Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) organisers League Management Company have docked NPFL side Heartland three points following crowd violence at their home ground.
After drawing 1-1 with league champions Plateau United in a rescheduled game on Monday, fans of the home team took laws into their hands when they manhandled the match officials led by Yusuf Garba.
Garba and his assistants Akaninye Udoette and Elisha Owolabi were assaulted and severely brutalised by an angry mob that descended on them shortly after the final whistle.
For his part in the chaos, Heartland’s Team Manager Mobi Oparaku, a former Super Eagles defender has also been banned from all football related activities for ten matches.
Heartland thus become the second Nigerian top division side to be docked three points this season for crowd violence – after Sunshine Stars – as the league’s organisers attempt to clamp down on the act.
The Naze Millionaires will now drop to the bottom of the league table from their previous 19th position with twenty more games to be decided in the league season.
The club have also been ordered to play their next three home games in the league behind closed doors at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.
