Inter Lagos have been hit with a major disciplinary sanction after the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) found the club responsible for security breaches and misconduct involving match officials during their Matchday 7 fixture against Katsina United.
The Lagos-based club have been fined a total of millions of naira and deducted three points and three goals from their season tally following incidents at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Sunday, October 4.
According to the league’s disciplinary decision, Inter Lagos failed to provide adequate security during the fixture, allowing authorised persons to physically assault the first assistant referee.
The assistant referee reportedly suffered a facial injury during the incident, while some of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, were also damaged.
The NPFL also accused Inter Lagos officials of holding the match officials at the stadium for about an hour after the game, adding to the seriousness of the disciplinary case.
As a result, the club were handed several financial penalties.
Inter Lagos will pay ₦2 million for failing to provide adequate security at the stadium and another ₦1 million for holding the match officials hostage after the match. The club was also fined ₦2 million over the assault on the officials, while ₦250,000 was ordered as compensation for the damaged property and treatment of injuries.
The biggest sporting punishment, however, is the deduction of three points and three goals from Inter Lagos’ season record.
The sanction leaves the newly promoted side with just two points and a negative nine-goal difference, dealing another blow to their difficult start to life in the NPFL.
Inter Lagos earned promotion to the NPFL ahead of the 2026/27 season after an impressive campaign in the Nigeria National League. The club became the second Lagos-based team in the top flight alongside Ikorodu City.
Their debut season has now become increasingly challenging, both on and off the pitch. The latest sanction means every remaining fixture will carry even greater importance as the club attempts to climb away from the bottom end of the table.
The league body has also given Inter Lagos 48 hours from the date of notice to appeal the sanctions.
The punishment underlines the NPFL’s continued emphasis on security and the protection of match officials. Similar disciplinary measures have previously included points and goal deductions when clubs were found responsible for assaults or serious security failures.
For Inter Lagos, the immediate priority will be to respond on the pitch while also addressing the issues that led to the disciplinary action. The club now face a difficult battle to turn around their season and avoid allowing disciplinary problems to overshadow their first campaign in Nigeria’s top flight.
