matchday 4 Disturbances’, expressed reservations over the behaviour of the fans in holding back the players and officials at the stadium after their 1-1 home draw with Katsina United also on Sunday.
“It has come to our attention that some irate supporters of your club held players and officials hostage after the match, making it difficult for them to exit the stadium premises until a detachment of security operatives arrived as reinforcement,” the NPFL said in a memo signed the the Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi.
“Such behaviour is unacceptable and tarnishes the reputation of both Heartland and the NPFL.”
The Heartland were told to organise an orientation workshop for the supporters on the spirit of fair play best practices in order to prevent a repeat.
