Referee Attacked By Kano Pillars U19 Official After Youth League Match In Ilorin

Kano Pillars FC launches internal probe after violent incident involving match official Ismail Musa

A disturbing incident unfolded at the Rashidi Yekini Stadium in Ilorin on Monday, as a Nigerian centre referee was violently assaulted by an official of Kano Pillars FC U19 following their match against Kwara United U19 in the Nationwide Under-19 Youth League.

A Kano Pillars U19 official assaults referee following a controversial youth league match in Ilorin.

The game, which ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for Kwara United, had been rescheduled from April 1 due to the Eid Mubarak celebrations. However, post-match events overshadowed the fixture when an irate Kano Pillars official physically attacked referee Ismail Musa over alleged dissatisfaction with his decisions during the game.

Eyewitnesses at the stadium reported a chaotic scene moments after the final whistle, with the offending official seen grabbing and attempting to strangle the referee. The shocking moment was captured on video and has since gone viral across social media platforms, drawing nationwide condemnation.

So far, the Nigeria Football Referees Association (Kwara State Chapter) has not released an official statement, but football fans and analysts have demanded swift action and tighter security protocols for match officials.

Hooliganism will end Nigerian football.

Center referee was brutally assaulted and beaten by an official of the Kano Pillars U19 team during the encounter between Kwara United U19 vs Kano Pillars U19 at the Kwara State Stadium on Monday, April 7.

U19 games oh. Sad pic.twitter.com/0FvevUojwu

— Adepoju Tobi Samuel 🇳🇬 (@OgaNlaMedia) April 8, 2025

In response, Kano Pillars FC issued a formal statement strongly condemning the act of violence, describing it as “unacceptable and contrary to the club’s values of sportsmanship and professionalism.”

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“We categorically state that Kano Pillars FC strongly condemns any form of violence, misconduct, or hooliganism, whether on or off the pitch,” the statement read.

The club confirmed that an internal investigation is underway, with a review of the match footage currently in progress. Management has pledged to take appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with their code of conduct.

This incident is the latest in a growing list of violent attacks on referees in Nigerian football, sparking renewed concern over referee safety and the effectiveness of disciplinary enforcement within the local game.

Stakeholders across Nigeria’s football community have called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and league organizers to implement stricter penalties for acts of violence and to ensure better security arrangements at youth league venues.