The Nigeria Premier Football League has handed a lifetime stadium ban to a Warri Wolves supporter, Keno Iyaruwe, after he allegedly assaulted an assistant referee following the Matchday 10 fixture against Kano Pillars at the Southern Delta University Stadium in Ozoro.
That goalless draw on Sunday, October 25, which kept both sides level on the day, has now become the centre of a major disciplinary storm for the home side. Iyaruwe is currently in police custody in Warri as investigations continue.
As part of the NPFL's directive, Warri Wolves have agreed to post the banned fan's name and photograph at every entrance of their stadium to stop him from accessing matches or any club activity going forward.
The league did not stop at banning the fan. Warri Wolves have been fined ₦4.2 million and docked three points and three goals from their accumulated tally, a serious blow for a club that will now have to claw back lost ground in the standings. The Seasiders have also been ordered to host their next three home matches behind closed doors, meaning no fans will be let into the stadium for those games.
Warri Wolves issued a statement distancing themselves from the fan's conduct, insisting they run "a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and any form of misconduct that threatens the safety, dignity and integrity of match officials, players, club officials and other stakeholders."
For Kano Pillars, the incident is a reminder of the unpredictable situations away trips can bring, even when a match itself passes off without goals or controversy on the pitch. The Sai Masu Gida have shown resilience on the road this season, picking up draws against Inter Lagos, Shooting Stars and Warri Wolves, though a heavy 4-0 defeat at Plateau United on Matchday 8 showed there is still work to do away from the Sani Abacha Stadium.
Attention now turns to home soil, where Kano Pillars host Nasarawa United on Sunday, November 1, in Matchday 11. The Pillars faithful will be hoping the team can build on last weekend's point and return to winning ways in front of their own supporters, who will face no such restrictions getting into the ground.