By Amaechi Agbo

The League Management Company, LMC, has slammed a fine of N3.5 million and N1 million on Katsina United and Kano Pillars respectively over crowd violence, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

The matchday 16 of the Nigeria Professional Football League involving the two clubs in Kastina saw their fans clash in a violence fight that drew condemnation from stakeholders.

Videos and pictures emerged from the match venue which ended 1-1 apiece where the fans of both clubs were involved in fighting that led to destruction of some stadium seats, doors and windows. It took the timely intervention of the Katsina State police command to restore normalcy before the players and officials of the clubs were allowed to leave the stadium.

In a three-page ‘summary jurisdiction’ document signed by the LMC Chief Operating Officer, COO, Salihu Abubakar, the league organisers slammed a total sum of N3, 500, 000 (three million five hundred thousand naira) fine on the home team, Katsina United while the visitors, Kano Pillars also received N1, 000, 000 (one million Naira fine).

The document tagged “LMC Summary Jurisdiction” and obtained by Bestchoicesports.com.ng, made references to the events that transpired during and after the match which led to the post-match fracas before going on to reel out the punishments

Katsina United was fined N1, 500, 000 (one million five hundred thousand Naira) for an aggravated breach of rule B13 (18) of the LMC Statutes
Another fine of N1, 000, 000 (one million Naira) was imposed on Katsina United for the aggressive and inappropriate conduct of its supporters during the matchWhereas a fine of N1,000,000 Naira was also slammed on the The Changi Boys following its failure to ensure effective security and crowd control in view of the disturbances during and after the match.

Consequently upon the above fines, the LMC ordered that subsequent home matches of Katsina United be played behind closed doors pending the outcome of police investigation into the matter.The LMC also ruled that all subsequent matches involving both Katsina United and Kano Pillars will now be played behind closed doors.

For their part, the league organisers placed a N1, 000, 000 (one million Naira) sanctioned on Kano Pillars for inappropriate and aggressive misconduct during the match. The management of Katsina United and Kano Pillars are expected to liaise on how to get the stadium seats fixed according to the LMC.
Fighting erupted during the matchday 16 NPFL 2019/2020 season at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium Katsina with two spectators reportedly injured.