Lagos, Nigeria – The dark side of Nigerian domestic football came to the fore again last month when Plateau United forward Vincent Temitope suffered a severe neck injury following a brutal post-match attack after a league game against Nasarawa United.
Temitope, who had scored during the tightly contested Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match in central Nigeria, was assaulted just minutes after the final whistle. Plateau United eventually lost the match 3-2. The club’s management has attributed the attack to enraged Nasarawa United fans.
“It was a horrifying moment. Some fans descended on him and inflicted a deep cut on his neck region, causing sustained bleeding,” said Plateau United director Yaksat Maklek. He described the situation as “shocking and shameful,” calling for immediate sanctions and tighter security measures in the league.
The violent incident has reignited national concerns about safety and fan behavior in the NPFL, a league long marred by inadequate security and allegations of biased officiating favoring home teams.
Just a week prior to the Plateau United incident, another violent episode unfolded in the southwestern city of Ibadan. Players from Lagos-based Ikorodu City were forced to flee for their safety after holding home side Shooting Stars to a 1-1 draw. According to eyewitnesses, the situation quickly escalated, prompting emergency intervention.
“Match officials had to disguise themselves as policemen to exit the stadium,” one local reporter revealed. “It was total chaos. Fans were angry and looking to vent.”
Analysts and football enthusiasts say such incidents are becoming disturbingly routine. While home advantage is a common concept in football, critics argue that in Nigeria’s NPFL, it often includes intimidation tactics, crowd harassment, and in some cases, outright physical violence.
“There is a win-at-all-costs mentality that has poisoned our league,” said football analyst Seyi Ogundipe. “Clubs sometimes manipulate environments to ensure favorable outcomes, and this has emboldened fan violence and undermined fair competition.”
The League Management Company (LMC), the body overseeing NPFL operations, has yet to issue a public statement regarding Temitope’s attack. Meanwhile, Plateau United officials are urging the LMC and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to investigate the matter thoroughly and sanction those responsible.
“The lives of our players and officials must not be treated as collateral damage for passionate support,” said Maklek. “We cannot build a successful domestic league under threats of violence.”
Football fans and civil society groups are now calling for stricter enforcement of security protocols at match venues. There are growing demands for stadium bans for clubs whose supporters engage in violence, the deployment of more trained security personnel at games, and severe penalties for offenders.
While Temitope is said to be recovering from his injuries, his ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk beyond the pitch in Nigerian football. Until authorities take decisive action, players and officials may continue to pay a heavy price for the beautiful game.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
