Bottom-placed side in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nasarawa United, have been dealt more blows in their relegation battle after the NPFL board slammed a three-point and three goals deduction as well as a N3 million fine on them over the violence which rocked their match-day 18 encounter against Rivers United.
Nasarawa United were punished for breaching the NPFL Framework and Rules including failure to ensure proper conduct of their team and fans which led to the assault on their visitors.
They were also charged with encroachment onto the pitch and assault on match referee Musibaudeen Ibrahim.
“Three points and three goals shall be deducted from Nasarawa Utd’s accrued points and goals for the assault on centre referee Musibaudeen Ibrahim”, the NPFL said on Monday.
“Nasarawa Utd will pay a fine of N3 million, being N1 million each for encroachment onto the pitch, failure to ensure proper conduct of their team & supporters & failure to provide adequate & effective security”.
The league body also ruled that the club will play their subsequent home matches behind closed doors when the league resumes on 25 January.
“The Lafia City Stadium will be closed indefinitely to fans until security is enhanced and the state box is barricaded with the club directed to give feedback on compliance to #NPFL25 security department.
“Nasarawa Utd have been ordered to identify and prosecute the individual(s) involved in assaulting the away team with details of their progress submitted to NPFL within seven working days of this notice”.
Former Rivers United media officer, Sammy Wejinya, who is now a media aide to the River State Sports Commissioner, Chris Green, who was assaulted during the game had also been banned from all NPFL-related activities until the end of the season for spreading misleading information about the incident.
