The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has slammed Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan with a total fine of N5 million and an indefinite stadium ban on fans following a disturbing incident involving their supporters during a Matchday 32 fixture against Ikorodu City FC.
The match, played at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Sunday, April 6, 2025, ended in chaos as fans of the home team were involved in violent conduct, including an attack on the visiting Ikorodu City contingent and the vandalization of their team bus.
Following a disciplinary panel sitting on Wednesday, Shooting Stars were found guilty on three counts:
Failure to Provide Adequate Security:
The club failed to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing restricted areas, which led to harassment of match officials. This offense attracted a fine of N1 million.
Failure to Control Supporters:
Shooting Stars breached Rule C9 of the NPFL Framework and Rules by failing to maintain order among their supporters, leading to the physical assault of Ikorodu City fans. This earned the club another N1 million fine.
Throwing of Objects Onto the Field:
For violating Rule B13.18, which prohibits supporters from throwing objects at players or officials, Shooting Stars were again fined N1 million.
In addition to the above N3 million in league-imposed penalties, the club must also pay N2 million in compensation to Ikorodu City FC for damages to their team bus, bringing the total financial sanction to N5 million.
Furthermore, the NPFL disciplinary committee has ordered the closure of the Lekan Salami Stadium to fans for the remainder of the 2024/2025 season.
Under Rule C26, Shooting Stars have 48 hours to either accept the ruling or file an appeal.
This latest disciplinary action sends a strong message from the NPFL on the importance of crowd control and club responsibility in maintaining safety and decorum at league venues.
