Following his team’s 3-2 loss in the NPFL game on Sunday, April 13, Vincent Temitope was harassed by a bunch of fans after he missed a penalty.
A video of the Plateau United player getting medical attention for a gash on his neck following the NPFL game went viral.
The administration of Plateau United voiced their concerns about the incident in a statement issued by Yaksat Maklek, the Club’s Director of Media and Publicity. According to the statement, Temitope was attacked because a small minority of supporters had a different plan after the final whistle, while the majority of fans went to the field to celebrate with their beloved players.
“We can authoritatively relate that a group of fans rushed onto the pitch at the blast of the final whistle to identify with stars of their fancy,” the statement emphasized. Some of the supporters demanded to take pictures with players, including Vincent Temitope.
Instead, other people prepared an attack on him, cutting his neck area and forcing it to bleed for a long time.
“We visited a number of hospitals in an effort to get him medical care, including the Kowa Hospital Lafia, the Police clinic, and finally the Federal Medical Centre, Lafia.”
The management expressed their will to make it clear that contradictory accounts, which claim that Temitope and a fan got into a fight, do not accurately depict the circumstances. They stressed that, in accordance with the rules controlling spectator behavior in the NPFL, it is the responsibility of the spectators to stay in the stands.
The squad firmly defended Temitope, claiming that he is the team’s designated first-choice penalty taker and has the right to exert his role, in response to allegations that he got into arguments with a member of the other team or was involved in disagreements over the taking of penalties.
In its statement, the club recognized the intricacies of competitive sports, where passions can occasionally run high. However, it stated that, given that Temitope is currently a member of the Nigeria Super Eagles B team, the emphasis should continue to be on protecting his safety and wellbeing. Temitope embodies the virtues of professionalism and discipline.
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