Referees’ assault: NLO hands Green Beret two-year ban

The management of the Nationwide League One, Nigeria’s third-tier football league, has banned Green Beret FC of Zaria for two seasons and imposed other sanctions following the bloody assault on match officials in Katsina on Friday, Saturday PidomNigeria reports.

Courtesy of two late goals, Green Beret FC lost 2-0 to Zamfara United in an NLO game played at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Friday, but the outcome of the match was overshadowed by attacks on the match officials, allegedly carried out by Green Beret FC officials.

In viral videos that surfaced after the game, match officials were seen scrambling for safety as they were attacked by a number of unidentified irate individuals. One of the officials was also seen receiving treatment for a bloodied face.

The NLO responded swiftly to the incident, handing Green Beret FC a two-season ban and ordering the club to produce the official who allegedly attacked one of the match officials with a knife.

“It was with deep distress that we learned about the assault on the match officials, particularly witnessing the referee being left in a pool of his own blood. This level of violence is not only unacceptable but also tarnishes the integrity of our beautiful game of football,” the Chief Operating Officer of the NLO, Dr Olushola Ogunnowo, said in a letter addressed to the Kaduna State Football Association, which was sighted by our correspondent.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have had to address violence stemming from your matches, as a similar occurrence took place in the previous season.

“Sequel to the above, the Nationwide League One Secretariat hereby decides that the match won by Zamfara United by 2-0 shall be recorded as a 3-0 victory.

“The team, Green Beret Football Club, and all its officials are hereby suspended from the Nationwide League One for the next two seasons. Green Beret FC must provide the personnel who stabbed the referee within the next 48 hours.”

Green Beret FC were also fined a total of N1.5m — N1m for violent conduct and N500,000 as compensation to the assaulted referees. The league body ordered the club to pay the fines within seven days.