Violence threatens NNL, NLO as ‘hooliganism’ surges
The 2025 football season in Nigeria has seen a troubling surge in hooliganism at match centres across the Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nationwide League One (NLO), prompting serious concern among stakeholders about the safety of players, officials, and fans. In recent weeks, numerous games have been disrupted by crowd disturbances, pitch invasions, and violent […]
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The 2025 football season in Nigeria has seen a troubling surge in hooliganism at match centres across the Nigeria National League (NNL) and Nationwide League One (NLO), prompting serious concern among stakeholders about the safety of players, officials, and fans.
In recent weeks, numerous games have been disrupted by crowd disturbances, pitch invasions, and violent attacks on referees and club staff.
One such incident occurred during a match between Godswill Akpabio FC and Rovers FC of Calabar at the Uyo Township Stadium, where fans stormed the pitch and assaulted match officials, leading to a 15-minute suspension.
The NNL responded by fining Godswill Akpabio FC ₦2 million and ordering the team to play their next two home games behind closed doors. Under these strict closed-door conditions, only a limited group comprising 20 security personnel, seven club officials per team, 12 ball boys, 10 host FA officials, match officials, accredited medical personnel, two accredited cameramen per team, and 10 media representatives are allowed in the stadium.
At the Danbatta Township Stadium, Barau FC supporters disrupted a match against Gombe United by throwing objects at the visiting technical crew, causing injuries to officials. The NNL imposed a ₦2 million fine on Barau FC, instructed them to cover ₦150,000 in medical expenses, and banned spectators from their home fixtures for the foreseeable future.
A Nigerian lower-division league fixture between Green Beret FC and Standard FC descended into chaos recently as violent scenes erupted both on and off the pitch. What began as a competitive encounter between the two sides turned ugly in the closing stages of the match, with tempers flaring and fans from both clubs engaging in acts of hooliganism.
The violence reportedly began after a controversial refereeing decision went against Beret FC, prompting protests from their players and coaching crew. Tensions escalated quickly, and soon, clashes broke out between the two teams’ supporters in the stands. Objects were thrown, players were jostled, and security personnel struggled to restore order.
Eyewitnesses reported that several fans sustained injuries, and property was damaged during the fracas. Videos circulating on social media showed scenes of unrest, with some fans storming the pitch and engaging in physical altercations.
In a more severe case, Sky Limit FC was expelled from the 2025 NLO season after its players and officials chased a referee off the pitch with stones and wooden objects. The league nullified all of the club’s results and struck them from the standings entirely. Similarly, 1472 FC of Lagos faced expulsion from the 2024/2025 NNL season after failing to honour three scheduled fixtures, a move the league deemed damaging to its integrity.
These episodes highlight a growing crisis that demands urgent reforms in matchday security and disciplinary enforcement. Many in the football community have expressed dismay at the escalating violence, pointing fingers at insufficient security arrangements and inadequate crowd control.
While league organizers continue efforts to curb the wave of unsporting behaviour, the Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Mohammed Mouktar, has publicly condemned the acts and urged perpetrators to put an end to such disgraceful conduct.
“Each time I witness such acts of hooliganism, I feel drained emotionally and psychologically because such behaviours portray nothing other than evil.
“I wonder why anyone who calls himself a fan would attempt to end someone else’s life in the name of football – a sport that embodies peace, unity, and friendship.
“To stem this ugly trend, authorities should continue to take drastic actions against the perpetrators of such criminal and evil acts. Anyone found guilty should be dealt with severely to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
In a chat with the Chief Operating Officer of the NLO, Olusola Ogunowo, he said the league is making concerted efforts to eradicate violence at all levels.
“You must know that it will be impossible to fully eradicate violence in football. Football is a game of emotions and some fans are not able to control such emotions. Even in Europe, there are pockets of violence here and there.
“The issue also has to do with the referees. They are human and are prone to make mistakes but we will not hesitate to punish any club, player, official who go against the rules. We have done it. If you check our Instagram page, we have published pictures of players who have been engaged in violent acts. Foreign clubs will not want to sign such players and this will serve as a deterrent to other players.
“We have delisted a player from the league and we have an issue with a club official who claimed match fixing. He has to prove it and if he doesn’t, the big hammer of the league will fall on him. If other levels of leagues do what we are doing, our football ecosystem will grow well and be better to attract more investment,” he declared.
Similarly, speaking the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Alanana Danlami, said erring teams are being punished by the rules.
“Some cases are currently before the disciplinary committee who will go by the rules to punish the affected teams or players. We will continue to sensitize the clubs on the need to obey the rules and regulations,” he stated.
Clubs and coaches are also calling for the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and league organisers to impose stricter punishments, including stadium bans, fines, and possible point deductions to deter unruly behaviour.
Observers point to deeper systemic issues, including poor infrastructure, overzealous local supporters, and lack of sufficient training for match officials.
“The development of grassroots football is being undermined,” noted coach Musa Ibrahim of a Nationwide League One side. “If young players and fans associate local football with violence, we’re heading in the wrong direction.”
As the 2025 season continues, the NFF is reportedly reviewing new measures to curb violence, including deploying more security personnel and establishing disciplinary panels to fast-track investigations into reported incidents.
For many, the message is clear: without swift and decisive action, the beautiful game at grassroots and second-tier levels risks becoming dangerously unsafe.