Fresh controversy as Katsina Utd accuse Pillars of foul play in 1-0 win

The last has not been heard of the controversial 2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 23 match between Kano Pillars and Katsina United as the latter has accused the former of using foul means to win the rescheduled match in Abuja. It will be recalled that the week 23 fixture at the Sani Abacha […]

The last has not been heard of the controversial 2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 23 match between Kano Pillars and Katsina United as the latter has accused the former of using foul means to win the rescheduled match in Abuja.

It will be recalled that the week 23 fixture at the Sani Abacha stadium Kano on April 16 was aborted in the 79th minute by irate fans when it was still goalless.

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The remaining 11 minutes of the match were played yesterday morning at the MKO Abiola stadium with Kano Pillars’ Auwalu Ali ‘Mallam’ scoring the only goal in the 90th minute.

However, Katsina United have since filed a protest with the League Management Company (LMC) that their opponents had used ‘two different line-ups for one match’.

Pillars have been accused of using at least seven new players who were not listed on the day the match was abandoned in Kano.

One of such players is said to be Auwalu the scorer of the goal that gave Pillars the maximum points in Abuja.

Katsina United are insisting that yesterday’s match was a continuation of the one in Kano so Pillars have breached the rules by introducing new players in their team list.

The aggrieved club has also accused some chieftains of the LMC of aiding and abetting Pillars’ illegalities.

The Media Officer of Katsina United, Nasir Gide said “During the pre-match meeting, we raised a point of observation but were surprised by the Match Commissioner’s response when he insisted that the change of players by Pillars was sanctioned by the LMC chairman, Shehu Dikko.

“We immediately demanded for a copy of the waiver from the LMC but there was nothing to show. So we played the match under protest.

“The kick-off of the match was delayed because we felt that if the match was the conclusion of the abandoned Matchday 23, the team list and lineup should remain the same.

“So immediately the match ended, we filed and paid for our protest which was duly acknowledged by the LMC. We will pursue this case to a logical conclusion,” said Gide.

When contacted, the Media Officer of Kano Pillars, Alhaji Rilwanu Idris Malikawa said Katsina United should direct their anger and questions at the LMC who approved their request for new players due to certain circumstances.

“We have nothing much to say. We got permission from the appropriate quarters.  As far as we are concerned, the week 23 match is over. We have since shifted our attention to the next match,” said Malikawa.