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By: Abiodun Adewale
Nigeria Premier Football League side Gombe United have been handed a three-point deduction by the league board following their unsportsmanlike conduct during their match-day 17 encounter against Rivers United at home on Sunday.
Gombe United were held 1-1 by the former champions at the Pantami Stadium, but the game was disrupted by unruly fans, who reportedly assaulted match officials after the game.
Head coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru was also indicted in the incident, leading to a three-match suspension for him, while they will also play their remaining home matches in the first stanza behind closed doors.
“Gombe United have been fined N1m for the repeated offence of failing to provide adequate security and another N1m fine is imposed for repeated offence of throwing objects onto the field of play.
“They have also been docked three points and three goals from their accumulated haul following the assault of match officials.
“Gombe United will also pay a fine of N500,000 being compensation of N250,000 each to centre referee Sa’id Abdul’Aziz and assistant referee Cletus Adewebi.”
The three points deduction will leave them with a 17-point and 14 goals deficit as they dropped to the relegation zone.
Similarly, four-time champions Kano Pillars were fined a whopping N12.250m and also ordered to play their remaining home matches before mid-season behind closed doors, for the misconduct of their fans, which led to delay in the live broadcast of their game against Plateau United on Sunday.
Table toppers, Remo Stars, were also handed a fine of N1m for failing to provide adequate security during their pulsating 2-0 victory of Sunshine Stars on Sunday.
Sunshine were not spared too as their goalkeeper, Abdullateef Ishola, is suspended for the next three matches for reacting violently to a ball boy. The Akure-based side were also warned of any similar recurrence of the misconduct in their remaining fixtures.
