League body sanctions Katsina United for failing to control supporters during Barau FC clash, despite club’s denial of attack claims.

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has fined Katsina United N9 million for several rule breaches during their match against Barau FC, despite the club’s denial that any of its fans attacked a player.

The disciplinary action follows claims by Barau FC’s Director of Media Operations, Ahmad Gwale, that Nana Abraham, one of the club’s players, was stabbed in the neck by a pitch invader during the match, which ended 1-1 at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

Gwale alleged that “one person from the Katsina United bench or one of their fans” invaded the pitch and struck Abraham with “something like a sharp object” shortly after Barau equalised in the 69th minute.

However, Katsina United dismissed the allegations, describing them as “untrue” and insisting that “none of the club’s supporters invaded the pitch and attacked a Barau FC player during the match.”

In its response, the club said the reports “do not reflect what truly transpired,” adding that although the atmosphere became “tense due to contentious officiating decisions that understandably frustrated supporters,” the discontent “was managed within the confines of order and security.”

“Katsina United remains committed to professionalism, discipline, and fair play both on and off the field,” the club stated.

Despite the denial, the NPFL board, in its ruling on Sunday, found Katsina United guilty of several offences, including failure to ensure the proper conduct of their supporters, harassment of Barau FC players and match officials, and bringing the game into disrepute.

According to the league body, “Supporters of the home team threw harmful objects onto the pitch, resulting in the injuries of Barau FC players.”

NPFL said the club was fined N1 million each for throwing objects towards the pitch, failing to control supporters, and bringing the game into disrepute — totalling N3 million.

An additional N2 million fine was imposed for failure to provide adequate and effective security. Katsina United will also pay N2 million each as compensation for the treatment of injured players and for damages to Barau FC’s buses, as well as for “holding the match officials and away team hostage for hours after the match,” bringing the total fine to N9 million.

The league further ordered that all of Katsina United’s subsequent home matches be played behind closed doors at a neutral venue in Jos. (ARISE NEWS)