Bendel Insurance and Plateau United have been heavily fined and punished by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for breaking the rules of the competition in matches over the weekend.
Fans of both clubs attacked visiting teams and match officials during matches at the weekend, as Bendel Insurance were beaten 1-0 at home by Kano Pillars on Saturday and Plateau United drew 0-0 with visitng Enugu Rangers on Sunday.
Some of sanctions include fines, playing behind closed doors and deduction of points.
“Bendel Insurance have been charged for breaching the NPFL Frameworks and Rules during the course of their Matchday 11 game vs Kano Pillars last Saturday, November 9,” the league body said in a statement on Monday.
“Bendel Insurance failed to provide adequate and effective security leading to unauthorised persons gaining access to restricted areas to attack the match officials.
“The club also failed to ensure proper conduct of their supporters which resulted in the attack and intimidation of the match officials.
“The assault on the match officials by Bendel Insurance supporters is a conduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Three points and three goals shall be deducted from Bendel Insurance’s accrued points and goals for the assault on the match officials.
“The club have been fined N1 million each for failing to provide adequate and effective security as well as failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters, totalling N2 million.
“The club will pay another N1 million fine for misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Bendel Insurance will further pay a fine of N750,000, being compensation of N250,000 each to the assaulted match officials (Adeniyi Adewale, Anuoluwapo Balogun and Sodiq Sonibare).
“Bendel Insurance will also play their next home matches behind closed doors at their Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.”
On Plateau United, NPFL stated: “Plateau Utd have also been charged for breaching the NPFL Frameworks and Rules in the course of their Matchday 11 fixture vs Rangers International on Sunday, November 10.
“Plateau United failed to provide adequate and effective security, resulting in the attacks on the match officials and the visiting team, Rangers International.
“Supporters of Plateau United also threw objects towards the field of play leading to the injury of one of the match officials.
“The Plateau club also failed to ensure the proper conduct of their supporters in the match against Rangers.
“After the match, supporters of Plateau United attacked one of the match officials, an act capable of bringing the game to disrepute.
“Plateau United shall have three points and three goals deducted from their accrued points and goals for assaulting a match official.
“Plateau United will pay a fine of N1 million each for failing to provide adequate & effective security as well as for throwing objects towards the field of play, totalling N2 million.
“Plateau Utd will further pay N1 million each for failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters & misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute, totalling another N2 million.
“Plateau United will pay another fine of N500,000, being compensation of N250,000 each for the assaulted match official (Zakari Aminu) and Rangers player, Daniel Onyia.
“Plateau United shall underwrite the cost of repairing the damaged team bus of Rangers and other verifiable loss/damage incurred during the incident.
“Plateau United will play their next three home matches behind closed doors at their New Jos Stadium ground 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.”
The NPFL has given both clubs 48 hours from Monday to appeal the sanctions.
