The Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, has fined the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, $30,800 for failing to control the crowd during the Nigeria-Cameroon World Cup qualifying match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last month, which the Super Eagles won by 4-0.
The NFF, which expressed surprise at the fine, said it would appeal the sanctions while launching a campaign to ensure that football fans comport themselves in orderly manner during and after this Saturday’s match against Zambia at the same venue.
Speaking on the sanction, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi said on Wednesday that the Federation has started the awareness campaign to educate the security personnel on how to ensure that fans do not run onto the field of play even after the final whistle.“We are not happy that FIFA is imposing a fine on us over fans encroachment onto the field of play. To avoid the repeat of such ugly development, an enlightenment campaign is now ongoing to educate the security men that would be on duty during our match against Zambia. We are going to ensure that all aspects of the spectators are enlightened. That fine is no small money,” Sanusi said.
He declared that the NFF has already appealed against the fine, pointing out that there was no evidence to show that such a thing happened during the game. According to Sanusi, the NFF has forwarded to Zurich the video clips of the match as evidence. “We were surprised at the fine”, he said.
According to FIFA, Nigeria was fined for improper conduct among spectators, specifically for invasion of the pitch and restricted areas by supporters during the game against Cameroon. The offence, it said, violates articles 65 and 67 of the FDCFIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations guiding the qualifiers.
The Eagles’ opponent in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, Zambia got a lighter fine of $7,000 for their fans’ misconduct during their qualifier against Algeria last month.
FIFA said it fined Zambia for improper conduct among spectators, such as throwing objects into the pitch, which violates articles 65 and 67 of the FDCFIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations.
