Pitch Invasion: Nigeria to Play Match Behind Closed-Door, Pay N64m

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Disciplinary Committee of the Federation of the International Football Association (FIFA) has imposed sanctions on Nigeria for the misconduct of its fans during the World Cup qualifying tie against Ghana in Abuja in March.

It imposed a 150,000 Swiss Franc (N63,996,216.90) fine on Nigeria as a result of the unruly behaviour of its fans and ordered the Super Eagles to play one match behind closed-door.

On March 29, displeased football fans had vandalised facilities at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with the Black Stars of Ghana, which ended Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the global football tournament scheduled to start in November 2022 in Qatar.

The world football ruling body in a statement on its official website on Monday detailed the reason for these sanctions as “order and security at matches (failure to implement existing safety rules and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects”.

“In line with FIFA’s zero-tolerance stance against discrimination and violence in football, a number of member associations have been punished due to the abusive behaviour by their respective supporters,” the communique also read.

In April, the Senate under the leadership of Mr Ahmed Lawan invited the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare; NFF President, Mr Amaju Pinnick, and other agencies involved in the maintenance of the MKO Abiola Stadium to determine the extent of the damage to facilities at the national arena.

The lawmakers had also instructed the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the remote and immediate causes of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in spite of the huge fund by the government, individuals, and corporate bodies.

Nigeria will be looking forward to winning the hearts of its fans again with qualification for the 2023 African Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Cote D’Ivoire next year.

The three times Africa Cup of Nations winners have been drawn in Group A and will slug it out with Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau and either Sao Tome and Principe or Mauritius for the ticket.