Nigeria Premier Football League side, Gombe United has been docked three points and fined three million naira following incidents of assault on match officials during their Matchday 26 encounter against Akwa United, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
The league, demonstrating its commitment to maintaining discipline and safety, announced a deduction of three points and three goals from Gombe United’s tally for the season, citing a breach of several NPFL frameworks and rules.
The penalties come after an investigation into the post-match events where it was found that fans of Gombe United had assaulted the match officials – Center Referee Bright Nwosu, Assistant Referee 1 Abdullahi Indabawa, Assistant Referee 2 Friday Abu Emeje, and Fourth Official Musa Hussainy Talle. This behavior not only breached the league’s code of conduct but also raised serious concerns about the security measures in place during the matches.
Adding to the deduction of points and goals, the NPFL has fined Gombe United a total of N3 million. The fine is broken down into N1 million each for failing to provide adequate security, allowing the throwing of objects onto the field, and for compensatory payments to the assaulted match officials, with each receiving N250,000.
Moreover, the league has ordered the closure of Pantami Stadium, the home ground of Gombe United, to its fans for the next three home games. Gombe United was also given a 48-hour window from the receipt of the notice to either accept the sanctions and submit in writing or to opt for a hearing before a disciplinary panel as per Rule C26 of the NPFL rules.