NPFL Slams Heavy Sanctions on Remo Stars Over Matchday 20 Crowd Trouble

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has handed down stiff sanctions to Remo Stars following multiple breaches of league rules during their Matchday 20 fixture against Ikorodu City on January 14, 2026.

In a charge sheet issued under the NPFL Framework and Rules, the league found the reigning champions guilty of failing to provide adequate and effective security at their home ground in Ikenne. The security lapses reportedly led to violent clashes between supporters of both clubs, resulting in injuries to away fans and damage to vehicles.

Remo Stars were also cited for failing to ensure the proper conduct of their supporters, with incidents including the harassment and intimidation of match officials. According to the NPFL, supporters of the club threw objects onto the pitch, causing several stoppages during the encounter.

More seriously, the league condemned what it described as “barbaric behaviour” by some Remo Stars supporters, who allegedly brought dangerous objects and weapons into the stadium—an act deemed capable of bringing the game into disrepute.

As a result of the various infractions, the NPFL imposed a total fine of ₦8 million, broken down as follows:

₦2 million for failure to provide adequate and effective security.
₦1 million for throwing objects onto the field of play.
₦1 million for improper conduct of supporters.
₦1 million for misconduct capable of bringing the game into disrepute.
₦2 million as compensatory costs for damages to the away team bus and supporters.

In addition to the financial penalties, Remo Stars have been ordered to relocate their remaining home matches for the season to the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, following the incident at their Ikenne ground.

The club has been given 48 hours from the date of notification to file an appeal against the sanctions.

The NPFL reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on violence, crowd trouble, and misconduct, stressing its commitment to improving safety, professionalism, and the overall image of Nigerian football.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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