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Nigerian Football

Serial offenders, Kano Pillars Fined ₦9.5m, Banished to Katsina

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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed Kano Pillars with a ₦9.5 million fine, a three-point deduction, and an indefinite ban from their home ground, Sani Abacha Stadium, following violent scenes during their Matchday 8 clash with Shooting Stars of Ibadan.

The latest punishment adds to Pillars’ growing record of disciplinary infractions. Since 2019, the club has paid over ₦36 million in fines related to crowd disturbances and violent conduct: ₦8m (June 2019), ₦2.5m (March 2022), ₦9m (April 2022), ₦2.25m (June 2022), ₦1m (October 2023), ₦12m (January 2024), and ₦2m (October 2024).

The disciplinary action, announced less than 24 hours after the incident, follows a pitch invasion in Kano that led to attacks on match officials and players of Shooting Stars, causing widespread condemnation.

Under the NPFL’s summary jurisdiction, the league deducted three points and three goals from Pillars’ accumulated tally for breaching Rule C1.1, which prohibits assault on match officials and opposing teams. The club will now play its home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina for the rest of the season.

In addition, the NPFL imposed a ₦9.5 million cumulative fine on the club for multiple breaches of league regulations:

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  • ₦1 million for failure to provide adequate security (Rule B13.52)
  • ₦1 million for failing to control supporters who harassed the away team and officials (Rule C9)
  • ₦1 million for objects thrown onto the pitch (Rule B13.18)
  • ₦1 million for bringing the league into disrepute (Rule C1.1)
  • ₦2 million for assault on the away team and officials
  • ₦2 million as compensation to Shooting Stars players
  • ₦1.5 million as restitution to assaulted match officials

In addition to the sanctions on Kano Pillars, the NPFL has written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Match Officials Appointment Committee recommending a review and possible downgrade of five referees.
The affected officials include centre referee Mohammed B. Tuta (Adamawa), assistant referees Bem Japhet (Benue) and Shehu Isah (Adamawa) from the Pillars vs. Shooting Stars match, and centre referee Ikechukwu Taiwo (Rivers) along with assistant referee Usman Opeyemi Edward (Osun) from the Nasarawa United vs. Rangers fixture.

Davidson Owumi, the NPFL’s Chief Operating Officer, reaffirmed the league’s zero-tolerance policy for violence.

“We will invoke the rules wherever and whenever required to keep bad behaviour of fans, players, and officials out of the league,” he declared.

Kano Pillars have been given the right to appeal the sanctions, although failure to overturn the decision could lead to additional penalties.

The Sani Abacha Stadium will remain closed to fans for the remainder of the 2025 season.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

Nigerian Football

NPFL Condemns Kano Pillars–Shooting Stars Violence, Promises Swift Action

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The management of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has condemned the violent scenes that followed Sunday’s Matchday 8 encounter between Kano Pillars and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), describing the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.

In a statement signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the NPFL said it had noted with concern the reports and viral video clips showing fans invading the pitch at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, shortly after the final whistle.

“We condemn in the strongest terms any act of violence, intimidation, or misconduct directed at players, match officials, or fans,” the statement read.

Owumi assured that the NPFL had already reached out to the Match Commissioner, Referees, and officials of Shooting Stars, confirming that their safety had been secured.

The league body stated that it is awaiting the official match reports and full video evidence from the Match Commissioner and Referees before taking disciplinary action but stressed that the incident would be treated with “utmost seriousness.

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“The NPFL is assuring all stakeholders and football lovers that this isolated incident is being handled decisively, and appropriate actions will follow upon review of the full reports,” Owumi said.

He reaffirmed the NPFL’s commitment to discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues nationwide, warning that violence of any kind will not be tolerated in the domestic league.

“We reaffirm our commitment to maintaining discipline, safety, and professionalism at all league venues across the country,” the statement concluded.

The Sunday incident in Kano has since sparked outrage among fans and officials, with many calling for stricter sanctions to deter future acts of hooliganism in Nigerian football.

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Nigerian Football

Ahmed Musa Apologises Over Riot After Kano Pillars–Shooting Stars League Clash

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Former Super Eagles’ skipper and now Kano Pillars General Manager, Ahmed Musa, has tendered a public apology following the violent scenes that marred his club’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture against Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday evening.

In a heartfelt statement posted on his official X handle, the Super Eagles captain described the incident as “heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable,” stressing that it does not reflect the true values or proud history of Kano Pillars.

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The scene after the Kano Pillars versus Shooting Stars match.

“What transpired against Shooting Stars is heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable. It does not represent the true values, identity, or proud history of Kano Pillars,” Musa wrote.

