Abuja (CrestNewsOnline.ng) ——- The management of Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has imposed sanctions against Kano Pillars Football Club following Sunday’s chaotic scenes and attack on match officials and players of visiting Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan.

On Sunday at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, the hosts’ fans had invaded the pitch for chaotic scenes which resulted in an attack on the match officials and visiting players.

This was after the Match Day 8 fixture, which ended 1-1 between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars.

The NPFL also acted against three of the game’s match officials, as well as two of the match officials in the Nasarawa United versus Rangers International fixture of same day, recommending for a review of their respective performances.

The league body requested that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) reappraise their suitability to handle its further games.

While announcing the decisions in letters communicated to the clubs and the NFF, Davidson Owumi,  the league’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), said the NPFL would continue to maintain the policy of zero tolerance for any form of violence.

“We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour of fans, players and officials out of the league”, he said.

In a summary of the decisions, which came less than 24 hours after the incident,  the NPFL announced a deduction of three goals and three points from Kano Pillars’ already-accumulated points and goals.

The points deduction is for breach of Rule C1.1, addressing assault on away team and match officials.

Also, the Sani Abacha Stadium will remain shut to Kano Pillars for their home games for the rest of the season, with the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina to host their remaining home fixtures.

A number of financial sanctions totaling N9.5 million was also imposed on Kano Pillars.

For their failure to provide adequate security which led to access to restricted area to unauthorised persons in breach of Rule B13.52, there is a fine of N1 million.

Similarly,  the club was found to have breached Rule C9 when it failed to ensure proper conduct of its supporters, leading to harassment of away team players and match officials, and this has attracted a fine of another N1 million.

Kano Pillars supporters were also adjudged to have thrown objects on to the field of play and at the away team players and match officials in breach of Rule B13.18, attracting a fine of N1 million.

The NPFL also fined Kano Pillars supporters N1 million for acts that brought the league to disrepute in breach of Rule C1.1, while a fine of N2 million was imposed as fine for assault on the away team and match officials.

Furthermore, a fine of N2 million was also imposed as compensation payment to players of Shooting Stars, while N1.5 million will be paid as restitution for the beating of match officials.

The NPFL in a separate letter to the Match Officials Appointment Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), also requested a review of performance and stepping down of the match’s centre referee, Mohammed B Tuta of Adamawa State, and the assistant referees, Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa).

For the match between Nasarawa United and Rangers International, the NPFL also requested for the review of performance of centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo of Rivers State, and his assistant, Usman Opeyemi Edward of Osun State.

Meanwhile, according to regulations, Kano Pillars reserves the right to appeal these decisions.

But such could attract additional sanctions should the appeal fail.

(www.crestnewsonline.ng)