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By Abiodun Adewale.
Following recurring cases of violence at match venues in the Nigeria Professional Football League this season, keen followers of the Nigerian topflight have expressed concerns about the development, which hampered the growth of the league in the past, The PUNCH reports.
Incidents of violence have long plagued the NPFL, with one of the ugliest scenes recorded at the 2019 play-offs in Lagos, when fans of Kano Pillars went gaga after their game against Enugu Rangers.
This season, three clubs, namely Bayelsa United, Remo Stars and Wikki Tourists have had three points deducted from their accrued tallies as punishment for assault on match officials by organisers of the league Interim Management Committee, while some other clubs have been fined for similar incidents.
Wikki Tourists and Remo Stars are the latest culprits of the big stick with their cases just a week apart, raising concerns about the recurrence of such incidents.
In order to keep the recurring trend in check, former chairman of the NPFL, Rumson Baribote, believes the state football associations must be independent in order to check the desperation of clubs.
“Nobody wants to encourage violence in our football regardless of the fact that we can’t totally take it away from it. We have had more cases in the past and we also tried to eradicate violence to the barest minimum, just the way current body is doing,” Baribote stated.
“However, there is still more to do in order to keep it in check and one of them is making the state FA totally independent from the clubs. The state FAs are responsible for organising matches, and if the FAs are collecting money from the clubs, it means they are not neutral.”
A journalist, Olaoluwa Adeleye, also noted that match venues might no longer be safe for journalists too, urging the IMC to keep imposing sanctions on erring clubs.
“The current situation can still be referred to as pockets of issues, but I hope we do not go back to the time when journalists won’t even be able to carry out their duties because of the fear of being hit by projectiles thrown by fans,” he said.
A Wikki Tourists fan, Musa Tafida, however, noted that most of the violent cases were instigated by poor officiating.
“Emotions are usually high during games and it’s hard for fans to see their team being hard done by poor officiating. There are also instances that decisions have gone against us this season too, but what can we do?” he said.
Sunshine Stars were also fined N1m by the IMC recently and Ondo State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Bamidele Ologunloluwa, said they had made effort to sensitise the fans.
“Before the start of the season, we held a seminar for members of our supporters’ club and the fans. We have plans to do that again soon and I believe it will help,” the commissioner said.
In the wake of reactions to some of its verdict, the IMC has also reiterated that it will continue to uphold fairness and transparency in their decisions.