Julius OkorieIn continuation of its zero tolerance for hooliganism, poor sportsmanship and general indiscipline, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has imposed a fine of N5 million on Ibadan based Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
The veteran club, are also to play their remaining home games behind closed doors according to the league body.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe disciplinary measure was handed out following security breaches resulting in the attack of visiting Ikorodu City Contingent and damages to the team’s bus.
In handing out the disciplinary measures, the 3SC were ordered to pay a fine of N3 million to the league board for the breach and another N2 million to Ikorodu City for damages to their bus.
Fans of the 75 year club have also been indefinitely restricted from gaining access to Shooting Stars’ home games till the end of the season.
The incident occurred at the end of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 32 at the Lekan Salami Stadium leading to a disciplinary panel sitting on Wednesday.
The five-time premier league champions were found guilty on all three count of failure to provide adequate security, failure to ensure proper conduct of their supporters resulting in attack on the opponents and throwing of objects to the field of play and the Referees.
For failure to provide adequate and effective security which resulted in unauthorized persons gaining access to restricted areas and harass the match officials, Shooting Stars were fined N1 million.
The second charge read, “You are in breach of Rule C9 of the Frameworks and Rules of the Nigeria Premier Football League, in that on Sunday, 06th April 2025, in the course of Match Day 32 Fixture: Shooting Stars vs. Ikorodu City, you failed to ensure the proper conduct of your supporters, which resulted in the assault on the away team supporters.”
The Disciplinary panel ordered a fine of another N1m and on the third charge of not controlling their fans; they are to also pay N1m.
For breach of Rule B13.18, as a result of their supporters throwing objects toward the field of play and the match officials, Shooting Stars will pay N1 million, bring to total to N3 million in addition to N2m to be paid for damages to Ikorodu City bus.
READ ALSO:NPFL Reads Riot Act, Fines Enyimba, Rangers ₦15 Million
According to the ruling, the panel ordered the closure of the Lekan Salami Stadium to fans for the rest of the season.
Shooting Stars, under Rule C26, is required to within 48 hours, indicate acceptance of the ruling or elect to appeal the decisions.
The league body, which read the riot act recently, said it will not relent in its effort to stamp out hooliganism, indiscipline, poor officiating among other vices in an attempt to sanitise the league and make it attractive to genuine soccer fans and investors alike.
Many stakeholders have at different forum fingered hooliganism, lack of proper security at match venues among other vices as reasons why many shun going to watch local matches at our match venues.
Recall that the league body in June last year hammered both reigning champions Rangers international of Enugu and Enyimba N15 million over their conduct in abandoned match involving both teams at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Nasarawa United were also served the same pill after the club was fined N3 million and three points deducted after violence marred their match-day 18 clash with Rivers United.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
