Checking Soccer Hooliganism In Nigerian Stadia

On Saturday, March 20, 2010, supporters of Niger Tornadoes Football Club, Minna allegdly assaulted a Centre Referee, Gabriel Adigwe and his assistants in a Globacom premier league soccer match with visiting Bayelsa United FC that ended scoreless.

Apparently, the offence of the soccer officials was their refusal  to bend the rules and aid the  victory of the home team. For failing to do that, the  referees were left with serious injuries and perhaps, permanent psychological trauma by fans who wanted their team to win the match at all cost.

Also, on the same date, there was commotion, threats and harassment at the Sharks FC Stadium, Port Harcourt, following a goalless encounter between sister clubs, Sharks and Dolphins FCs all of Port Harcourt.

Dolphins’ goalkeeper, Sunday Rotimi was allegedly harassed by Sharks fans after he refused to let in a goal as gift to the opponents.

So, bewildering sports journalists covering the match were not spared as their video cameras, tapes and other working tools were seized by individuals believed to be fronting for the home team.

These developments have become worrisome, especially, as reports of different degrees of harassment, intimidation and warped officiating have been recorded, at vitually every venue of the national league every week.

In the recent past, such regrettable actions had resulted in loss of lives and wanton destruction of public property at different stadia.

We are worried that soccer hooliganism has re-emerged in the Nigerian league and now poses a threat to the little gains thus far achieved by the Nigeria Premier League Board (NPL).

In other countries, football matches and stadia are viewed as worthy recreational arena and utilised strictly for such purposes. They are indeed serene climes which families patronise and have some refreshing time.

That our stadia have been turned to physical combat arena, where, violence has become the norm is not acceptable.

It is indeed tragic that at this time when the league should be exploiting positive developments and goodwill to market itself, attract sponsors and be competitive in the industry, such malaise will only drag the game backwards.

Already, the effect of the win-at-home-at all- cost syndrome has negatively affected the clubsides’ potentials and performance, making it difficult to compete effectively in continental club competitions.

We understand the passion of fans and supporters in their effort to ensure that their clubsides achieve victory but in sports, none wins all the time. Instead, as they say,  you win some and lose some.  That spirit of sportsmanship, of taking victory with humility and accepting defeat with dignity should be the hallmark of all sportsmen and women, football fans inclusive.

Hooliganism can only portray Nigerian football and fans as bad competitors.

This is why we urge the football authorities, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Premier League Board (NPL) to take pragmatic steps towards discouraging hooliganism in our stadia. We say so because, the practice of treating the malady with kid gloves by simply handing out fines, short bans and admonitions, has proved ineffective.

Soccer clubs and officials should be thoroughly investiaged and those found culpable of encouraging violence should be punished  decisively, while known and identified hooligans must be banned from the game and stadia for a very long time, in order to discourage further re-occurrence.

Hooliganism must be stamped out of our football,  if Nigeria hopes to put her clubs on the right path and plank strong enough to compete effectively in the continent and make our stadia sports friendly for the hosting of continental and international competitions.