Violence at Akure Stadium as Lobi Stars beat Sunshine

The Match Day 20 between Sunshine Stars FC of Akure and Lobi Stars was marred with violence as the home team fans attacked match officials for disallowing their side’s goal.

The match, a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) second stanza opener, played at the Ondo State Sports Complex yesterday ended 0-1 in favour of the visitors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kingsley Eduwo had given the visitors the lead in the 15th minute of the first half after the hosts fluffed many scoring chances.

But trouble started when the referee disallowed the goal by the home team which he and other officials adjudged to be offside.

The first Assistant Referee raised his flag to indicate that the goal was scored from an offside position and the referee agreed with him.

Immediately, the fans descended on them by throwing objects from the popular side of the stadium.

With the development the match had to be stopped for a few minutes.

However, after the match, the angry fans thronged the pitch and attacked the match officials.

It took the intervention of men of the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Army before the match officials could be rescued.

The normal postmatch news conference could not hold as tear gas were fired to disperse the angry fans.

The number of persons injured in the fracas could not be ascertained as everyone scampered to safety to avoid inhaling much of the choking tear gas.