Common solutions to security challenges at match centers in the NPFL
By Reliable Reliance Udoenyin
The 2019/2020 NPFL season has been scheduled to commence on the 3rd of November, 2019 barring any last minute postponement after the initial September 22 and October 20 dates weren't feasible but with the roll out of matchday 1 fixtures, it seems we're sure to bounce.
The big issue however is, how do we avoid such terrible incidences as recorded last season? For instance, Sam Agba, the center referee of the match day one (1) fixture between Plateau united and FC Ifeanyi Ubah at the Jos township stadium was severely beaten after the game by angry home fans who felt officiating should've favored a compulsory win for Plateau united.
The league Management Company (LMC) guided by their rule book found Plateau united guilty necessitating punishments including a N3M fine, banishment to Ilorin township stadium for their next three home games (which was later revoked on appeal) and a suspended three (3) points deduction in case of similar recurrence.
It wasn't however up to ten (10) days, precisely Sunday, January 20 2019, when we witnessed a similar incidence but this time a bit more severe. Bethel Nwanesi, the center referee of the match day three fixture between Remo stars and Bendel insurance at the gateway stadium, Sagamu was handed in no exaggerated terms, the beating of his life by angry fans of Remo stars who claimed the referee wrongly disallowed their team's "winning" goal in a match that ended 1-1.

Over the years the NPFL has had so many reports of these embarrassing situations. Coach of Sunshine Stars, Kayode Julius ‘knocking out’ Lobi stars goal stopper, Ospino Egbe on Thursday, 11 April 2019 before the kick off of a tie involving both sides have been in the news. The pitch invasion after Kano Pillars won their first ever AITEO cup trophy on the 28th of July this year was an eyesore. Enough has been said of how such incidences are bringing the league into disrepute hence there's need to proffer solutions.

The talks of providing adequate security at match venues have been overemphasized without complementary action. This is a disappointing deficiency. Fifty (50) security personnel are expected at match venues before kickoff. Unfortunately, we barely have twenty (20) or even ten (10) available. The few of such security personnel present most times concentrate on watching the match neglecting their primary duty. It's high time the Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) empower referees to suspend matches where up to fifty (50) security personnel are not available at match venues.
The responsibility to provide security at match venues should be solely handled by the management of respective football clubs so they could be duly accountable and this should be constitutionalized and incorporated into the LMC’s rule book guiding the operation of the league every season. Football Associations of respective states where these clubs are based would thus have to be relieved of any burden on provision of security. Such provision would ensure that the rule on security provision incorporated into the LMC rule book will be appropriately and strictly obeyed such that any defaulting club will duly be sanctioned as guided by the penalty that will be stipulated based on the rule. Although about 95% of the Clubs in the NPFL are owned by state governments, such a move as emphasized above would ensure there is no government interference, at least in the aspect of security. This will ensure strict adherence to the rule.
As funny as it may sound, security personnel assigned this duty should as a matter of necessity be sensitized on how to maintain focus on their assigned duty. Cases of negligence of security personnel at match venues have been reported over time.
On the other hand, another vital move could be privatization of Security provision at match centers. This move will be realized if LMC decides to oversee security at all match venues per match week. Revenue paid for security by clubs could be channeled to the LMC for such purpose. Again, this would ensure proper and close monitoring of security situations in the league.
There's every need to sensitize Club owners and management, technical crews and coaches and most especially fans of these clubs on the rules of the game and the need to show sportsmanship. This sensitization should be enforced by the league management company (LMC) overseen by NFF to ensure compliance. The win at all costs, especially the must-win-at-home syndrome should be eliminated from the NPFL. There's little or no logical explanation to fans/hoodlums gaining access to the dug out to threaten officials. The dug out is out of bound to fans and is expected to be heavily secured. How fans most times bypass security, get to the dugout in some match centers smacks of a lack of security and dents the reputation of the management of a club.
Various levels of punishments have been served offending clubs. These include stadium bans, fines, suspended three points deductions etc. With the continuous frequency of such incidence, the punishments apparently are inadequate. The rule book guiding the LMC in operating the league each season beckons desperately for a review. Offending clubs should suffer six to nine (6-9) points deduction, ten to fifteen (N10m-N15m) million naira fine, minimum of six home matches played at the away sides’ stadiums. These affect the fans (except the fine) who are always at the forefront of this execrable act. Also attacks on away teams' buses, throwing of objects into the pitch should be followed with severe punishment on the individual fan and club.
To wrap it up, the privilege to appeal accorded offending clubs should be completely taken off the table. Punishment is meant to be disciplinary and deterrence to forestall future occurrence. When appeal is allowed, the aim has been defeated. This, among other reasons, explain the reoccurrence of these incidences each season. Desperate situations call for desperate measures.
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