Curbing the menace of hooliganism across match venues in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will require definitive action from the League Management Company (LMC), according to Akwa United Striker Orok Akarandut.
Earlier this season, two Akwa United fans were threatened and attempted to attack the team’s former Coach John Obuh.
Across the league there has been pockets of violence within and outside the ground after fans invade the pitch or attack themselves.
The several high profile cases including in the Abia Derby involving Abia Warriors and Enyimba is an embarrassment Akarandut told brila.net.
He insists there’s been significant improvement in the quality of football the league has offer this season, but fears it could all be marred by the violence in stadiums.
‘Firstly, I pray the LMC find the wisdom to tackle the menace before it mars the progress made in the league,’ said the Akwa United Forward.
‘Unlike in the past, we have seen such great improvement in the league this season.
‘There have been more away wins than at any other time in the past, but all that could be ruined.’
The player did blame the rising spate of Sports betting in the Country as one of the reasons behind the violence against players and match officials.
‘One major problem we may not readily accept is this Betting thing.
‘Many of the fans bet on games, so when they lose money it’s hard for them and they’ll blame those of us on the pitch.’
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