By Amaechi Agbo
Former champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Kano Pillars have been handed heavy punishment including banishment to Anima to play their home.matcjes, deduction of three points a fine of Nine million (N9, 000, 000, 000) naira by the league organisers, League Management Company, LMC.
Handing the sanctions on Monday, the LMC noted that Kano Pillars have been charged for breaching the NPFL Framework & Rules in their Matchday 23 game vs Katsina United at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The Kano club breached the league rules when some of their supporters threw objects onto the pitch thereby leading to the disruption of the game.
Some supporters of the club further encroached onto the pitch leading to the match being discontinued.
Kano Pillars failed to provide adequate security for the game which led to breakdown of law and order at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The four-time NPFL champions also failed to ensure that unauthorized persons didn’t gain access to restricted areas leading to harassment of match officials, away team & disruption of the game.
Furthermore, Kano Pillars supporters vandalized the bus of the away team and caused damage/loss of personal belongings of players and officials of the away team.
Consequently, the LMC sanctioned the club as follows; Kano Pillars have been fined N1 million for the throwing of objects onto the pitch by their supporters.
The Kano club will also pay a fine of N5 million for encroachment of the pitch by their supporters leading to the discontinuation of the match.
For failing to provide adequate security, Pillars will pay a fine of N1 million and will pay another N1 million fine for allowing unauthorized persons access to restricted areas.
The club are further fined N1 million for the unsporting behaviour of their supporters.
Kano Pillars will also be responsible for the repair and/or replacement of the damaged bus of Katsina United as well as certified belongings (of players & officials of the away team) either damaged or loss in the bus.
Kano Pillars supporters have also been suspended indefinitely from league matches & the club will ensure full compliance of this order.
Kano Pillars have 21 days to pay all the fines & repair/replace the damaged bus as well as replace certified damaged/lost belongings of Katsina United, their players & officials.
The club will also play their remaining home matches for the current season at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja while the Sani Abacha Stadium is closed down indefinitely to league games.
Three points will be deducted immediately from the accrued points of Kano Pillars for the latest infraction following repeated breaches of the NPFL Framework and Rules.
Kano Pillars also face a forfeiture of 3 points from their accrued points in the event of any further similar breach of the league rules.
The Kano Pillars v Katsina Utd (abandoned at 0-0) will be continued from the 79th minute at the MKO Abiola Stadium at a date to be announced later. Pillars will bear the costs for concluding the game including that of the away team as determined by the LMC.
Kano Pillars have 48 hours from the date of the sanctions to appeal.
