The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has denied reports that a Nigerien player of Barau FC, Abraham Nana Kwame had his throat slit following a violent attack in the Matchday 12 encounter with hosts Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Saturday.
The match ended 1-1 with the visitors coming from behind to grab a point.
Following trending reports of the incident, the NPFL issued a statement on Sunday saying it was constrained to offer the ‘accurate and correct account of events in the second half of the Matchday 12 fixture at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina between Katsina United and Barau FC’.
It went further: ‘It is imperative to let stakeholders know that the NPFL office maintains an active Situation Room with all match commissioners, and through this medium, we monitor and direct affairs to ensure hitchfree matches.
‘The report of violent attack to the extent of slitting the throat of a player, Abraham Nana of Barau FC is utterly false. The player was hurt by an object hauled from the stands and was treated on the pitch which led to the match being halted for a few minutes.
‘The NPFL was at all material time in touch with the match commissioner and officials of both teams to have a first hand information of proceedings.
‘Appropriate sanctions have been meted to Katsina United for breaches established by our analysis of reports from the match officials, including the referee and the match commissioner.
‘The NPFL will continue to uphold the rules to ensure fair competition and exciting league under safe atmosphere. The public is once again reassured of safety at our matches through control measures put in place’.
