NPFL Sanctions Katsina United Over Failure to Provide Adequate Security at Stadium

Suspected victim player

By Ikemefuna Asika

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) organizers have sanctioned Katsina United FC with various punishments following an ugly crowd incident during their Week 12 league match against Barau FC Kano, played at the Mallam Shehu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

According to a statement from the league body, Katsina United breached the rules and framework governing the competition.

“Katsina United failed to provide adequate and effective security, resulting in unauthorized persons gaining access to restricted areas.

The club also failed to ensure proper conduct of their supporters, which led to the harassment of Barau FC players and match officials.

Supporters of Katsina United threw harmful objects onto the pitch, resulting in injuries to Barau FC players — conduct capable of bringing the game into disrepute,”the statement read.

As a consequence, the club will now play all subsequent home matches in Jos, Plateau State, behind closed doors.

The NPFL organizers also imposed several fines on the club.

“Katsina United has been fined ₦1 million each for throwing objects onto the pitch, failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters, and bringing the game into disrepute.

The club will also pay ₦2 million for failing to provide adequate and effective security,”the statement added.

In addition, Katsina United must pay another ₦2 million as compensation for injuries and damages suffered by Barau FC, as well as for holding match officials and Barau FC players hostage for hours after the game ended.

The club has been given 48 hours to appeal the NPFL’s decision.

Meanwhile, Katsina United has reacted to reports circulating on social media alleging that a Barau FC player’s throat was slit by their supporters during the fracas.

In a statement released by the club’s Media Directorate, Katsina United dismissed the claims as entirely false.

“The publication in question made several false claims — suggesting that supporters invaded the pitch, that the situation at the stadium was chaotic, and that a player had been slaughtered.

These assertions are entirely false and do not reflect what truly transpired. At no point during the match did any supporter gain access to the main pitch.

The game, though tense due to contentious officiating decisions that understandably frustrated supporters, was managed within the confines of order and security,”the statement clarified.

The club maintained that the reports in circulation are misleading and baseless.

It will be recalled that a picture of a Barau FC player lying on the pitch went viral with a caption claiming he had been “slaughtered” during post-match violence. However, a video clip obtained by our reporter showed that the player in question — referred to as “Nana” by the narrator — was very much alive.

The Week 12 league encounter ended 1–1.