The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has refuted reports that a player was stabbed during the Matchday 12 fixture between Katsina United and Barau FC at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.

 

In a statement, the league body described as “utterly false” the circulating claims that Barau FC’s player, Abraham Nana, had his throat slit during the second half of the match.

 

According to the NPFL, the player was injured after being hit by an object thrown from the stands, prompting a brief suspension of play as medical personnel rushed to administer treatment on the pitch before the match resumed.

 

The statement further clarified that the NPFL Situation Room, which maintains real-time communication with match commissioners and referees across venues, closely monitored the situation and immediately verified reports from officials at the stadium.

 

Following a review of the official match reports, the NPFL confirmed that Katsina United have been sanctioned for security and crowd control lapses during the game.

 

“The NPFL will continue to uphold league regulations to ensure fair competition in a safe and secure environment,” the statement read. “We wish to reassure the public and all stakeholders of their safety at league venues through the robust control measures in place.”

 

The league reiterated its commitment to player welfare, emphasizing that incidents of fan misconduct will be met with firm disciplinary action to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s top-flight football.