The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has fined Katsina United ₦9 million and ordered the club to play all remaining home matches in Jos behind closed doors.
This follows violent scenes during their 1–1 draw with Barau FC on Saturday.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NPFL said Katsina United breached several league regulations, including failure to provide adequate security and inability to control their supporters. Some fans reportedly invaded restricted areas and threw dangerous objects onto the pitch, injuring Barau FC players.
“The club failed to ensure proper conduct of their supporters, leading to the harassment of Barau FC players and match officials,” the league said.
The NPFL imposed ₦3 million for supporters’ misconduct and bringing the league into disrepute, ₦2 million for poor security arrangements, and ₦4 million to cover the cost of treating injured players and repairing Barau FC’s damaged buses. The total penalty amounts to ₦9 million.
The league also directed Katsina United to play all remaining home fixtures at the New Jos Stadium without spectators. The club has 48 hours to appeal the decision.
Reports indicated that Barau FC player Nana Abraham sustained a neck injury after being attacked by fans when his team equalised in the 69th minute. The incident caused chaos, forcing officials to intervene before the match ended 1–
However, Katsina United denied the reports, describing them as “false and misleading.” The club’s media director, Nasir Gide, insisted that security personnel maintained order throughout the game and that no supporter entered the pitch.
He said the club would take legal action against media outlets that, according to him, published “untrue stories.”
The Katsina incident comes just weeks after the NPFL fined Kano Pillars ₦9.5 million for a similar case of fan violence during their home game against Shooting Stars in Kano.