By Femi Atolagbe & Saheed Ibrahim
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Sunday, June 13, 2021 was another unfortunate day in the history of Nigerian football. The incident established that there was still a lot to do in term of sports management in the country. The barbaric behaviour of Kano Pillars fans was not the major problem but the failure of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company to live up to their responsibilities and take proper actions against the defaulting club.
Kano Pillars played host to the log leader, Akwa United at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kano. The host headed into the match as second on the NPFL table with 49 points after 27 matches, just a point behind the visitors. It was a battle of supremacy.
It was a fierce battle of skills and strength but both teams could not find the back of the net until the 85th minute, when Nwagua Nyiwa of Kano Pillars put the ball past Akwa United’s keeper.
Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed by the assistant referee, who ruled it offside.
This infuriated Kano Pillars’ fans; rather than respecting the rules of football engagement, they stormed the pitch like bees. They chased the officials and players off the pitch, leading to the match being abandoned. The rest of the match was played on Monday and it ended in a goaless draw; meaning Akwa United remains at the top of the NPFL with 51 points.
After the match, the LMC ruled against itself and preferentially treated Kano Pillars FC like Joseph among his brothers.
Kano Pillars – management and fans – desecrated the rules of football management currently instituted in the country. First, the match against Akwa United was supposed to be played under closed doors: meaning no spectator was expected to be in the stadium but thousands of Kano Pillars fans graced the game. This means the management of the team and the match commissioner failed to do as directed by the NFF.
A circular released by the NFF, signed by the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi on June 7, 2021, titled “REMINDER ON EXTANT COVll)-19 SAFETY GUIDELINES & PROTOCOLS AT FOOTBALL MATCHES IN NIGERIA”, reads:
“It has come to the notice of the Nigeria Football Federation. in a most shocking manner, that despite subsisting ban on spectators at football stadia across the country as a result of the safety rules and protocols surrounding the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVlD-ig), some clubs, particularly in the Nigeria Professional Football League and the Nigeria National League have been opening their gates to spectators for their matches.
“This act not only seriously contravenes the laid-down guidelines and safety protocols as enunciated by the Presidential Task Force on COVll)-19 (which were made very clear prior to the lifting of the ban on sporting activities in October 2020), but has also caused huge embarrassment to the leadership of the Nigeria football federation locally and internationally.
“At no time did the NFF, the supreme organizing body for football in Nigeria give any of the Leagues, Clubs or Football Association in the States the go-ahead to entertain spectators at match venues.
“The ban on spectators at match venues remain in force. best efforts to ensure that match venues are shorn of spectators/fans before the commencement of any match.
“Violation of these directives would be severely dealt with. For sure, host Clubs that open their gates to spectators will judge to have failed in their responsibilities and would be declared to have lost the game in question by three goals and three points, while the Match Commissioner would be suspended indefinitely. Further sanctions could apply.
The law is so clear and concise. Kano Pillars are to lose the match by three goals and points, which should be awarded to Akwa United.
Secondly, the uninvited Kano Pillars’ fans threatened referees and other match officials by their actions, leading to the discontinuation of the match. This should have earned Kano Pillars banishment to another state, as it was done against Sunshine Stars FC of Akure and FC Ifeanyi Ubah in their Match day 15 in March this year.
It was alleged that one of the officials of Sunshine Stars FC harrassed a match official in their home game match against Nassarawa United and this made the League Management Company (LMC) banished the Owena Whales to Agege Township Stadium, Lagos.
For FC Ifeanyi Ubah, their Match Day 15 game with Rivers United also ended 0-0 and match officials were allegedly accosted on their way to the dressing room. The club was banished to the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu till further notice.
However, when the sanction for Kano Pillars came, it came with fine and second chance, which others like Sunshine Stars and Ifeanyi Ubah did not get.
“Kano Pillars have been charged for breaching the NPFL Framework & Rules following the infraction in their Matchday 27 fixture vs Akwa Utd at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
“The Kano club have been charged for breaching the COVID-19 Protocol by admitting and/or permitting spectators and supporters into the venue.
Pillars are also charged for encroachment after their supporters encroached onto the field of play, thereby disrupting the match.
“The club are further charged for failing to provide adequate securityleading to failure in crowd control & restriction of access by unauthorized persons to restricted areas.
In line with The Nigeria Football Federation directives, Kano Pillars are hereby sanctioned with a fine of N5 million for breaching the COVID-19 Protocol.
“A fine of N2.5 million is also imposed on Kano Pillars for encroachment by their supporters, which led to a discontinuation of the match.
There is also an imposed sanction of a deduction of 3 points, which shall be suspended for the duration of the remainder of the season, subject to good conduct.
“The club also face a venue sanction of being banned from their Kaduna home ground and subsequently moved to another venue if there is a recurring event”, the document reads.
What makes Kano Pillars so special that they could not be banished and have three points and goals forfeited to Akwa United? As it turned. But, Kano Pillars bought loss of 3 points, 3 goals and banishment with just 7.5 million naira. That is unfair to other league clubs, especially Akwa United that would have increased their lead on the league table by 4 points.
Even the Super Eagles Skipper, Ahmed Musa, who plays for the home country side, Kano Pillars was disappointed with the turn of things in Kano. He took to his Instagram page to express his disatisfaction with the ugly incident thus:
“It is disheartening to write this but unfortunately, it has to be said. In a bid to be patriotic or represent our home country, some of us decided to play for the league with pleasure.
“In as much as I commend officials who handle games in the league across Nigeria, it is imperative to add that a lot still needs to be done to keep our football growing to the heights it deserves.
“There are a lot of areas that need to be worked on so that players can be at their optimal best and play football as it should be in accordance with the laws of the game where fair play is enshrined by all and sundry.”
What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It seems the NFF and the LMC are backing Kano Pillars to win the league or keep the competition intense against the leaders, Akwa United.
This nefarious trend will not only kill football in Nigeria but will taint the image of the entire country more. Little wonder the NPFL is rated low among football leagues in the world.
In order to stop the barbaric act of attacking fans and players during matches, strict laws must be made and implemented without prejudice.
Many people might argue that Kano Pillars were fined 7.5 million naira; the laws are clear and must be implemented without any exception.
When this is done, every club in the NPFL, NNL and other leagues will act responsibly and put their fans to check.
As much as responsibilities lies with the clubs, their fans and investors, the football governing bodies in the country must not be found wanting.
In the case of Kano Pillars sanction, the NFF and LMC goofed.
