The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has sanctioned Inter Lagos following an incident involving the harassment and assault of match officials during and after their Matchday 7 fixture against Katsina United, Trybal News reports.
The Lagos club were charged with multiple breaches of the NPFL27 Framework & Rules, including inadequate security, misconduct towards match officials and an alleged assault that left one of the assistant referees injured.
According to the disciplinary decision, unauthorized persons gained access to restricted areas after the match, with the officials reportedly attacked while making their way from the dressing room to their vehicle.
The match officials were also held at the venue for more than an hour, while club officials and supporters were accused of intimidating, harassing and verbally abusing them.
The incident escalated further after Inter Lagos team manager, alongside some supporters, assaulted the officials. The first assistant referee reportedly sustained a facial injury and lost personal belongings, including damage to his mobile phone.
Inter Lagos have been fined N2 million for failing to provide adequate and effective security and another N1 million for holding the match officials for more than an hour.
The club were handed a further N2 million fine for the assault on the match officials, while N250,000 was awarded as compensation to the affected assistant referee for his lost belongings, damaged phone and medical treatment.
The biggest sporting sanction sees three points and three goals deducted from Inter Lagos’ accrued points and goals for the assault and injury to the first assistant referee.
Inter Lagos have 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal the sanctions.
