LAGOS - Oyuki Obaseki, Chairman of the Nigerian Professional League (NPL), has assured that the league management would step up action to curb hooliganism at match venues.
Obaseki, apprarently worried about recent cases of the menace, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that one of the actions was educating fans on the evils of hooliganism.
He said that hooliganism was assuming a dangerous dimension in the Globacom Premier League, since its kick-off on September 13.
“All the stakeholders of the league must come out for the education of the fans, especially the various club officials,” he said.
Obaseki said that many of the hooligans disrupting peace during matches were gate-crashers.
“I have to admit that fighting hooliganism is not going to be an easy one because they keep increasing by the day.
“They believe they stand to lose nothing and life means nothing to them,” he said.
NAN reports that during Niger Tornadoes’ week five home match, their enraged fans attacked Coach Zakari Baraje who was subsequently forced to resign his appointment.
In the Kano Pillars/Sharks of Port Harcourt FC meet during the same period in Kano, Sharks’ Coach Kadiri Ikhana was battered for recording an away victory.
Obaseki said that he was impressed with the standard of play and officiating so far.
He assured that the NPL would continue to monitor developments in the Premier League until it attained the expected perfection.
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