Coach of FC Zamfara Alhassan Mohammed and his player Patrick Agada have each been handed a three match ban by the management of Bet9ja Nigeria National League for assaulting match officials in their match day twelve encounter with Jigawa Golden Stars.
The three game ban for Zamfara FC coach and player was contained in the league body’s verdict released on Friday by its Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence Katken.
In the verdict, the body running the NNL claimed the reports it received indicted both coach and player who were said to have harassed, intimidated and threatened to instigate the home fans to kill referee Kingsley Udeh and his assistants – Godwin Adejoh and Rotimi Alabi – if the match did not go in their favour.
The report received by NNL also showed that the referees were physically attacked by Stadium security operatives who also hauled missiles at the arbiters at the end of the match, which resulted in various degrees of injury sustained by the referees.
Subsequently, the NNL ruled that FC Zamfara are to pay a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One million Naira) and an added sum of N250,000.00 (Two hundred and Fifty thousand Naira) to cover hospital expenses of the assaulted match officials.
NNL’s summary jurisdiction equally rules that FC Zamfara will play their next three games under strict closed doors.
Chief Operating Officer of Bet9ja NNL, Lawrence Katken said FC Zamfara have also been given seven(7) day to produce those who attacked the referees, some whom were identified as security men in Yellow beeps in the official report sent to NNL secretariat.
The Zamfara State Football Association were warned to be alive to its responsibilities, by ensuring that adequate and effective security are henceforth provided in all NNL matches at the Sardauna Memorial Stadium Gusau, to avoid a repeat of the sad incident, and an outright ban of the facility.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
