By MUHAMMAD NUR TIJANI
The management of Kano Pillars Football Club on Sunday condemned the action of some of their team’s fans who attacked Katsina United FC on Saturday in Kano.
The fans’ action led to the discontinuation of their match day 23 fixture in the ongoing 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that fans suspected to be supporters of Kano Pillars invaded the pitch in the 79th minute of play against Katsina United.
They also damaged the visiting team’s bus and some part of Kano Pillars bus.
NAN reports that the game was the first at the Sani Abacha Stadium in over two years and spectators trooped to the stadium in their numbers.
However, things turned sour in the 79th minute as the game remained goalless.
Kano Pillars’ Media Officer, Rilwanu Malikawa, in a statement claimed that the match was stopped “because of the unsportsmanlike behavior of some unpatriotic fans”.
He said the fans were throwing sachet water and some other objects into the field of play leading to both teams and match officials being evacuated to their dressing rooms.
“These unpatriotic fans and saboteurs also damaged the bus of Katsina United FC and some parts of the Kano Pillars FC bus.
“The management of Kano Pillars believes the undesirable fans’ attitude is a gang-up by some saboteurs who do not want the progress of the club.
“What happened on Saturday is beyond football, because nothing happened before and during the time of the incident in the match.
“Both teams and match officials were doing their primary duties on the field of play.
“We never expected anything negative in that match, considering our club’s relationship with Katsina United.
“Even at that, Kano Pillars FC recently played about three of their home matches at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium in Katsina without any rancour,” Malikawa said.
He warned that the club management, as well as the Kano State Football Association and the leadership of Kano Pillars Fans Club would not just sit back on this.
“We will not fold our arms and allow unpatriotic fans to tarnish the image of the club. Anyone found wanting will be punished.”
Malikawa also confirmed that there was no casualty from both sides and that officials of Katsina United were conveyed in one of the host team’s buses to Katsina on Saturday. (NAN)
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