Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - The Nigeria Premier Football League has hit Kano Pillars with heavy sanctions after violent scenes at their Matchday 8 home game against Shooting Stars on Sunday, October 12, at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
Chaos broke out at the Sani Abacha Stadium after Kano
Pillars fans invaded the pitch and attacked match officials, players, and staff
of Shooting Stars Sports Club following a dramatic late equalizer.
The fixture, which ended 1–1, descended into violent scenes
moments after the final whistle.
Kano Pillars had taken the lead through Mustapha Jibrin in
the ninth minute, and the home crowd appeared set to celebrate victory
However, during the stoppage time, Adams Mustapha equalized
for Shooting Stars, a goal that turned jubilation into chaos.
In a Summary Jurisdiction Notice dated October 13 and signed
by NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi, the league found the club
guilty of multiple breaches, including inadequate security, supporter
misconduct, throwing dangerous objects, and assault on away players and match
officials.
The notice obtained by our correspondent read, “Kano Pillars
failed to provide adequate & effective security, which resulted in unauthorized
persons gaining access to restricted areas/field of play.
“The Kano club also failed to ensure proper conduct of their
supporters, which led to harassment of the away team & match officials.
“The club’s supporters further gained access to restricted
areas and assaulted players of the away team and match officials.”
Consequently, the NPFL docked 3 points, 3 goals from the
club’s accrued points for assault on the match officials.
“The club have been fined N1m each for failing to provide
adequate & effective security; throwing dangerous objects onto the pitch;
failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters & misconduct capable
of bringing the game to disrepute, totaling N4m,” the notice added.
“A further fine of N2m is placed on the club for assault on
the players of the away team & match officials.
“Kano Pillars will also pay a fine of N1.5m as
compensatory damages of N250,000 each to the match officials.
“As compensatory cost for treatment & damages on players
of Shooting Stars & the match officials, Kano Pillars have also been fined
N2m.”
It noted that Kano Pillars will also pay a fine of N1.5m as
compensatory damages of N250,000 each to the match officials.
“Kano Pillars will now play their home matches in Katsina
for the rest of the season, or a minimum of 10 matches until the club proves
such an incident will not happen again. Otherwise, Sani Abacha Stadium remain
closed to hosting Kano Pillars’ home games indefinitely,” NPFL imposed.
“The club have further been directed to produce the
perpetrators of the ugly incident on Sunday and show proof of prosecution as
well as put in place an effective matchday security arrangement, which must be
submitted to NPFL within 7 days of this notice.
It added that Pillars have within 48 hours to submit to this
summary jurisdiction or appeal.
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