Green Beret FC Gets Two-Year Ban for Assaulting Referees

The management of the Nationwide League One, Nigeria’s third-tier football league, has banned Green Beret FC of Zaria for two seasons. They also issued other penalties after a violent attack on match officials in Katsina on Friday, as reported by Saturday PUNCH.

Green Beret FC lost 2-0 to Zamfara United in an NLO match at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium. But the loss was overshadowed by the assault on the match officials. This attack was reportedly carried out by officials of Green Beret FC.

In videos that spread online after the match, match officials were seen running for safety as they were attacked by a group of angry people. One of the officials was also shown getting treatment for a bloodied face.

The NLO reacted quickly to the incident. They handed Green Beret FC a two-season ban and ordered the club to identify the official who allegedly attacked one of the referees with a knife.

“It was with deep distress that we learned about the assault on the match officials, particularly witnessing the referee being left in a pool of his own blood. This level of violence is not only unacceptable but also tarnishes the integrity of our beautiful game of football,” said Dr Olushola Ogunnowo, the Chief Operating Officer of the NLO. He wrote a letter to the Kaduna State Football Association, which our correspondent saw.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have had to address violence stemming from your matches, as a similar occurrence took place in the previous season.

“Sequel to the above, the Nationwide League One Secretariat hereby decides that the match won by Zamfara United by 2-0 shall be recorded as a 3-0 victory.

“The team, Green Beret Football Club, and all its officials are hereby suspended from the Nationwide League One for the next two seasons. Green Beret FC must provide the personnel who stabbed the referee within the next 48 hours.”

Green Beret FC also faced a fine of N1.5 million. They were fined N1 million for violent conduct and N500,000 as compensation for the referees who were attacked. The league body ordered the club to pay the fines within seven days.