Over the years, one distinctive element that has bedevilled the development of the Nigerian Football League is violence on and off the pitch with its attendant effects on the game.

This situation is something which has become prevalent since the 90’s. The heydays of Segun Odegbami with IICC shooting stars of Ibadan, Chairman Christian Chukwu of Rangers, Enugu, and others saw massive following with crowds at stadiums but rather than build on this positive situation, our league has become a mere case of fulfilling all righteousness.

Hence, as the years and seasons roll on, our league is cast in a shadow of itself, immersed in deep waters of crowd troubles, hooliganism every now and then with a reinforcement of the “win at home” syndrome.

This situation has left us with diverse tales, stories, and drama making many home grounds of teams in recent times a no-go area for away teams and their fans. It has robbed us of the imminent competitive stance which is the hallmark of sports – a visible reality that can be gleaned from leagues in other parts of Africa, like South Africa, Egypt and Tunisia.

This is because teams approach away matches with the notion to lose in a bid to avoid trouble, a situation many former players and those still actively playing in the Nigerian Football League have alluded to.

Little wonder getting a draw or victory away from home is seen as a miracle, something that is a norm in super leagues like the Spanish La Liga, the English Premiership, and the Italian Serie A to mention but a few.

Our referees are also big victims in the scheme of things since they are more or less key decision makers in every game. Many have suffered injuries in a bid to ensure a fair game as in 2015 when fans of Akwa United beat to a pulp on opening match day a female referee for awarding a penalty to the visiting Enyimba.

We can go further down memory lane to 2008 when a referee lost his tooth at the Aba township stadium for disallowing a goal against visiting Heartland. More so, players and their managers have seen their fair share of this violence across stadia. To put it straight, one of Nigeria’s iconic football managers Kadiri Ikhana who has won the CAF Champions League and the domestic league with Enyimba and Kano pillars, told a sad tale of how football violence left one of his legs badly damaged, a scar that will live with him till death.

How can we forget the case where James Bumkerg, a Lobi stars cameraman was severely beaten and wounded at the Akure township stadium in 2015 when Sunshine hosted them. He stated how his parents asked that he quit being a cameraman for Lobi stars due to the wanton injuries he had suffered.

In any case, https://qwenu.com/2019/01/31/the-nigerian-football-league-and-violence-is-there-an-end-in-sight/

Nope

AFRICA IS MY FATHERLAND, NIGERIA IS MY COUNTRY O!
UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S HOW WE ROLL, THE ANSWER IS
NO! NO! NO!. BUT I DO WONDER IF BLACK BRAIN IS DIFFERENT
FROM WHITE BRAIN, OR GOD INTENTIONALLY CREATE US THAT WAY..

Hmmm

I remember that match wey one female ref officiate, as she blow whistle for penalty, d way d opposing team chased her ehn....she ran like usain bolt out of the pitch, naso match end

Bros nobi only football even for bbal league men dey fight break chairs for officials heads

Do we have any aspect of the country that is functioning properly?




NO

Lol

It is well with NIGERIA

dominique:
Nope

well done

jh

Our mentalities and disciplines need to be changed.. For example; United Kingdom are so passionate about football than us but they know what consequence for being violent might cause them

Mbanu,, how can

Our mentalities need to be changed..

The thing is the win at all costs mentality driven by the fact that getting relegated can be very financially tasking for the average Nigerian club side.

Clubs don't want to lose home matches. Drives away fans. Better to get victory via intimidation

We have a long way to go. And this has effects on competitiveness

ask your father

Until football seases to become a political tool for political office holders in Nigeria, lack of professionalism and violence will continue in Nigerian football and sports administration in general.

When we destroy PDP violence will disappear because they are the number employers of thugs in Nigeria.

Nigeria premier league hmmm..

They have just introduced red card for removing jerseys after body odour kills linesman during goal celebration

The way forward is that clubs get properly managed so that at the end of the day, in case of relegation, zero financial worries.

I don't know if they also still banish clubs whose fans commit violence. Dock at least 6 points for violent episodes towards opposing clubs, official and TV crew too.

We are the comedy league of world football.

Every other nation is fighting to progress, we are here fighting to elect ancestors/recycled politicians as President.

SHAME ON NIGERIA YOUTHS!

ClearFlair:
When we destroy PDP violence will disappear because they are the number employers of thugs in Nigeria.

The problem was there before PDP.

Back in the 1990s, the club I used to support got banished to another town because of violent fans

Joemetry:
We are the comedy league of world football.

Ever other nation is fighting to progress, we are here fighting to elect ancestors/recycled politicians as President.

SHAME ON NIGERIA YOUTHS!

And when we tell you to vote Sowore or Hashim or Moghalu, you guys will tell us that they can not win, before telling us to Sai Buhari or Obediently Atikulate

theoldpretender:


The problem was there before PDP.

Back in the 1990s, the club I used to support got banished to another town because of violent fans

Well PDP amplified the problem, even Boko Haram started as political thugs. Look at the Offa robbery too.

Nigerian girls don suffer me

2009/2010 - i was dragging them with Justin Bieber

2011 - it was wizkid

2012 - Those mumu twilight guys

2013 - Lee min Ho

2014/2015 - Jidenna

2016/2017 - Yahoo Boys

2018/2019 - Politicians/ Sugar daddies

Wo, I'm tired. Kilode gan.