Kano Pillars have been fined N7.5 million and hit with a suspended three points deduction by the League Management Company following crowd trouble in the matchday 27 fixture against Akwa United at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna on Sunday.

The Kano club was hit with a double charge for breaching COVID-19 guidelines by admitting spectators into the stadium and also for encroachment after supporters invaded the pitch and disrupted the match.

The game which was subsequently abandoned and completed on Monday morning ended goalless and maintained Akwa United’s one point lead over Pillars at the top of the standings.

The LMC also faulted Pillars for nonexistent crowd control protocol and a failure to restrict access to unauthorised persons and threatened the club with a stadium ban and banishment in the event of a recurrence.

“In line with The Nigeria Football Federation directives, Kano Pillars are hereby sanctioned with a fine of N5 million for breaching the COVID-19 Protocol,” the LMC announced in a statement on Monday.

“A fine of N2.5 million is also imposed on Kano Pillars for encroachment by their supporters, which led to a discontinuation of the match.

“There is also an imposed sanction of a deduction of 3 points, which shall be suspended for the duration of the remainder of the season, subject to good conduct.

“The club also face a venue sanction of being banned from their Kaduna home ground and subsequently moved to another venue if there is a recurring event.

Pillars have been given 48 hours to lodge an appeal against the sanctions.