Kano Pillars General Manager Ahmed Musa issued a heartfelt public apology after the violent scenes marred Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Shooting Stars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The game ended in chaos as angry home fans stormed the pitch when the referee ruled out a late Pillars goal for offside.
Fans hurled objects from the stands, forcing Shooting Stars players and officials to run for safety until security stepped in.
In a strongly worded statement released on his official X (Twitter) handle, Musa described the incident as “heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable.”
He stressed that the violent behaviour of a few fans does not reflect the values or proud tradition of Kano Pillars.
“Violence has no place in football,” Musa wrote. “It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and goes against everything this beautiful sport stands for. Football should unite, not divide.”
The former Super Eagles captain offered what he called an “unreserved apology” to Shooting Stars players, coaches, and supporters, as well as to match officials, the NPFL board, and all fans who watched the chaos unfold.
Musa vowed to work with authorities to identify and punish those responsible, insisting the club would back its words with firm action to stop such behavior in future.
“This must be a turning point for us,” he added. “True support is shown not through violence, but through respect, passion, and discipline.”
The NPFL will review reports from match officials before deciding on possible sanctions against Kano Pillars, as concerns over crowd violence continue to overshadow the domestic league.
