The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) clarified on Tuesday that sanctions issued by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Premier League, Tunji Babalola, to clubs and their officials over the violence that greeted Saturday’s Nigeria Premier League match between Kwara United FC and Sunshine Stars FC at the Ilorin Township Stadium are temporary.

The NFF has duly referred the case to its Disciplinary Committee for adjudication.

Babalola, acting in the immediacy of the situation, had issued various forms of punishment to the two clubs and their officials. Kwara United is to be docked three points and three goals, and pay an aggregate fine of N2.4 million, while Sunshine Stars FC is to pay a cumulative fine the sum of N3 million only for encroachment and for failing to submit the video clips of the match. Sunshine Stars FC’s team manager, Gabriel Aborowa, was also issued with indefinite suspension.

Other sanctions meted out temporarily are the banishment of Kwara United FC to Abuja for subsequent home matches and the barring of spectators from home matches of Kwara State’s other Premier League club, ABS FC, who will now play their matches behind closed doors.

The Genesis

Mayhem erupted three minutes to the end of the Premier League clash between the two leading clubs when some fans were said to have invaded the pitch of the Ilorin Township Stadium, furious at suspected unfavourable calls of the centre referee. Scoreline was 1-1 at the time of the disturbances.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, Olaleye Adepoju, said the sanctions were temporary.

“Of course, the Secretariat of the NPL has the power to issue temporary sanctions to offenders pending the meeting of the NFF Disciplinary Committee. We will look at the case on its merit and in its entirety when we sit, and review all sanctions accordingly.

“I will reach out to my members and probably fix a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee for next week”, Mr. Adepoju said.