Kwara State Sports Commission has apologised for the unfortunate incident of violence which erupted in the Nigeria Premier Football league, NPFL rescheduled Match Day 22 fixture between Kwara United and visiting Rivers United in Ilorin.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, at the Rashidi Yekini Main Bowl where homeside Kwara United were held to a 1-1 draw by Rivers United.
Following the ugly scenes where top Rivers United official Okey Kpalukwu was badly injured, Executive Chairman of Kwara Sports commission Bola Mogaji conveyed the apology while speaking with AIT.live. He explained that as a responsible Commission which frowns at violence in all it forms, the apology is necessary.
He noted that the crowd trouble that followed the Match Day 22 NPFL encounter between the Kwara State-owned team and its Rivers state counterpart was regrettable. Mogaji however opined that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF should not kill the team with excessive sanctions.
“Sanctions are necessary to serve as a deterrent for erring parties. But it defeats the purpose when it is too heavy as it might lead to a situation where the team cannot survive.
“Most of the time these things are caused by poor officiating which provokes negative reactions from uninformed fans, and the Football Associations who do not provide adequate security.”
“We at the Kwara State Sports Commission have been engaging stakeholders including management, staff as well as supporters of the team in anti-violence enlightenment campaigns for the past six years. We have been here which is why this particular case is a one-off” he said.
“In as much as we recognise the fact that the rules have been flouted, we beg the authorities to temper justice with mercy. We can pay the nine million Naira fine. But points deduction and banishment will kill the team” Mogaji concluded.
But also reacting to the incident, immediate past Rivers state Sports commissioner, Chris Green who oversees the Rivers United management disagreed with the submission of his Kwara state counterpart saying it is not the first time violence would be recorded at the Kwara State Sports complex.
“Just a couple of years ago, I suffered from their kind of hospitality’ personally. Alongside other members of our contingent, I was beaten black and blue at that same stadium”
Green who is also a former NFF Technical Committee boss commended Bola Mogaji for the apology but insists that the sanctions of banishment and points deduction is in order. “Taking the rules into consideration, the sanctions are in order. The infractions attract the punishment as has been applied. Asking for anything milder would amount to bending the rules.
“Someone as highly placed as Okey Kpalukwu, a chief is lying critically injured with lacerations on his eyes. We accept Kwara’s apology. But what if he had been killed would apologies recompense for loss of life”? He asked.
In addition to points deduction, Kwara United would in the meantime play all their home matches at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta pending the determination of their appeal.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
