Protests, Violence rock Super 8 as 3SC, others secure NPFL promotion

By Daily Sports on September 13, 2021

 

Protests, violence, allegations and counter-allegations rocked the just-concluded 2021 Nigeria National League promotion playoffs in Enugu as Shooting Stars, Remo Stars, Gombe United and Niger Tornadoes all staged a return to the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Tornadoes emerged champions of the 2021 season after beating Shooting Stars 3-2 in the final of the event on Sunday.

Shooting Stars returned to the elite league after picking seven points from a possible nine in Group B, recording wins over Bendel Insurance and Ekiti United, and a draw against Remo.

Ikenne-based Remo earned two draws and a win to book their spot in the NPFL.

In Group A, Niger Tornadoes emerged winners after one win and two draws to garner five points, to push Gombe United, who also had five points, to second place on goals difference.

The event was however marred by fans violence, protests and bribery allegations.

Violence ensued during the tie between Insurance and Ekiti United which ended 1-1, with videos online, which went viral, showing officials and supporters of Insurance, including a woman, chasing officials around the pitch as they protested a late penalty to Ekiti, which they claimed was an unfair call by the referee.

Insurance were fined N1m by the NNL following the encroachment and assault of match officials by their supporters in the match-day two fixture.

Also, the final Group B match between Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance, which was earlier scheduled for Saturday, was eventually played on Sunday, after suffering series of postponements due to alleged change of match officials on three occasions.

Remo were reportedly at the match venue but Insurance failed to turn up for the fixture on Saturday in protest over the match officials selected.

Before then, there were allegations that Insurance had bribed some officials to win the match against Ekiti United but the Benin-based club denied the allegations, stating that they were “baseless and a poor attempt to bring the club to disrepute by detractors.”

The NNL in a statement described the bribery allegations as absurd and unfounded.

“We are in Enugu to ensure that the best four teams qualify for the NPFL. Those peddling allegations of match-fixing are only being mischievous,” the NNL said in a statement on Friday.

“The report about match-fixing is to say the least, frivolous. There is no truth in that malicious report. All the clubs are enjoying a level playing field and officiating so far has been near perfect.”

During the Group A opening game between Gombe and Elkanemi, officials of the former allegedly invaded the pitch and held up the game, in an attempt to challenge the decision of the referee after Elkanemi took the lead.

However, the NNL fined them N500,000 for their poor conduct. (The PUNCH)

•PHOTO: Shooting Stars FC players

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 13, 2021


 

You may also like...
Winner emerges at NMS@70 golf tour

Superb Salah puts Liverpool closer to Champions League...

Togo stick with coach Claude LeRoy despite jail...

Tomic wins first title in three years

Governor Okowa Bags SWAN Special Merit Award

German FA Investigating Jude Bellingham And Dortmund Over...

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media