Dateline: March 5, 2012 in Abuja, the disciplinary committee of NPL, at the end of its emergency meeting held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation, had three points (I gathered with three goals) deducted from Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin. Rationale? Crowd violence in Ilorin during their match against Sunshine Stars of Akure.
The Afonja Warriors, as Kwara United are otherwise called by the sobriquets, were further punished with banishment from their home ground to Abuja with immediate effect.
Sunshine Stars were also slammed with a fine of N2 million for their team manager’s encroachment on the field during the tensed match.
In summary, what happened in Ilorin was one of the many fans-related violence that is rubbing mud on the face of the local league.
Another violence nearly came off the league match involving Sunshine Stars and former CAF Champions League champions, Enyimba International of Aba, at the Ijebu-Ode Stadium, Ogun State two weeks ago.
Fans of the home team, Sunshine, almost caused havoc after the match, as they found their way into the playing turf to protest their team’s barren draw against Enyimba. It took the timely intervention of security personnel on duty at the Dipo Dina Stadium and some sports journalists covering the match to contain the situation.
There is no doubt that the recurrence of fans-related violence in local league matches will do more harm to the already tarnished image of the domestic league. I don’t see a situation where these won’t escalate. Where teams have to pay indemnities of match officials and yet are “not helped” to win. Or they don’t get the referee’s ‘minimal support’.
The new quality of insecurity will further scare the crowd away from the stands. Then, who talks of sponsors? Sponsors use their funds to chase fans.
Already, the ongoing season is without a sponsor after former sponsor, Globacom, refused to renew its sponsorship contract with the NFF. Obviously, the telecommunications company did not get much value for their investment in the league. Fans’ trouble in the league will further affect NPL’s bid to attract a new corporate body to fund the cash-strapped Nigerian Premier League.
Football lovers also witnessed another violence in Kano on Wednesday, when the fans of Kano Pillars attacked the referees and visiting Heartland FC of Owerri players. It is an indication that hooliganism in the local league is fast spreading across the country once again.
The ugly act may force many home teams to play their matches behind closed doors if the rules can be adhered to. When this happens, the clubs will be deprived of getting revenues through gate takings.
Also, the spate of encroachment of fans and officials on the field of play during or immediately after matches would put the match officials under an undue pressure to perform well.
Ultimately, persistent fans-related violence would disrupt the schedule of league games. Definitely, some matches that are not played by teams would have to be rescheduled to later dates. This will prevent the league body, NPL, to achieve its target of winding up the season as scheduled. And it will further defeat the objective to syncronise the NPL in line with its European counterparts.
Importantly, referees and their assistants would not perform at their best when they have a feeling that irate mobs may attack them during or after matches at the venues.
Under such a tensed situation, referees would be forced to make questionable decisions in favour of the home team in an apparent move to save their lives.
In a bid to forestall a repeat of the incidence that happened in Ilorin and Kano, the league board, through its acting Executive Secretary, Tunji Babalola, has read a riot act and vowed to punish the clubs and their fans for misconduct. Will the riot act work?
Warri Wolves’ Coach, Maurice Cooreman, said poor officiating is the major cause of the problem.
He said: “The problem in the league is caused by referees. When we don’t have good referees officiating matches, then the fans would want to show their anger through protests at match venues.”
Football authorities should not leave security issues at match venues to the home teams alone, but must ensure that resources are committed to make security personnel dedicated to their duties.
“Crowd unrests at match venues now will be disastrous due to the high level of passion attached to the game and which could lead to a large casualty figures like what happened in Egypt recently,” he said.
Does anyone recall Joseph Ibi’s promise to up the brand of refereeing in Nigeria and not be at the mercy of the NFF or and the NPL? He was denied the NRA presidency because he has an independent mind.
What if all NPL matches are recorded and shown, in a most professional way? Will or can these violences be? If they do, it would be too good for the police to get the perpetrators for prosecution,
With a practically prostrate and seemingly non-existent administration at the NPL, what do we expect? The league has been violently raped by the NFF and her polity-tricking. God bless Nigerian footbrawl!