By Kazeem Waris
The Plateau State Football Association (PFA) has suspended three football stakeholders for one season over alleged misconduct during the ongoing 2026 Governor’s Cup Football Tournament.
The association also fined the Kanke Local Government Area football team N100,000 for gross misconduct and failure to adequately control its officials and supporters during a match.
The sanctions were announced in a statement signed by the PFA Secretary, Isa Mohammed Tongtep, on Wednesday, following a disciplinary committee meeting held on October 19, 2026.
According to the statement, the committee reviewed match officials’ reports, referees’ reports and available video evidence before reaching its decisions on reported breaches of the tournament’s disciplinary regulations.
The suspended individuals are Namanmwa Daniel Gonap, a member of the Kanke Amateur Football Association; Rabiu Mohammed, captain of the Wase LGA team; and Haliru Mohammed, popularly known as Abiola, a coach and photographer associated with the Jos North Amateur Football Association.
On the Kanke LGA incident, the PFA said Gonap allegedly entered the field of play and attacked the second assistant referee during a match against Jos East LGA at the New International Stadium, Jos, on October 13.
The incident was also associated with disorder involving supporters.
“The Committee determined that the conduct constituted a breach of the tournament’s disciplinary regulations and brought the game into disrepute,” the statement said.
It added that Gonap had been suspended from all football-related activities for one football season, covering the 2026/2027 season.
The Kanke LGA team was also fined N100,000 for gross misconduct and failure to exercise adequate control over its officials and supporters.
In a separate incident involving Wase LGA, the association said Rabiu Mohammed, jersey number four and captain of the team, was reported to have assaulted a referee during a match against Langtang South LGA at the Rantya Centre on October 9.
Following its review of the reports, the committee suspended Mohammed from all football-related activities for the 2026/2027 football season.
The third case involved Jos North LGA and Shendam LGA during their encounter on October 13.
The PFA said Haliru Mohammed, also known as Abiola, allegedly entered the pitch and engaged in conduct reported to have incited disorder.
The committee found that the alleged conduct contravened tournament regulations prohibiting unruly behaviour during matches.
Consequently, Abiola was suspended from football-related activities and barred from entering stadium premises for one football season.
The association also disclosed that three referees had been referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the Plateau State Referees Council for further investigation and appropriate action.
However, it noted that the decisions remained subject to the applicable right of appeal.
“Any appeal must be lodged within 48 hours of receipt of the relevant decision, accompanied by the prescribed appeal fee,” the statement said.
It warned that failure to comply with the sanctions or payment requirements could attract further disciplinary action under the applicable regulations.
Reaffirming its commitment to discipline and fair play, the PFA said violence, intimidation and unruly conduct would not be tolerated in the competition.
“Violence, intimidation and unruly conduct have no place in football,” the association stated, urging teams, officials and supporters to uphold the rules and promote a safe and peaceful tournament environment.
