The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has banned Kano Pillars captain Rabiu Ali for 12 league games for igniting match violence after Monday’s NPFL Championship Playoff match between Kano Pillars and Rangers International of Enugu at Agege Township Stadium.
The football governing body also fined Kano Pillars N8m, and ordered the club to play their next three home games behind closed doors and with a suspended 3-point deduction.
Ali is being punished for his role in the match violence. After the match, the Kano Pillars captain confronted the referee Adebimpe Quadri for awarding an equalizing penalty to the opponent club.
The confrontation led to a violent scene, with Kano Pillars’ fans invading the field with objects in an attempt to attack the referee who took to his heels. Watch the video here.
According to an official statement issued by the LMC on Wednesday, Ali was charged for accosting the referee and in so doing, incited others to commit acts of violence and misconduct in breach of Rule C1.3.
The notice to Ali reads: “Consequently, and taking into consideration your role as the captain of the team, by which your conduct is deemed to be an aggravated breach with a view to imposing more severe sanctions pursuant to Rule C19, the LMC intends to exercise its summary jurisdiction and to impose on you the following sanction: a ban from all NPFL matches and activities for a period of twelve (12) matches, commencing immediately”.
The Kano Pillars captain who scored in the 1-1 draw has 48 hours to accept or appeal the charges and sanctions against him in writing.
