The Nationwide League One (NLO) has imposed a two-year suspension on Green Beret FC following a violent attack on match officials after a league fixture in Katsina State.
The disciplinary action comes after disturbing scenes marred the club’s match against Zamfara United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, where officials were allegedly assaulted shortly after the final whistle.
Green Beret FC suffered a 2-0 defeat in the encounter, with Zamfara United scoring two late goals to secure victory. However, the result was overshadowed by incidents of violence that erupted after the match.
Videos circulating on social media showed match officials running for safety as a group of angry individuals invaded the field. One referee was reportedly left with serious injuries and was later seen receiving medical treatment for wounds sustained during the attack.
Reacting to the incident, the NLO described the assault as unacceptable and a major threat to the integrity and image of Nigerian football.
In a disciplinary letter issued by the league’s secretariat, Green Beret FC and all club officials were suspended from participating in NLO competitions for the next two seasons. The league also ordered the club to identify and produce the individual accused of stabbing a referee during the incident within 48 hours.
The NLO stated that football authorities would not tolerate any form of violence against match officials and emphasized the need to protect referees and other stakeholders involved in the game.
The league body further noted that the club had previously been linked to similar disciplinary concerns, making the latest incident even more serious.
As part of the sanctions, the original 2-0 result was upgraded to a 3-0 victory in favour of Zamfara United.
Green Beret FC was also hit with financial penalties totaling ₦1.5 million. The breakdown includes a ₦1 million fine for violent conduct and an additional ₦500,000 compensation payment for the injured match officials.
The club has been instructed to settle the fines within seven days or risk further disciplinary measures.
The incident has reignited concerns about security and crowd control at lower-tier football matches in Nigeria, with stakeholders calling for stricter enforcement of regulations to prevent future attacks on referees and players.
Football administrators hope the sanctions will serve as a strong warning that violence has no place in the sport and that anyone found guilty of attacking officials will face severe consequences.
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