Nasarawa United have strongly denied reports alleging that Plateau United midfielder, Vincent Temitope, was stabbed in the aftermath of their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 33 encounter in Lafia. The club described the trending narrative as entirely unfounded, labelling it as a deliberate distortion of facts aimed at misleading the public and tarnishing the image of the club.
In an official statement made available to the press on Tuesday, the Lafia-based club expressed deep concern over what it called “fake news” making the rounds across various media platforms, particularly on social media. According to the club, contrary to widely shared claims, no stabbing occurred during or after the heated encounter, which ended in tension between fans and players.
“Our attention has been drawn to a disturbing trend of fake news circulating on social media, falsely claiming that a fan of our team stabbed a player of Plateau United FC, Vincent Temitope, in the neck,” the club stated. “We feel compelled to set the record straight and dispel this baseless narrative.”
The club, however, acknowledged that an incident involving Temitope did take place after the match but insisted it had been grossly exaggerated in public reports. They clarified that the altercation was between the player and an individual they claimed was not affiliated with their supporters’ group.
“Contrary to the sensationalised reports, a physical altercation did occur between a spectator—who is not a supporter of our club—and Plateau United’s Vincent Temitope. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the spectator used his sharp fingernails, not a knife or any dangerous object, to inflict a minor bruise on the player’s neck,” the statement read.
Nasarawa United further claimed that Temitope’s own actions on the pitch might have contributed to the tension. Citing match officials, they alleged that the midfielder was involved in a contentious incident with their goalkeeper, Detan Ogundare, which almost earned him a red card.
“The same Temitope narrowly escaped being sent off by referee Rashidat Abdulganiyu after headbutting Nasarawa United’s goalkeeper. His behaviour was provocative and may have heightened tempers after the final whistle,” the club added.
According to the club, Temitope was immediately given medical attention and suffered only superficial injuries. He was treated at a nearby hospital and later reunited with the Plateau United squad at their hotel. Meanwhile, the individual involved in the scuffle was arrested on the spot by security operatives and has since been placed under investigation.
Despite Nasarawa United’s attempt to douse tensions and discredit the reports, the NPFL management has responded sternly to the incident. In a separate statement released by the league body, heavy sanctions were imposed on the club, including a fine of ₦6 million. Furthermore, the club has been ordered to play the remainder of their home fixtures this season away from their traditional base in Lafia.
The league’s disciplinary action underscores its zero-tolerance stance on fan violence and poor security around league venues. While Nasarawa United continue to maintain their innocence regarding the more serious accusations, the NPFL’s response signals a commitment to ensuring the safety of players and officials across all venues as the season draws to a close.
