By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
IT’S double tragedy as the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has imposed 150,000 Swiss (about NGN63,996,216.90) on Nigeria over the pitch invasion shortly after the second leg of the 2022 World Cup playoff between Nigeria and Ghana.
Stonix News reports that on March 29, Nigeria was routed out of the 2022 World Cup by Ghana in Abuja after a 1 – 1 draw, just as Ghana progressed based on away goal.
Angry fans, suspected to be hoodlums, thereafter invaded the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja where the match held, destroying some facilities and inflicting injuries on some fans.
FIFA attributed the sanctions on its website to lack of “order and security at matches (failure to implement existing safety rules and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects.
The world football governing body went further to impose fines on Nigeria and also compelled the country to play a match without spectators.
“In line with FIFA’s zero-tolerance stance against discrimination and violence in football, a number of member associations have been punished due to the abusive behaviour by their respective supporters,” the communique read.
What's your reaction?
