Following the incessant violence at match venues in recent times, the Nigeria Premier League has vowed to take more stringent actions against clubs involved in the ugly acts.
Part of it was the fining of Kano Pillars N1.6m and urging the club to take responsibility for the repair of Heartland’s vandalized vehicle over violent behavior in an outstanding match against Heartland at the Sani Abacha stadium.
The NPL also fined Heartland the same amount over similar behavior against their visitors- Enyimba in the week 11 of NPL match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium. Heartland has also been banished by the NPL to Calabar stadium.
In a phone chat with LEADERSHIP SPORTS, NPL Secretary, Tunji Babalola, said that the NPL’s resolve to take action against clubs involved in match violence will serve as deterrence to further occurrence. Babalola also advised the vanquished teams to always accept defeat in good faith rather than resort to violent conduct since it is not a ‘do or die’ affair.
In the same vein, Babalola has disclosed that the sure way to end match violence in the league is for all hands to be on deck. He has also urged the public to join in the ongoing campaign against match violence and indiscipline in the league.
He said, “We are going to take more stringent actions against NPL match violence this time. We must put a stop to this nonsense. I advise all the clubs especially the ones which suffered defeat not to resort to violence but to accept defeat in good faith because it is not a do or die affair. I believe that NPL’s recent disciplinary action against some erring teams will serve as deterrence to others”.