The League Management Company (LMC) on Friday fined Shooting Stars Football Club the sum of N3m and also closed the Lekan Salami Stadium to fans for the remainder of the season as punishment to the club, whose fans attacked a journalist during a match day 31 fixture against Remo Stars, Saturday.
The club also risks a two-point deduction to last for a probational period ending at the end of the season.
This sanction comes after a journalist, Tobi Adepoju, was assaulted by fans and had to be rescued from the angry mob by the police at the Adamasigba stadium following their 1-1 draw with Remo Stars last Wednesday.
According to reports on the ground and video circulating on social media, the chaos began as journalists concluded their post-match interviews. They were reportedly ordered to vacate the main bowl of the Adamsingba.
The ruckus which ensued led to an independent journalist, Adepoju, who claimed he was targeted by the management of 3SC, with the knowledge of the General Manager, Oladimeji Lawal, being reportedly slapped.
The league body also ordered the club to pay Adepoju the sum of N500,000 as compensation for his medical bills and valuables lost during the incident.
The club’s media officer, Tosin Omojola and kits manager Majolagbe Kolawole were also banned from all NPFL-related activities for a minimum period of 12 months for their involvement in the fracas.
“Shooting Stars Sports Club has been fined a total of N3m plus N500,000 compensation to Tobi Adepoju for lost valuables and medical bills and their stadium has been closed to fans for the remaining fixtures of the season while a further breach will lead to their being directed to play outside the Southwest,” the statement reads.’’
“3SC also stands the risk of two points deduction to last for a probational period ending with the season while the Media Officer, Tosin Omojola and Kits Manager, Mr. Majolagbe Kolawale have been expelled from all NPFL related activities for a minimum period of 12 months in the first instance.”
The LMC also reassured fans, players, coaches and journalists of their safety at league venues on match days, adding that it would continue to enforce safety regulations and sanction every acts of violation to deter unruliness at match venues.
Credit: PUNCH reports.