Plateau United have been fined N4.74 million and penalized with a three-point and three-goal deduction after their supporters attacked players and officials of visiting Enugu Rangers during their matchday 11 clash at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday.
All hell was let loose at the end of the encounter which ended goalless in Jos with fans pelting players and officials of the visiting side while referees were not spared during the attack that left a player of the visiting team needing medical attention.
In a swift ruling by the league’s disciplinary committee, Plateau United was found in breach of the NPFL Frameworks & Rules due to the actions of their supporters.
A statement from the committee which reads in part states, “Plateau United failed to provide adequate & effective security, resulting in the attacks on the match officials & the visiting team, Rangers International.
“Supporters of Plateau United also threw objects towards the field of play leading to the injury of one of the match officials. After the match, supporters of Plateau United attacked one of the match officials, an act capable of bringing the game to disrepute.”
The committee has since ruled that the club be deducted three points and three goals which will be taken from their accrued points and goals for assaulting a match official.
They have also been fined a total of N4.74m for bringing the game into disrepute. The club will pay the sum of N1M for failing to provide adequate & effective security as well as pay another N1m for throwing objects towards the field of play.
Another N1m will go towards failing to ensure proper conduct of their supporters as well as misconduct capable of bringing the game to disrepute. Another N25,000 each totalling N500,000 will be paid in compensation to assaulted match official Zakari Aminu and Rangers player, Daniel Onyia.
The club will also have their next three home games behind closed doors. The club has been given a 48-hour grace to appeal the decision of the committee.
