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The second division club were served with a 3 points and 3 goals deduction, and a N3.5 million fine by the NNL as a deterrent for their 'fans' actions.
Nigeria National League (NNL) side Smart City, has reacted to the sanctions issued to them by the organizers of the Nigerian second division after their fans allegedly assaulted match officials during their league game with Gateway United.
As a means of protesting against a red card issued to one of the team's players, Tunde Adejokun, fans of Smart City encroached onto the pitch of play to attack match officials on Sunday, at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.
The league body of Nigeria's second division then slammed the Lagos club with a 10-point sanction, including the deduction of 3 points from their accumulated points, 3 goals, and a fine of N3.5 million.
Smart City deny violent fans
In a dramatic turn of events, the Lagos club have now come out to deny that they went for their game with Gateway United with any fans, adding that the culprits of the violence are not their supporters.
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23:54 - 17.04.2023
NNL organizers hit Smart City with 10-points sanction following viral assault of referee
Fans of the Lagos club encroached on the pitch to attack match officials in protest of a red card issued to one of the team's players, Tunde Adejokun.
"We wish to state unequivocally that Smart City is a responsible club that would never be involved in such acts of hooliganism which is barbaric and capable of tarnishing and bringing the image of the league to disrepute," the second division club said in an official statement on Tuesday.
"This must be from the figments of the imaginations of the architects of the dastardly acts, whose intentions are yet to be clearly known, other than to malign the reputable image of Smart City."
The club further added that they only left Lagos with their players and team officials, with no fans joining them from Lagos.
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20:34 - 16.04.2023
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"It was a rude shock, to read from the social media that Smart City has been fined by the NNL, because Smart City has not been involved in any such act," the official statement added.
NNL demand Gateway United vs Smart City to be completed
Beyond the punishment meted out to Smart City, the NNL had in their circular, highlighted that the match which had been abandoned with a score of 0-0, was to be concluded on Thursday, 20th April 2023, at the same venue but behind closed doors.
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Smart City are currently second in Group B2 of the Southern Conference in the NNL, with 7 points after four matches, and a point behind leaders Sporting Lagos.
They could, however, drop to the relegation zone in the Group should three points be deducted from their current haul.
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