by Affa Acho
The Interim Management Committee (IMC) have deducted three points and three goals from Plateau United for physical assault on Match Officials by their fans who breached security at the end of MatchDay 17 fixture against Remo Stars at the New Jos Township Stadium on Sunday, May 7.
SEE: Remo Stars FC Defeats Plateau United FC 2-1 in NPFL Match
In addition to the points and goals deduction from their total accrued, Plateau United have also been ordered to pay N2.5m as sanctions for other breaches arising from the incident.
Plateau United was charged for breach of Rules B13.18, B13.52 and C11 which variously were for encroachment on the field of play by supporters to harass Match Officials, failure to ensure adequate and effective matchday security and assault on Match Officials in the course of the MatchDay 17 fixture.
For failure to provide adequate match day security, Plateau United was fined N1m, and another N500,000 for failure to prevent access by unauthorised persons to restricted areas.
For assault on Match Officials, three points and three goals were deducted from the accumulated points and goals N1m in total as compensation to the four Match Officials at N250,000 per Official.
Furthermore, the New Jos Township Stadium has been ordered closed indefinitely to Plateau United fans until adequate and verifiable security measures including written guarantees to the NPFL to prosecute any person found to create disturbances in the course of their home matches are put in place.
Meanwhile, the Jos club are out of running to secure a spot in the 2023 Super 6 playoff that could have seen them win the league title again, for the first time since 2017.
A 2-1 home defeat to Remo Stars in week 17 of the 2023 season, saw them fall five points behind qualification places, with a fixture left.
Their final game in the regular season will see them travel to El Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri on Sunday, May 14 to take on already relegated El Kanemi Warriors.
