Kano Pillars, Katsina United accept LMC sanctions

Kano Pillars and Katsina United recently sanctioned by the League Management Company (LMC) for various breaches of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rules have written to accept the decisions.

In accepting the fines imposed on Kano Pillars for the incidents of Match Day 18 against Akwa United, the management of the club pleaded for leniency in enforcing the stadium ban and suspended points’ deduction. 

The letter signed by the Club Secretary, Zakari Akilu Bichi said the management of Kano Pillars condemned the act and conduct of some of their fans.

“We will like to first and foremost register our unreserved apology over the incidence that ensued sequel to our match with Akwa United on the 9thday of April, 2017. We wish to inform the entire League Management Company that the members of Kano Pillars Board condemned the unholy act and conduct of some of our fans”

 

“While we regret the aforementioned incidence, we find it most necessary to inform the LMC, that Kano Pillars FC is a law abiding Football Club and will not drag with the LMC, accordingly, we concede to the sanctions imposed on us”, Bichi wrote.

Citing the club’s previous efforts at ensuring strong security presence during matches, Kano Pillars noted that it spends about N.3m on security every match day while an unruly fan was recently arrested and handed over to the Police.

Relying on the above mitigating circumstances, Pillars thus appealed for a reduction in the fine and standing down of the other sanctions. Kano Pillars were fined a total of N7.5m in addition to indefinite stadium ban and including N250, 000 as compensation to each of the match officials and payment of further certified medical bill the match officials may present.

Katsina United Chairman, Aminu Balele Kurfi wrote to the LMC to condemn the attack on Enyimba FC contingent and revealed that the smashed windows of the Aba Elephants were replaced hours after the incident.

“We wish to formally accept the sanctions meted out on Katsina United following the rather unfortunate incidents during our NPFL home game against Enyimba on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

“We also wish to use this opportunity to totally condemn those behind the smashing of the team bus of Enyimba”, Kurfi wrote. In addition to suspended sanction of points deduction, Katsina United were fined N3.5m including an order to pay N500, 000 as compensation for damages to the bus of Enyimba FC and the cost of repairing the bus.