El-Kanemi Warriors Fined ₦3.5m, Face Stadium Ban for Security Breach

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has handed down heavy sanctions to El-Kanemi Warriors following serious security breaches during their Matchday 34 clash against Ikorodu City in Maiduguri.

In a Summary Jurisdiction notice, the league cited the club for violating Rules B13.52, C9, and B13:18 of the NPFL Framework and Rules, which address matchday security, supporter conduct, and the protection of officials and teams. The breaches involved crowd disturbances, failure to control fans, and damage to visiting team property.

Breakdown of the Sanctions:

• ₦1 million fine for failing to provide effective matchday security, leading to the harassment of match officials.
• ₦1 million fine for supporter misconduct, including throwing objects onto the pitch.
• ₦1 million fine for failing to control fans, which resulted in the damage of Ikorodu City’s team vehicle.
• ₦500,000 compensation to Ikorodu City for the damage sustained.
• Stadium ban: El-Kanemi Warriors must now play the remainder of their home games this season behind closed doors.
• Administrative order: The club must submit a revised matchday security and crowd management plan within seven working days.

Under Rule C26, the club must respond in writing to either accept the sanctions or request a hearing before a disciplinary panel.

Editorial

The penalties imposed on El-Kanemi Warriors are not just a warning they’re a reckoning. The NPFL has made it clear that fan violence, poor security, and disregard for safety protocols will not be tolerated. And rightly so.

Football should be a celebration of sport, not a war zone. When clubs allow fans to breach restricted areas or fail to protect visiting teams and officials, they undermine the entire ecosystem of the league. What happened in Maiduguri wasn’t just a lapse—it was a failure of duty, one that could’ve had far more serious consequences.

The financial fines are substantial, but perhaps more impactful is the stadium ban. Playing behind closed doors doesn’t just hurt the club financially it disconnects them from their most valuable asset, their supporters. Maybe that’s the kind of consequence that will prompt deeper internal reform.

This incident must also be a call to action for other NPFL clubs. Fan engagement is vital, but so is responsibility. Clubs must invest in training, crowd management, and game-day operations. The league must continue to back these efforts with oversight and, when necessary, firm consequences.

If Nigerian football is to progress, it must be built on safety and professionalism on and off the pitch.

Did You Know?

1. The NPFL introduced the Summary Jurisdiction process to swiftly handle disciplinary issues without prolonged hearings.
2. El-Kanemi Warriors, based in Maiduguri, Borno State, are one of Nigeria’s oldest clubs, founded in 1986.
3. Ikorodu City, their opponents, is a relatively new club established in 2022 and competes in the NPFL’s lower division structure.
4. Stadium bans in Nigeria have previously been used to curb violence, with clubs like Kano Pillars and Enyimba also facing similar sanctions in the past.
5. The NPFL requires all clubs to submit pre-season security frameworks before being cleared to host home matches.