By IBRAHIM T. LOT
So many problems are bedeviling the Nigeria Premier Football League (NFL). But one nagging issue that has become an incurable disease is insecurity and crowd violence or encroachment ravaging the league.
Incidents of crowd violence were recorded in the just concluded 2023/2024 league season, leaving lovers of the beautiful game worried and asking questions.
Enyimba International of Aba were recently slammed with a N10m fine in addition to forfeiting the abandoned match-day 35 in Enugu to eventual League winners, Rangers International FC. Also, three Enyimba players Akanni Elijah, Eze Ekwutoziam and Chibuke Nwaiwu were also sanctioned.
Over 35,000 fans crammed into the 20,000 capacity Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to witness which of the two teams would pick the three points. A late penalty awarded to Rangers during extra time led to Enyimba fans trooping into the main bowl to hold up proceedings. The match was subsequently abandoned. As a result, cost Enyimba the game and the league title.
In Kano, Kano Pillars FC supporters were found guilty of encroaching on the field of play in their exuberance to celebrate a 93rd minute goal during their week 4 match against Rivers United.
In a separate incident involving Heartland of Owerri, the NPFL expressed serious concerns over the behavior of the club’s supporters. The fans were accused of holding back players and officials at the stadium after a match, thereby creating a situation that required the intervention of security personnel.
In Yengoa, Bayelsa United were charged for breaching the NPFL 24 framework and rules in their match-day 37 against 3SC for failing to provide adequate security and effective crowd control which resulted in the assault on an opposing player.
They were also charged for failing to restrict access to authorized persons to all restricted areas, resulting in the assault on 3SC goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah, leading to N1m and N3m fines respectively. They were also directed to pay Odah a compensation of N250,000. identify and prosecute The culprit of the assault would be identified and prosecuted.
Lately, hooliganism has become very common among NPFL home fans. But it is actually sad that the League Management Commission (LMC) didn’t see this matter of violence as a significant issue.
The fact that this monster is still waxing stronger, and may continue to do so, is obviously because the LMC seems to be at a loss as to how to tame this the menace of this monster. And as long as this persists, it paints a very bad picture of Nigeria in the eyes of the sporting world.
Playing matches behind closed doors, points deduction and player’s suspension will not be a lasting solution to the problem. Until stiffer punishment are matted out to those elements giving Nigerian football a bad name, the league will forever be tagged as being ‘underdeveloped’.
Football should be enjoyed by fans and not get them killed. Perhaps by picking positive notes from other African leagues such as the Bataloa League of Morocco or the PSL in South Africa, we can also boast of a standard league in Nigeria. But until then, violence will continue casting a dark shadow over our league’s development.
Crowd encroachment and violence have always dented the image of the Nigerian League which has adversely affected its development.
