Pillars, Kwara Utd and other ‘bad boys’ of 2026 NPFL

As the curtains gradually fall on the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, with Matchday 28 beginning this weekend, across match venues, the season has not been without ugly incidents of fan hooliganism that have nearly turned some match venues into theatres of war. Despite the NPFL board consistently imposing punitive measures on erring […]

As the curtains gradually fall on the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, with Matchday 28 beginning this weekend, across match venues, the season has not been without ugly incidents of fan hooliganism that have nearly turned some match venues into theatres of war.

Despite the NPFL board consistently imposing punitive measures on erring clubs, hooliganism has continued, leading to calls for stricter enforcement of the league’s Framework and Rules.

The 2026 season has already witnessed at least six cases of crowd trouble, with the most recent one being the attack on Rivers United’s players and officials at the Rashidi Yekini Mainbowl Ilorin, by irate fans believed to be supporters of Kwara United.

Weekend Trust Sports chronicles the activities of the ‘bad boys’ of the 2026 NPFL season, highlighting their unsporting behaviours and subsequent sanctions meted out by the league organisers in an attempt to stem the ugly tide.

 

Kano Pillars vs 3SC

In the ongoing season, the troubling wave of hooliganism began with Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha stadium, after Shooting Star’s Adam Mustapha scored an equaliser in the fourth minute of the second half added time of the week 8 fixture for the “Oluyole Warriors to earn a crucial point on the road.

The match descended into chaos after irate fans invaded the pitch, chased after match officials and attacked the visiting team.

In a swift response by the NPFL, Pillars were fined N9.5M, and docked three points and three goals over failure to provide adequate security, paving the way for their supporters to molest match officials and the visiting team.

In addition, Pillars were banned from Sani Abacha Stadium to neighbouring Katsina, where they played several matches at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.

However, Pillars have since returned to their traditional home ground, Sani Abacha Stadium, where they are presently fighting against relegation. 

 

Katsina United 

Four weeks after the crowd trouble that sent Pillars packing from Sani Abacha Stadium, a similar incident happened at the Dikko Stadium after the visiting team, Barau FC, equalised to force the home team, Katsina United, to a 1-1 draw in their week 12 encounter. The match was paused for so many minutes as Barau FC’s midfielder, Nana Abraham, sustained a deep cut in his neck after angry fans invaded the pitch, wielding dangerous objects.

Katsina United were fined N9 million and sent to play their home matches behind closed doors at the Jos Township Stadium.

Like Kano Pillars, they have since returned to Muhammadu Dikko Stadium.

 

Remo Stars vs Ikorodu City

The next bus stop was the Matchday 20 fixture involving regional rivals, Remo Stars and Ikorodu City, in Ikenne.

The encounter, which saw defending champions secure a narrow 1-0 win over Ikorodu City, witnessed physical attacks on away fans, as well as harassment and intimidation of the match officials during and after the match, leaving the organisers with no option but to apply the appropriate sanctions.

Consequently, Remo Stars were fined N7 Million for breaching the league’s Framework and Rules and also banished to Ibadan.

 

Enyimba vs Barau FC

The week 21 fixture between Enyimba and Barau FC also witnessed ugly incidents of hooliganism after the former African champions were held to a goalless draw by the NPFL newcomers.

After the match, the fans of the home crowd encroached into restricted zones and detained match officials for several hours, leading to disciplinary action by the league management.

Enyimba were fined N5 million for several breaches, including failure to provide adequate and effective security during the match and improper conduct of their supporters.

Although they were not banished to another city, the nine-time champions were ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors. 

 

Wikki Tourists vs Katsina United

Hooliganism still reared its ugly head in the Matchday 25 fixture between Wikki Tourists and Katsina United at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

In what will go down in history as one of the most controversial, acrimonious and volatile fixtures in the NPFL, the match lasted for two days.

Following prolonged delays due to pitch invasion after the visiting team controversially equalised to bring scores to 3-3, the match, which started on Sunday, February 8, was concluded the following day. Still, it was stalemated at 4-4 at full time.

As expected, Wikki Tourists were fined N7.5million and banished to Jos.

 

Kwara United vs Rivers United

The train of violence berthed at the Rashidi Yekini Mainbowl in Ilorin when Kwara United hosted Rivers United in the rescheduled week 22 fixture, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Following a pitch invasion by unruly fans, the Chairman of Rivers United who doubles as Chairman of club chairmen, Okey Kpalukwu, was attacked, leaving him with head injuries.

Instantly, the “Afonja Warriors” were fined N9 million, deducted three points and three goals, and ordered to play the rest of their home matches this season at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.

 

Why hooliganism in NPFL festers- Baribote

In an exclusive interview with Weekend Trust Sports, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier League, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, attributed the prevalence of hooliganism in the domestic league to the refusal to play by the rules.

He stressed that fair officiating by the referees and punitive measures by the league’s management would help reduce the prevalence of hooliganism in the domestic league.

“In football, violence cannot be eradicated; rather, it can be reduced to the barest minimum, and one of the ways to checkmate violence is by doing the right thing.

“So in all of this, it’s better to play by the rules. Referees must be firm in their decisions, even if people are not happy with the outcome of the result. 

“If the referees are firm and fair, it changes the perception of those who want to cause problems all the time, but the umpires give them room by making dubious calls.

“So my own take is that let us apply the rules strictly. The rules should be adhered to strictly. Referees should also stick to the ethics of their profession, like the FIFA fair play,” said the proprietor of defunct Nembe City FC.

He also cited the decision by the NPFL Board to ban offending clubs to neighbouring cities as one of the enablers of hooliganism.

Baribote opined that the proximity of the venues where clubs are banished to does not deprive them of home support.

“Before, if you were banished from the south, they would take you to the north, but now, they banish somebody from Lagos, you ask him to go and play in Ikenne, which is about a 15 to 30-minute drive. It means you have not done anything. 

“Punishment is to make one feel the impact of the offence committed, but when I am allowed to stay within my comfort zone, the punishment has no effect,” he said.

The football administrator concluded by saying that the payment of fines by the erring clubs isn’t strictly enforced to deter them from getting involved in hooliganism during matches.