- Gombe United fined ₦1 million for crowd encroachment
- Referee Terwase Chia suspended for the rest of the season
- Jigawa Golden Stars fined ₦500,000 for abandoning match
- Game officially declared 0-0 after disruptions
The Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee has imposed fines and suspensions on clubs and a referee following incidents in recent Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria National League (NNL) matches.
The NFF Disciplinary Committee convened on March 3, 2026, to review protests from matches in the NPFL and NNL. One key case involved Gombe United FC and Jigawa Golden Stars FC, stemming from their December 21, 2025 encounter at Pantami Stadium.
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During the 90+4 minute of the match, the centre referee initially awarded a goal kick. However, home supporters invaded the pitch and pressured the referee to change the decision to a penalty kick, violating league rules.
The committee also noted that referee Terwase Chia submitted conflicting reports, though claims that he acted under duress could not be substantiated. In protest, Jigawa Golden Stars players refused to continue the match.
Following investigations, the committee issued the following sanctions:
• Gombe United FC: fined ₦1 million for crowd encroachment
• Terwase Chia: suspended for the remainder of the season for professional misconduct
• Jigawa Golden Stars FC: fined ₦500,000 for abandoning the match
The match was officially concluded with a 0-0 result.
“The integrity of league matches must be protected. Any form of crowd interference or professional misconduct will be met with strict penalties,” the committee stated.
