Katsina United and Abia Warriors fined by NPFL for misconduct

Katsina United and Abia Warriors have been sanctioned by the organisers of the EUROMATCH Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) over separate incidents during their week 10 matches.

The charges were announced on the NPFL’s X account on Monday night, with both clubs given 48 hours to appeal.

Katsina United were punished after their match against Plateau United on Sunday, during which the club was found to have failed to provide adequate security.

The league said the security shortcomings allowed unauthorised people to enter restricted areas, while Katsina United supporters also entered the pitch.

“Katsina United have been charged for breaching #NPFL27 Framework & Rules in their match vs Plateau United on Sunday in which they failed to provide adequate security, resulting in unauthorized persons gaining access to restricted areas,” the NPFL stated.

The club was fined N1 million for failing to provide adequate and effective security, and a further N1 million for the encroachment onto the field of play.

The NPFL said Katsina United had “48 hours (two working days) from the date of notice to appeal the sanctions”.

Abia Warriors were charged over their Matchday 10 fixture against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday after failing to provide the level of security agreed at the pre-match technical meeting.

The league also accused an Abia Warriors official of harassing a member of the broadcast partner’s crew in an attempt to stop the live transmission of the match.

“An official of Abia Warriors attempted to disrupt the livebroadcast of the match by harassing a crew member of the league’s broadcast partner, thereby engaging in conduct capable of bringing the game into disrepute,” the NPFL said.

Abia Warriors were fined N1 million for the security breach and N2 million for attempting to disrupt the live broadcast.

The club must also pay N250,000 in compensation to the affected crew member to cover treatment for an injury sustained during the incident.

Abia Warriors multimedia officer Chidera Favour Igwe was suspended from all #NPFL27 activities for five matches, home and away, for attempting to interfere with the broadcast and harassing a member of the broadcast crew.

The NPFL said Abia Warriors had 48 hours from the date of the notice to appeal the sanctions.

The league has also charged Warri Wolves following an attack on an assistant referee after their home fixture against Kano Pillars.