Football Violence: NLO Banish Mighty Jets Feeders FC To Abuja

FRANCIS ACHI/Abuja 

Heavy hammer from Nationwide League One (NLO) fell on Mighty Jets Feeders FC of Jos over violence recorded in their first game of the new season against Aklosendi International Football Club of Lafia played in Jos when the match officers were beaten, despite the game ending 2-1 in the favour of the host team.

The away team, Aklosendi International FC scored an unquestionable goal in the 40th minute of play which the referee and his assistants did not raise any objection to, but it turned ugly and violent when the referee signalled the end of first half, as he and his assistants were assaulted by the enraged fans of Mighty Jets Feeders FC. They queried why the match officials should allow the away team score a goal against their darling team on their home turf.

The match officials had to scampered to safety to the dressing room where they refused to resume officiating for the second half until they got assurance from the Match Commissioner that the remaining half will be peaceful and devoid of violence in whatever form.

The game eventually ended 2-1 in favour of Mighty JetsFeeders FC , but the ugly behaviour of some of the fans of Mighty Jets contravened the laws of the game, hence the sanctioning of Mighty Jets Feeders FC to Abuja at the Area 3 Sports Complex where the team will play their next three home games beginning with week four fixture of the league season.

Mighty Jets Feeders FC will also pay a fine of N100,000 ( One Hundred Thousand Naira ) only on or before 1st of May, 2018.

Shola Ogunnowo, the Chief Operating Officer of the League said that it was abnormal for the fans of Mighty Jets to beat the referee and his assistants over what he termed as very irresponsible and violent acts and capable of disrupting the league, which contravened the rules of the game.

” It was very abnormal for some fans of Mighty Jets of Jos to beat the referee and his assistants at the end of first half. It’s wrong, it is anti – football and it negates what we set to achieve this season in the Nationwide League One and we have no option than to slam the team with necessary sanctions,” Ogunnowo said.

” We will not condone any act of violence at our league venues and neither are we going to fold our hands and watch our match officials being assaulted and beaten just because some teams are aiming for promotion at all costs when the league has just begun,” he added.

The week four fixtures of the Nationwide League One will be played this weekend across the Federation.
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