Kano Pillars have failed in their bid to overturn a three-point and three-goal deduction after the Nigeria Football Federation Appeals Committee upheld the sanctions imposed on the club following crowd violence during a league fixture earlier this season.
The Appeals Committee, which convened via Zoom on Friday, dismissed the protest filed by Kano Pillars, confirming that the penalties handed down by the league authorities would remain in force. The ruling ends the former champions’ hopes of easing relegation pressure through an appeal.
The sanctions arose from violent incidents that marred Pillars’ Matchday Eight home clash against Shooting Stars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in October 2025.
Following the disturbances, the Nigeria Premier Football League docked the club three points and three goals, imposed fines totalling ₦9.5 million, and ordered the indefinite closure of the stadium, citing serious breaches of regulations, including the assault on match officials.
In December, Nigeria Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee granted Pillars partial relief by reducing the stadium closure to a five-match ban.
However, it upheld the three-point and three-goal deduction, ruling that the punishment related to the assault on officials would stand.
Unconvinced, the club escalated the matter to the Appeals Committee, seeking a full reversal. That request has now been rejected, leaving Pillars’ league standing unchanged.
The decision leaves Kano Pillars 16th on the table with 32 points from 27 matches, just one point above Bayelsa United, who occupy the final relegation spot.
The ruling comes on the eve of a crucial fixture, with Pillars set to travel to Ibadan to face Shooting Stars.
With the relegation battle tightening, the failure of their appeal leaves the Sai Masu Gida with little margin for error as they fight to preserve their top-flight status.
