NFF hammer falls heavily on Smart City FC, Yobe Desert for soccer hooliganism

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – Hammer of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF has fallen deservedly and very heavy too on Smart City FC and Yobe Desert FC for acts of hooliganism demonstrated in the encounter between Smart City and Gateway United FC and the clash between Yobe Desert and DMD FC.

In the matter between Smart City FC Vs. Gateway United FC,  the committee, comprising Barr. J.B. C. Obikwelu (Chairman), Barr. A.I. Abdulrahman (Vice chairman), Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar (Member), Barr. ‘Wole Ademoyegun (Member), Barr. Bello Galadi (Member) and Queen W. Otarakpo, Esq. (Secretary) discovered that security provided by the Yobe State Football Association was inadequate and ineffective, hence serious security breach at the match venue.

It established that there was assault on match officials by supporters of Yobe Desert Stars FC, in breach of article 26.1, Nigeria National League (NNL) Rules, leading to disruption of the match in the 84th minutes.

It established that supporters of Yobe Desert Stars FC encroached unto the field of play and were fighting the Centre Referee, leading to the discontinuation of the match in breach of article 16.2 of the NNL Rules.

Besides, Mr. Abubakar Ago (FIFA Rtd), Ag. Chairman, Yobe Desert Stars FC admitted before the Committee that he advised the Centre Referee (Shaarani Guza) to overrule himself and award a goal (he earlier disallowed) in favour of his team (Yobe Desert Stars FC) during the time of the crisis on the field of play.

The Committee also found as a fact that Mr. Abubakar Ago (FIFA Rtd.) ordered the closure of the stadium and perimeter fence gates and induced attacks on the referee.

In his testimony before the committee, the Centre Referee (Oni Stephen Anuoluwapo) said he sustained minor injury but one of his colleague sustained a more severe injury and listed lost items as one (1) badge, one (1) Wrist Watch, Control Cards, one (1) Whistle, Flags and three (3) Uniforms belonging to the three (3) assaulted Match Officials. All the lost items were estimated to cost N216,000 only.

Consequently the committee adopted fine of N1million imposed by the Nigeria National League (NNL) on Smart City FC for encroachment and throwing of objects unto the field of play in line with art. 26.1, NNL Rules.

The committee fined “Smart City N500,000 only for assault on match officials by its supporters and adopted the decision of the NNL deducting three (3) points and three (3) goals from the accumulated points/goals of Smart City FC, for assault on match officials.

It also upheld the ban on the supporters of Smart City FC from participating in any NNL organized match for the remaining 2022/2023 season. The committee set aside the sum of N500,000 imposed on Smart City FC by NNL as medical bills for the injuries inflicted on the match officials since injuries were minor and there was no proof of committing any money on the treatment as hospital bills. The committee also reduced fine of N1 million for lost items to N216,000.

“The decision of the NNL ordering the play of the remaining 47 minutes of the game on Thursday 20th April, 2023 under strict closed doors at the same stadium with the same officials is hereby upheld”.

In the case of Yobe Desert and DMD FC, the committee found that security provided by the Yobe State Football Association was inadequate and ineffective hence serious security breach at the match venue.

The Committee confirmed assault on match officials by the supporters of Yobe Desert Stars FC, in breach of article 26.1, Nigeria National League (NNL) Rules and that the game was disrupted in the 84th minutes.

The committee noted that supporters of Yobe Desert Stars FC encroached unto the field of play and were fighting the Centre Referee, which led to the discontinuation of the match in breach of article 16.2 of the NNL Rules.

“Mr. Abubakar Ago (FIFA Rtd), Ag. Chairman, Yobe Desert Stars FC admitted before the Committee that he advised the Centre Referee (Shaarani Guza) to overrule himself and award a goal (he earlier disallowed) in favour of his team (Yobe Desert Stars FC) during the time of the crisis on the field of play.

“The Committee found as a fact that Mr. Abubakar Ago (FIFA Rtd.) ordered the closure of the stadium and perimeter fence gates and induced attacks on the Referee”.  The affected referee did not appear during the hearing and there was therefore no oral evidence.

The game between parties was declared 0-0 and the fine of N1,000,000 imposed by NNL on Yobe Desert Stars FC for encroachment and throwing of objects unto the field of play in line with article 26.1 of the NNL Rules was upheld.

Yobe Desert Stars FC was fined N500,000 for assault on match officials by its supporters. The Committee adopted the decision of the NNL deducting three (3) points and three (3) goals from the accumulated points/goals of Yobe Desert Stars FC, for assault on match officials.

It reduced the decision banning supporters of Yobe Desert Stars FC from participating in all NNL organized matches to the current football season.

“The decision banning Mr. Abubakar Ago of Yobe Desert Stars FC from participating in all NNL organized matches for a period of one (1) year is hereby upheld and further extended to include all NFF and NRA activities”, the committee said.

But the fine of N500,000 imposed on Yobe Desert was set aside for lack of evidence.

“The Committee adopts the decision ordering Yobe Deserts Stars FC to play their next three (3) home matches under strict closed doors in line with art. 16.4.1 of the NNL Rules”.