The league says Inter Lagos failed to protect the referee crew after their Matchday 7 draw, and an assistant referee was left injured. The club has 48 hours to appeal.
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The NPFL has fined Inter Lagos N5.25 million and deducted three points and three goals after match officials were attacked following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with visiting Katsina United. The league announced the punishment on Monday, October 5, in a statement on its X handle.
The Matchday 7 fixture finished level on Sunday, October 4, and the trouble started after the final whistle. Inter Lagos sit 19th on five points from seven games, so the sanctions land on a side already fighting for form.
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What the NPFL Says Happened
The league charged Inter Lagos with breaching the NPFL Framework and Rules. It says the club “failed to provide adequate & effective security”, which let unauthorised people into restricted areas. The officials were attacked as they walked from the dressing room to their vehicle.
The match officials were then held for more than an hour after the game, according to the league. Club officials and some supporters also intimidated, harassed and verbally abused them.
The NPFL adds that the Inter Lagos team manager and some supporters assaulted the officials. The first assistant referee suffered a facial injury, lost personal items and had his mobile phone damaged.
The Sanctions
The N5.25 million fine has four parts. Inter Lagos pay N2 million for poor security, N1 million for holding the officials, N2 million for the assault and N250,000 in compensation to the injured assistant referee.
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Three points and three goals will also come off Inter Lagos’ record for the assault on the first assistant referee. The club has 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal.
A Message to NPFL Clubs
The punishment follows a familiar pattern. The league has used the same formula, a fine plus a deduction of three points and three goals, in other cases of assault on officials. Will it be enough to protect referees, who are often the most exposed people in the stadium once the final whistle goes?
A club’s duty on security doesn’t end at the stadium gate. When unauthorised people can reach the route officials take to their vehicle, no sanction repairs the damage afterwards. Inter Lagos now have two days to decide whether to appeal.
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📌 Did You Know?
- Kano Pillars received a N9.5 million fine, a deduction of three points and three goals, and an indefinite closure of the Sani Abacha Stadium after fans attacked officials following a Matchday 8 fixture against Shooting Stars last season.
- Katsina United, the visitors on Sunday, were fined N9 million and sent to Jos in November 2025 after their own supporters attacked Barau FC players during a Matchday 12 game.
- Gombe United lost three points and three goals in an earlier season after officials were attacked following a Matchday 26 fixture against Akwa United. The NPFL also closed their stadium to fans for three home games.
- NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi has warned clubs that the league will not tolerate misconduct and will keep applying sanctions as a deterrent.
- Niger Tornadoes have also been fined N3.25 million, including compensation to the centre referee, over a Matchday 10 fixture against Akwa United.
