By Steve Oma-Ofozor
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee on Monday May 2, 2022 imposed sanctions on Nigeria for the misconduct of its fans during the world cup qualifying tie in Abuja on March 29.
This follows the the unwanted destruction of facilities by displeased football fans at the MKO Abiola National Stadium after Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with the Black Stars of Ghana.
The tie had ended Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the global football tournament scheduled to start in November 2022 in Qatar.
The world football ruling body in a statement on its official website detailed the reason for these sanctions as “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”.
“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 also read.
In this regard, the football governing body also imposed a 150,000 Swiss Franc (N63,996,216.90) fine on Nigeria as a result of the unruly behaviour of its fans, and one match without spectators.
This is even as the Senate last month, invited the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare; NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and other agencies involved in the maintenance of the MKO Abiola Stadium to determine the extent of the damage to facilities at the national arena.
The lawmakers had also instructed the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the remote and immediate causes of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in spite of the huge fund by the government, individuals, and corporate bodies.
However, the big, first question is whether the FIFA sanction will have any effect on fans unruly behavior at football venues which has become a common place in recent times in the country.
Similarly will even affect the Sport Ministry/football authorities to do the right thing – putting the right structures in place to guide against future occurrence?
Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano to be specific has over time become a hub of violence for vociferous fans if a football game does not go their way; it also happens in Aba; Gombe, just to mention a few.
Sadly the response from the Nigerian football authorities, the NFF and LMC has not been encouraging to stem the tide, but rather boosting the menace.
Before now, the ultra modern ‘Nest of Champions,’ Uyo Stadium in Akwa Ibom State seemed to have become Super Eagles permanent home; the players and coaches love it; but politiics sets in and every state and zone wanted the Eagles in its stadium.
The Super Eagles have played in Benin City; Port Harcourt; Kaduna and Enugu to satisfy some political interest at the detriment of the game.
The West believes it is only in Lagos where football can be better appreciated with good fans turnout; thus the Super Eagles relocated to Lagos, but were struggling to win games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium – Central African Republic defeated Nigeria 1-0 here in Lagos!
Invariably the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja was renovated and the Sport Ministry said that it would remain a permanent home for the national teams, the Super Eagles in particular.
Interestingly, the first game of the the Super Eagles after the renovation was the all-important World Cup play off between Nigeria and Ghana; the test is now history.
Thus the second big question now is would the Sport Ministry or the football authorities still insist on the mangled MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja as the permanent home for the Super Eagles or it would allow the players and coaches make a choice of the the stadium that suits them?
Third question: what measures would be taken at this point in time to curb fans violence at football venues and will the ‘rented fans’ who turned vandals of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja be ever brought to book to serve as deterrent to others?
