2022 World Cup: FIFA fines Nigeria for fans misconduct during qualifiers

They have been fined for incident of crowd trouble during the just concluded World Cup qualifying play-offs.

The Nigerian Football Association has been fined by FIFA for crowd misbehaviour during their 2022 World Cup qualifying matches on March 29.

How did it happen?

Nigeria hosted Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja for the return leg of the World Cup qualifying Play-offs.

However, Nigerian fans could not swallow the bitter peel of defeat that the team suffered at the hands of the Black Stars of Ghana, which ended their hopes of going to the global competition in Qatar.

Having played a goalless draw during the first leg, which held at the Baba Yari Stadium in Kumasi, Ghana, the two West African rivals played to a 1-1 draw.

Thomas Partey had given Ghana the lead but Nigeria struck back courtesy of a fine penalty kick from William Troost-Ekong.

However, the Super Eagles crashed out as Ghana progressed due to the away goal rule.

After the final whistle, angry Nigerian fans stormed the pitch and destroyed facilities in the stadium, forcing Ghana players to seek refuge in the dressing room.

As a result, FIFA has now fined the Nigerian Football Association a sum of N63 million ($154,086) for “failing to implement existing safety rules -regarding order and security, and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects.”

They will also play a match without the attendance of fans.

Senegal and Algeria have also been fined the sum of $180,000 and $3081 respectively for failing to control their fans. Just like Nigeria, they would also play their next match without fans.