Katsina United debunks reports of violence during league match, threatens legal action
Katsina United Football Club has denied reports alleging violence and the death of a player during their Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, match against Barau FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
The club, in a statement issued on Sunday by its Media Director, Nasir Gide, described the report circulating online as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the team and football in Katsina State.
According to Gide, the publication claimed that supporters of the club invaded the pitch, causing chaos, and that a player was slaughtered during the game.
“These claims are entirely baseless and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the club’s image and football in the state. At no point during the game did any supporter gain access to the main pitch,” he said.
While admitting that the match was tense due to some contentious officiating decisions, the media director maintained that security operatives kept the situation under control throughout the encounter.
“These assertions are completely false and do not reflect what truly transpired. The game was managed within the confines of order and security,” Gide added.
He expressed disappointment that a “respected platform” would publish such serious allegations without verification, warning that such misinformation could harm the club’s reputation and undermine football development in Katsina and Nigeria at large.
Gide also accused Barau FC of amplifying the false reports, noting that the League Management Company, LMC, had been notified to investigate the matter and take appropriate action.
“Katsina United Football Club remains committed to professionalism, discipline, and fair play both on and off the pitch,” he said.
The club demanded that the online platform retract the report and issue a public apology, warning that failure to do so could lead to legal action.
“We advise the publishers of this misleading report to retract the story immediately; otherwise, we’ll be left with no choice but to seek redress through appropriate legal channels,” the statement added.