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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has fined Doma United ₦5.25 million and ordered the club to play its next three home matches behind closed doors following security breaches and supporters’ misconduct during their 1-1 draw against Kun Khalifat FC.
The sanctions were announced on Monday, October 19, following incidents during the Matchday Nine fixture played at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe on Saturday, October 17, 2026 which reportedly left Kun Khalifat head coach Obinna Uzoho injured.
In its disciplinary notice, the league said Doma United, popularly known as the Savannah Tigers, failed to provide adequate and effective security, allowing unauthorised persons to access restricted areas, and failing to prevent hostile conduct towards match officials and officials of the visiting team. Blueprint reports
The NPFL also cited what it described as gross misconduct towards an official of the away team after the match, warning that clubs must take responsibility for the safety of players, coaches, officials and other participants at their grounds.
The disciplinary action includes financial penalties for the different breaches, compensation towards Uzoho’s medical treatment and a three-match restriction on spectators attending Doma United’s home fixtures.
Breakdown of the sanctions
According to the NPFL, Doma United will pay ₦3 million for repeated failures to provide adequate and effective security at their home matches.
The club was also fined ₦1 million over the hostile conduct of its supporters towards match officials, while another ₦1 million penalty was imposed for gross misconduct involving an official of the visiting team after the encounter.
An additional ₦250,000 was ordered as compensation towards the medical treatment of Kun Khalifat head coach Obinna Uzoho, who sustained an injury during the incident.
The separate penalties bring the total financial sanction to ₦5.25 million.
Beyond the monetary punishment, the order for the Savannah Tigers to play their next three home matches without spectators represents a significant sporting consequence, as the club will temporarily lose the backing of its supporters at home.
The league said Doma United must strengthen its security arrangements and educate supporters on acceptable conduct, cautioning that further breaches could attract more severe sanctions.
The club has 48 hours from the date of notification to appeal the decision.
How the match unfolded
The disciplinary action followed a 1-1 draw between Doma United and Kun Khalifat in the ninth round of the 2026/2027 NPFL season.
Kun Khalifat took the lead in the 54th minute when Benjamin Onyedikachi found the net from close range after being left unmarked at the far post.
Doma United responded four minutes later, with Tijani Azeez heading home Aliyu Gamagira’s cross in the 58th minute to restore parity.
Both sides had opportunities to take the lead, but neither could find a decisive goal as the encounter ended in a draw.
However, attention shifted from the result to the events surrounding the fixture after reports emerged of misconduct involving supporters, match officials and members of the visiting team.
Kun Khalifat subsequently raised concerns about the safety of its players and officials following the encounter, with reports indicating that Uzoho sustained facial injuries.
The NPFL’s disciplinary notice identified security failures and the conduct of supporters as central issues in its decision to sanction the home club.
Match commissioner faces possible demotion
The league’s disciplinary response also extended to the match commissioner appointed to oversee the fixture.
The NPFL recommended that the official be demoted to a lower league over alleged dereliction of duty, insufficient supervision and inadequate reporting of events surrounding the match.
The recommendation highlights the responsibility of match commissioners to monitor proceedings, ensure compliance with competition regulations and provide accurate reports on incidents that occur before, during and after fixtures.
The action also signals that disciplinary scrutiny will not be limited to clubs and supporters when match-day security arrangements and the handling of incidents fall short of the league’s expectations.
The commissioner’s recommended demotion is separate from the financial penalties imposed on Doma United.
NPFL intensifies disciplinary measures
The sanctions against Doma United come amid a wider effort by the NPFL to address misconduct, security failures and incidents involving match officials during the 2026/2027 campaign.
On October 1, Ranchers Bees were fined ₦5 million following their Matchday Six fixture against Rivers United. The league cited security failures, misconduct by players and bench officials, supporters’ behaviour and the holding of match officials after the game.
Inter Lagos were also sanctioned earlier in October with a ₦5 million fine and a three-point deduction following incidents involving match officials during their 1-1 draw against Katsina United.
The latest action against Doma United reinforces the league’s position that clubs are responsible for maintaining order at their venues and ensuring that visiting teams and match officials can carry out their duties without intimidation or violence.
With three home matches to be played behind closed doors and ₦5.25 million in financial penalties, Doma United now face the consequences of the breaches identified by the league.
It remains to be seen whether the Gombe-based club will appeal within the stipulated 48-hour period or accept the sanctions as the NPFL continues its efforts to strengthen discipline and improve safety across the domestic league.
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