The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has issued firm penalties to Bendel Insurance following an incident where match officials were reportedly assaulted by fans after the team’s recent home loss to Kano Pillars. The match, held on Saturday, November 9 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, saw Bendel Insurance narrowly defeated 1-0 by Kano Pillars, with a late penalty converted by Rabiu Alli in the 98th minute.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
Following the contentious loss, reports emerged of fans gaining access to restricted areas and allegedly attacking the match officials. The NPFL has attributed this to a lack of adequate security provided by the home team.
In response, the NPFL has imposed a 3-point and 3-goal deduction on Bendel Insurance’s season tally, a setback that now leaves the Club with only nine points and a -5 goal difference, dropping them to the bottom of the league table. The team also faces a N2 million fine for insufficient security arrangements and failure to maintain order among fans.
Additional consequences include the mandate for Bendel Insurance to play their next three home games behind closed doors, barring fans from attending matches against Kwara United, Plateau United, and Lobi Stars.
Furthermore, the league has fined the Club an additional N1 million for conduct deemed damaging to the sport’s image.
As part of the penalties, Bendel Insurance must also compensate the assaulted match officials — Adeniyi Adewale, Anuoluwapo Balogun, and Sodiq Sonibare — with a sum of N250,000 each, totaling N750,000.
These sanctions underscore the NPFL’s stance on discipline and security, marking a clear reminder of the League’s intolerance for violence and misconduct.
