Globacom league
side, Niger Tornadoes FC has been fined and suspended by the Premier
League for violent conduct by its supporters after their home game
against Bayelsa United football club in Minna over the weekend.
Centre Referee Gabriel Adigwe and his assistants were allegedly attacked by fans suspected to be those of Niger Tornadoes FC.
In a statement from
the league board’s media department, Tornadoes were fined N1 million
only payable before their next home match against Gateway FC.
The club will play
its subsequent home games behind closed doors until the Disciplinary
Committee of the NFF meets, while Ahmed Ibrahim Katun, Niger Tornadoes
Supporters Club Chairman and one Abdulrasheed Yusuf, also of the
Tornadoes Supporters Club were placed on indefinite suspension for
bringing the game into disrepute. The management of Niger Tornadoes was
further directed to identify other perpetrators.
The club was also
fined another N400, 000.00 for allowing its fans to attack the Centre
Referee and Assistant referee; N200, 000.00 each for the assaulted
Referees.
Al-Hassan Saleh Yakmut the secretary of the board expressed dismay over the incident.
“I’m totally
displeased with the incident in Minna and this is becoming a recurrent
decimal and shall necessitate stiffer disciplinary measures including
banishment which shall further be placed on any club found wanting,” he
said.
Referee’s experience
Gabriel Adigwe, the referee, who was attacked, told KickOffNigeria.com that he fears he has been ‘psychologically damaged’.
“Immediately after
the final whistle, fans rushed into the field and attacked us. There
were police officers around but they were not effective. I was
viciously punched a number of times on the back of my neck, close to my
ears.
“I almost
collapsed, but I was afraid that if I fell down, they will trample me.
My hands are swollen from trying to cover my face from the blows.
“The AR2 was also punched twice in his back and stomach,” Adigwe said.
“After the police
fired tear gas, they (the fans) fled and started throwing stones at us.
It met one person on the head. He was seriously bleeding; the blood
gushed out of his head and poured on my shirt.” “We waited for about 40
minutes in the dressing room before we left the stadium.
“The fans said they have to beat me up to teach me a lesson because
I don’t help them in their home games. They say that every time I come
to their home games, they always play draw. I am seriously damaged
psychologically and I don’t know if I can do any match after this
without the fear of being beaten again.”
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