The League Management Company (LMC) has promised to investigate cause of violence at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos on Sunday which led to the abandonment of the NPFL Match Day 12 tie involving hosts, Giwa FC and Enugu Rangers.
The match which witnessed more than four stoppages because of crowd trouble started with the hauling of objects like stones, water sachets, other objects into the pitch and during the halftime break it was alleged that some fans went to attack the match officials in the dressing room before the match was eventually called off at the instance of the match commissioner about 12 minutes to regulation time.
The game started peacefully and Rangers had the upper hand from the onset and that it was no surprise they shot into the lead in the 26th minute through Godwin Aguda. But immediately the curtain raiser was got by the Flying Antelopes the mood in the stadium became changed and the atmosphere was very charged.
Fans began showing their displeasure at the match officials some minutes to the end of the first half by throwing various objects into the stadium which caused the first stoppage. The fans managed to hold on till halftime break before more drama on the match officials during the break when they were physically assaulted by the overzealous fans.
Goal was told that the match officials were prevailed upon to resume the second half proceedings which they obliged and the fans continued with their dastard acts some minutes into the second half probably when they noticed that favourable result might not get their ways at the end of the match and they hauled more objects unto the pitch and it was gathered that one of the objects hit the one of the assistant referees.
After due consultations with the match officials during another stoppage owing to the fans’ restfulness, the match commissioner agreed that the tie be called off in the 78th minute after the match officials also vowed not to continue because of the serious security breach and the threat to their lives.
Speaking with Goal the chairman of the LMC, Shehu Dikko opined that the league body was aware of the crowd violence in Jos and that the body would take the proceedings before appropriate sanctions are meted out to deserving ones adding that some fans that attacked the match officials have been arrested by the police.
He also added that police ensured that the match officials and the visiting team were evacuated from the stadium without any problem and that they were also told that some fans attacked the vehicle of Rangers which they are also looking into.
Dikko pointed out that the league body is doing everything possible to put an end to crowd violence in the league and that besides the isolated case of the violence in Jos, Akure and Nnewi by fans, the league has witnessed violence free season thus far.
“I want to tell you that the LMC has been told about what happened in Jos but we are yet to get an official report which I know we get to us shortly. We swung into action and we ensured that more policemen were dispatched to the scene and they had been able to make some arrests of some fans that attacked the match officials.
“LMC will continue to do everything possible to wipe off hooliganism and crowd violence in the league and we have had a hit free season thus far if not for this isolated case and few others. We will continue to enjoin clubs to do proper enlightenment for their fans and supporters so that they see the game as a form of entertainment and not war,” Dikko told Goal.