He expressed deep regret to Shooting Stars players, coaches, officials, match referees, NPFL board members, GTI partners, and football fans across the country who witnessed the ugly scenes, promising that those responsible would be brought to book.

“Violence has no place in football. It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and goes against everything this beautiful sport stands for. Football is meant to unite, to inspire, to bring joy. When it turns into scenes of chaos and harm, we must not pretend it away — we must confront it head-on,” he stated.

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Musa assured that Kano Pillars would work closely with relevant authorities to identify and punish those behind the riot, adding that the club would take firm internal measures to prevent a recurrence.

“We understand that apologies alone are not enough. Words must be followed by action. We will take huge steps internally to ensure that something like this never happens again,” he said.

Addressing the club’s supporters directly, Musa urged them to show their passion through respect and discipline rather than violence.

“True support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline. This must be a turning point for us,” he appealed.

The former Leicester City and Al Nassr forward concluded by taking full responsibility on behalf of the club and promising to restore trust and respect for Kano Pillars and Nigerian football.

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“We take full responsibility and will do everything necessary to restore trust, respect, and the true spirit of football in Kano and across Nigeria,” he said.

The NPFL and its partners are expected to launch an investigation into the incident, with potential sanctions looming for Kano Pillars, whose fans were reportedly involved in violent conduct following the match against the Ibadan-based Shooting Stars.

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Nigerian Football

GTI Assets Champions Football Investment as Catalyst for National Development

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Group Managing Director of GTI Asset Management and Trust Ltd, Abubakar Lawal

The global economic power of football (soccer) is truly immense, standing as one of the world’s most influential and profitable industries. The beautiful game generates billions of dollars annually through revenue, employment, and global commerce.

Recent estimates, according to a new report from consultancy firm Kearney, revealed that the global sports market, encompassing professional leagues, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, betting, and merchandising will be worth US$602 billion by 2030.

According to FIFA, “The global football market is witnessing a dynamic evolution, characterized by increasing participation rates and a growing emphasis on youth development programs, which collectively enhance the sport’s accessibility and popularity across diverse demographics.”

Major leagues such as the English Premier League (EPL) generate between $6–7 billion annually, while the UEFA Champions League brings in billions of dollars through TV rights and commercial deals. The FIFA World Cup 2022 alone generated more than $7.5 billion in revenue according to the world football governing body.

Beyond revenues, the football industry has demonstrated an exceptional capacity to create jobs directly — through players, coaches, referees, and administrators — and indirectly across media, tourism, logistics, and security. Every major football club today drives local economies through matchday activities, merchandise sales, and hospitality services.

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Television and digital broadcasting rights remain football’s biggest money spinners. The EPL’s broadcasting rights, for instance, are valued at over £10 billion per cycle, with networks such as SuperSport (Africa), Sky Sports (Europe), DAZN, Amazon, and ESPN paying premium sums for coverage.

Moreover, digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta are revolutionizing the way football content is monetized, expanding access and engagement for millions of fans globally.

Football’s commercial appeal continues to attract massive sponsorship deals. Global brands such as Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Emirates invest billions in the sport annually.

For example, Real Madrid’s sponsorship deal with Emirates exceeds $70 million per year, while Manchester United’s record-breaking Adidas kit deal — valued at $900 million (2024–2035) — underscores the immense commercial potential of football branding.

Football’s influence extends well beyond the pitch. The sport drives massive investments in stadium construction, transportation upgrades, and urban development.

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Mega-events such as the World Cup, AFCON, and UEFA Euro attract millions of tourists, boosting host nations’ GDP through hospitality, retail, and tourism spending. For instance, Qatar 2022 contributed billions of dollars to its national GDP through infrastructure projects and global exposure.

In Nigeria, football continues to stimulate both national and local economies — creating opportunities in youth engagements (through academies and grassroots programs), media growth (sports journalism and broadcasting), and corporate investments (banks, telcos, and private sponsors of clubs and leagues).

The economic power of football is nearly unquantifiable. Football clubs today have evolved into major financial assets — some football clubs are publicly traded or backed by institutional investors.

Examples include Manchester United, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and Juventus, listed on the Borsa Italiana (BIT).

Similarly, in Nigeria, The Nigeria Football Fund (TNFF) — managed by GTI Group and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — exemplifies how football can be harnessed as an investment vehicle to drive sports development, financial inclusion, and national growth.

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Football is not just a game — it’s a global economic powerhouse shaping industries, nations, and generations.

In light of the above, it is evident that the private corporate organizations have a significant role to play in the development and sustenance of the Nigeria football ecosystem for mutual benefits. 

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